{{short description|1919 film by Hal Roach}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{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<br>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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The score premiered during a concert screening on November 19, 2013, at Moody Performance Hall with Richard McKay conducting.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==See also== * List of American films of 1919 * Harold Lloyd filmography
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0009887|title=Ask Father}} * {{TCMDb title|id=439635}} * {{YouTube|id=eddYUEgWuYA|title=Ask Father (1919)}} {{Commons category|Ask Father}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ask Father}} Category:1919 films Category:1919 comedy films Category:1919 short films Category:1919 American films Category:1919 English-language films Category:American black-and-white films Category:English-language comedy short films Category:Short films directed by Hal Roach Category:Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker Category:American silent comedy short films Category:Surviving American silent films
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