Barely reaching four reels, Chaplin plays a convict who escapes from the slammer and, needing a change of clothes, misappropriates the clothing of a minister while he bathes. He hitches a bus ride to a small Texas town, a town that just so happens to be in need of a new minister. He installs himself at the pulpit, and thus, acquires both respect and a place to sleep, but of course, neither is a breeze of contentment. There are several entertaining setpieces, notably his congregational depiction of David & Goliath in glorious pantomime, where David, a pathetic little wimp, finds his laughable methods ineffectual, and is beheaded for his efforts. The other great sequence involves the child of the lady he's staying with, who is a little terror, tormenting Chaplin and others in the house. The plot them proceeds to get in the way, as the little kid's father turns out to be an old cellmate, and the sheriff comes a-knockin', but the brevity of the enterprise ends up working most definitely to its advantage, as the problem is resolved quickly and amusingly, and fades out to presumably smiling patrons. A fun little quickie.
{Grade: 8/10 (B) / #4 (of 6) of 1923}
{Grade: 8/10 (B) / #4 (of 6) of 1923}