Mr. Flip is a series of sketches that all revolve around the same theme: Ben Turpin annoys, gropes or otherwise harasses women trying to do their jobs and the women retaliate with the items they have to hand: the manicurist stabs him in the backside with scissors, the bartender squirts him with seltzer, the waitress smashes a pie into his face, etc.
The pie is particularly important as this is often listed as the first silent film in which a pie was used in this manner (it wasn’t). The film is a valuable illustration of just how poorly “mashers” like Mr. Flip were viewed at the time.
How does it end? Hover or tap below for a spoiler.
He never learns and keeps right on losing to these resourceful women.
Read my full-length review here. I also discuss even earlier instances of pies in the face found in films.
If it were a dessert it would be: Mini Pies. Small but endlessly interesting.
Availability: Released on DVD.
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Movies Silently 