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Mr. and Mrs. Duff
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 488 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Francis Ford
Méliès Star-Film [American] production; distributed by Gaston Méliès through Enterprise Optical Company. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / © 17 November 1909 by Georges Méliès [J134441]. Released 17 November 1909; in a split-reel with The Count’s Wooing (1909). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mr. and Mrs. Duff are in their parlor. Mrs. Duff asks for money from her husband, and he gives her all be has. She wants more and searches through all his pockets. She takes off his hat and puts it on her head and goes shopping. The unlucky husband decides to throw off his yoke. Through the windows he sees an old-clothes man whom he calls and sells all the clothes belonging to him and his wife. Now he has some money. He buys the old-clothes man’s hat and writes on a huge placard that he wishes to leave his home forever. Before leaving, he wants to take revenge against Mrs. Duff. He puts a pail full of water above the door so that as soon as Mrs. Duff enters she will be drenched. Mr. Duff is very much overjoyed with this idea. He then goes out. When Mrs. Duff returns she cannot open the door. She looks through the windows and sees the room empty. She strides over the window sill and looks in vain for her husband. After reading the placard she is in a rage, she opens the door to run after Mr. Duff, but the pail drops down and she is drenched by the water. In the meantime, Mr. Duff meets a beautiful girl with whom he becomes fascinated. He is so much absorbed with her attentions that he does not see an automobile which runs him down. While he is lying senseless in the street, a policeman runs to him and an alarm for an ambulance is rung. Unfortunately for Mr. Duff a card is found in his pocket and he is brought home once more. He is severely injured. They wrap him well and lay him down on a couch. Mrs. Duff scolds him and he is very much afraid. During her short absence, Mr. Duff writes a letter to his family asking for help and protection against his wife. He gives his letter to a boy through the window. Mr. Duff’s father and brother arrive. One is an old soldier, the other a strong, tall cowboy. Both are armed. The cowboy shoots often. Mr. Duff is delighted. They go to see Mrs. Duff to force her to change her ways and behave better to her husband. Mrs. Duff is just finishing a day’s exercise on the punching bag. She hears some noise and wants to know the cause. The three men rush into the room and begin to explain what they want. Mrs. Duff does not listen very much, she kicks them one after the other and they fall down. She then seizes poor Mr. Duff and gives him a good spanking.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 228 : ClasIm-226 p. 54 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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