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The Timid Mr. Tootles
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Sidney Drew
Cast: Sidney Drew [Mr. Tootles], Jane Morrow (Mrs. Sidney Drew) [Maria], Courtland Van Deusen (Cortland Van Deusen) [the head clerk], Betty Gray [the stenographer], John T. Kelly [the boss], Donald MacBride [the assistant clerk], Mrs. Russell
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by [?] V-L-S-E, Incorporated, or The General Film Company, Incorporated? / From a screen story by Frank Mitchell Dazey. / Released 6 April 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? At the office where Mr. Tootles is employed, the clerks make him the butt of all their jokes, and even the boss himself joins in the merriment at Tootles’ expense. The mere presence of a woman plunges him into the most ridiculous embarrassment, and with the exception of Maria, the slavey at his boarding house, he is afraid of them all. One day, however, an adventure comes into his life. A lady in a limousine nearly runs over a child, who is rescued by Tootles. The lady thanks him and invites him into the car, insisting on bringing him to his destination. It happens that when the lady alights at a store, Tootles’ fellow-clerks strolling by, see their much abused friend apparently enjoying the height of luxury. They are hardly able to believe it, but when the stylish lady comes out of the store and enters the car with him, they simply stare open-mouthed. Next day at the office he is surrounded and questioned eagerly, but Tootles has gained wisdom, and nonchalantly tells them, “just a lady friend of mine.“ From that time on everyone speaks to him respectfully, and the boss calls him “a sly devil.” To continue the affair, Tootles ostentatiously buys candy and flowers galore, pretending they are for his “lady friend.” Things might have continued indefinitely but for the fact that it is revealed his “lady friend” is the boss’s wife. The boss seizes a gun and Tootles nearly meets instant death. He manages to protest his innocence and the boss finally permits him to bring before him the woman to whom Tootles did send the candy and flowers. The poor fellow desperately fetches Maria to the office, after she has “dolled up,” where Tootles’ “explanation” bring forth an apology from the boss, while Tootles takes Maria in his arms.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 9 August 2023.
References: Montgomery-Comedy p. ? : Website-IMDb.
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