The Mishaps of Musty Suffer was a series of comedy shorts released weekly, in three series of ten films, from 1916-17. It was popular, successful and well-reviewed — and yet it is almost completely forgotten today. Playing Musty Suffer was Ziegfield Follies headliner comic Harry Watson, Jr — also forgotten. 24 of the 30 “Musty” films survive and have been in the collection of the Library of Congress since 1959 but are rarely seen.
The films are hilarious, full of cartoony and surreal settings and slapstick, and have a circus influence. This DVD contains 8 of the best of the surviving Musty shorts, seen for the first time ever on video in new HD transfers from master material preserved by the Library of Congress, and featuring brand new musical scores by Ben Model.
Be sure to pick up the companion guide, The Mishaps of Musty Suffer by Steve Massa with detailed film notes and history on the series and a complete Musty filmography. The booklet even fits inside the DVD case for handy reference!
DVD CONTENTS:
Going Up (1916) – 12 mins
The Lightning Bellhop (1916) – 13 mins
Just Imagination (1916) – 14 mins
Blow Your Horn (1916) – 12 mins
While You Wait (1916) – 14 mins
Local Showers (1916) – 12 mins
Outs and Ins (1916) – 12 mins
Spliced and Iced (1917) – 12 mins
Hold Fast (excerpt) (1916) – 6 mins
Capturing Chicago (1916)- 10 mins
Image gallery
117 mins ● B&W ● stereo ● 4:3 aspect ratio ● Not Rated ● NTSC ● Region 0 (all-regions)
Produced for DVD by Ben Model/Undercrank Productions
Curated by Steve Massa and Ben Model
Release date: April 2014
Available at:
