A Little Bit of Fluff (1928 film)

A Little Bit of Fluff (known as Skirts in the United States) is a 1928 British silent comedy directed by Wheeler Dryden and Jess Robbins, featuring performances by Sydney Chaplin, Betty Balfour, and Edmund Breon.

Synopsis

The story centers on Tully (Chaplin), a newlywed who finds himself under the thumb of his overbearing mother-in-law. He becomes unwittingly involved in a plot devised by boxer Hudson to steal a $5000 necklace from Maggie (Balfour), an exotic dancer and his next-door neighbor. After being sent to quiet down Maggie’s noisy party, Tully later visits her nightclub performance and inadvertently comes into possession of the necklace. The narrative unfolds through a series of comedic misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and entanglements involving wives, stepmothers, and the scheming boxer, creating a lively farce.

Ultimately, Hudson is apprehended while trying to recover the necklace, restoring balance—though Tully continues to live under his mother-in-law’s control. The film is distinguished by its physical comedy moments, including Chaplin’s signature spinning headstand and clever gags such as using a pekinese dog to dampen postage stamps. While the humor has received acclaim, critics have pointed out weaknesses in the storyline and an excessively prolonged nightclub sequence. This production reflects Chaplin’s notable character work during his period with Warner Brothers.

Cast

• Sydney Chaplin as Bertram Tully
• Betty Balfour as Mamie Scott
• Edmund Breon as John Ayres
• Nancy Rigg as Violet Tully
• Clifford McLaglen as Henry Hudson
• Annie Esmond as Aunt Agatha
• Enid Stamp-Taylor as Susie West
• Cameron Carr as Fred Carter
• Haddon Mason as The Wasp
• Harry McCoy
• Dorothy Bartlam in an uncredited minor role
• John Thomas Hall as The Vicar

Production

This film is an adaptation of Walter W. Ellis's successful farce A Little Bit of Fluff, which premiered at London's Criterion Theatre in 1915 with Ernest Thesiger portraying Bertram Tully. An earlier 1919 film adaptation directed by Kenelm Foss also featured Thesiger reprising this role. The 1928 version stars Syd Chaplin—brother of Charlie Chaplin and director Wheeler Dryden—as Tully, marking Syd Chaplin’s final appearance on screen.

External links

• Sydchaplin.com