On Sale Today: Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian

On sale today (June 13, 2023), Undercrank Productions latest exciting release: Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian. It’s a wonderful opportunity to acquaint yourself with one of the unsung comedy geniuses of the late silent era, about whom I wrote here. Griffith is #11 in my silent comedy pantheon; if I recall correctly Walter Kerr ranked him about sixth in his.

There are two films in the set. Paths to Paradise (1925) stars Griffith as a suave con man and jewel thief who meets his match in a lady crook played by Betty Compson. The two team up and manage to make off with a diamond necklace…but must make their dash for the Mexican border followed (Keaton style) by about a hundred motorcycle cops. You’d Be Surprised (1926) is the last completed Griffith film to survive. It is a comedy whodunit in which Griffith plays a dapper, impeccably dressed coroner. The film’s title cards were written by Robert Benchley, and one of its more interesting features (oddly appropriate in a silent film) are a series of conversations in sign language between detective Griffith and a deaf butler.

This is, by my count, the eleventh release by Undercrank we’ve featured on Travalanche. (The previous ones may be found here). Like most of what they do, it features terrific original music by Ben Model. More info on Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian may be found here.