Starring Taylor Holmes, Virginia Valli, Ernest Maupain, Rod La Rocque
Directed by Lawrence C. Windom

Print: black/white
Runtime: 44 min.
Genre: comedy
Print Quality: B

 

Clarence Buddington Kelland's magazine creation "Efficiency" Edgar Bumpus comes to life in this lighthearted 5-reeler. Taylor Holmes, not exactly in flush of youth but still able to convey innocence and naivete, plays a time-motion expert (possibly a takeoff of the Frank Gilbreth character of Cheaper by the Dozen fame). He tries out various time-saving methods to impress the father (Ernest Maupain) of the girl he loves (played by future movie vamp Virginia Valli). Several things go wrong, thanks to the machinations of Efficiency Edgar's rival (Rodney La Rock, who later billed himself more romantically as Rod La Rocque). This bit of audience-pleasing nonsense was one of the dying gasps from the pioneering Essanay film company.