Ask Father

{{Infobox film

| name = Ask Father

| image = Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels in Ask Father (1919).jpg

| caption =

| director = Hal Roach

| producer = Hal Roach

| writer = H. M. Walker

| starring = Harold Lloyd

| music =

| cinematography =

| editing =

| distributor =

| released = {{film date|1919|2|9}}

| runtime = 13 minutes

| country = United States

| language = Silent
English intertitles

| budget =

}}

Ask Father is a short, 13-minute, slapstick-style comedy made by Harold Lloyd in 1919 before his entry into full-length feature films. Aside from Lloyd, it features Snub Pollard and leading lady Bebe Daniels.{{Citation |last=Roach |first=Hal |title=Ask Father |date=1919-02-09 |type=Comedy, Short |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009887/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |others=Harold Lloyd, 'Snub' Pollard, Bebe Daniels |publisher=Rolin Films}}

Plot

Lloyd is a serious young middle-class guy on the make, who wants to marry the boss’ daughter. The problem is getting in to see the boss so that he can ask for her hand in marriage; the office is guarded by a bunch of comic, clumsy flunkies who throw everyone out who tries to get in. When Lloyd gets into the boss’ office, the latter uses trap doors and conveyor belts to expel him; Lloyd then goes to the costume company next door, tries to get in wearing drag (no success), and then in medieval armor – that works, since he bangs everyone over the head with his club. When he learns that the daughter has eloped with another suitor, Lloyd decides to be sensible and he settles for the cute switchboard operator (Daniels) instead. The film includes a brief wall climbing sequence.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009887/plotsummary/ |title=Ask Father (Short 1919) - Plot - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2024-12-11 |via=www.imdb.com}}

Cast

Harold Lloyd - The Boy
Bebe Daniels - Switchboard operator
Snub Pollard - The Corn-Fed Secretary
Wallace Howe - The Boss
Bud Jamison - Guardian at the door
Noah Young - Large office worker
Sammy Brooks - Short office worker
Marie Mosquini - The Boy's First Love
James Parrott - Willie, The Boy’s Rival
Harry Burns
William Gillespie - Office worker
Lew Harvey
Margaret Joslin
Dorothea Wolbert
Charles Stevenson - The Cop

Music

In 2013, the Dallas Chamber Symphony commissioned an original film score for Ask Father from composer Alain Mayrand.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-13 |title=Concert #2: The Comedic Three {{!}} Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=http://www.dallaschambersymphony.org/portfolio-item/concert-2-the-comedic-three/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113023843/http://www.dallaschambersymphony.org/portfolio-item/concert-2-the-comedic-three/ |archive-date=13 November 2013 }} The score premiered during a concert screening on November 19, 2013 at Moody Performance Hall with Richard McKay conducting.{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=D. |date=2013-11-25 |title=Three Concerts Raise Same Question: Do Add-on Sounds or Images Enhance or Hinder Classical Music? |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2013/11/three-concerts-raise-same-question-does-film-enhance-or-hinder-classical-music/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Jamie |title=I Love You, But I've Chosen Keaton |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/i-love-you-but-ive-chosen-keaton-6431231 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}