Captain Jinks, the Cobbler

A brisk, silly silent-era romp that coasts on slapstick charm and a cheeky con, easy to enjoy and gone in a flash.

Directed by

Van Dyke Brooke

Genres

Comedy

Starring

Frank Daniels, Mildred Manning

Overview

Captain Jinks, the Cobbler was one of two Jinks comedies released by Vitagraph for Christmas 1916 and, according to the U.S. copyright filing, was loosely based on the true story of celebrated conman Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt, who passed as a Prussian officer and commandeered funds from the Köpenick municipal treasury in 1906. In Vitagraph’s adaptation of the tale, the first movie version made in America, an army officer in some unpronounceable Central European town directs Jinks to repair his gear. Hounded by his nagging wife, the cobbler dons the officer’s uniform and parades about town. The impersonation proves so convincing that the burgomeister awards Jinks the officer’s bonus. When the ruse is discovered, the court gives Jinks a choice: two years in jail or at home with his wife. The film ends with cobbler pondering the pros and cons.

How it feels

Light, absurd, satirical and whimsical. Brisk and easy to follow.

About

Deception, identity, class, crime

Content

Mild violence. No gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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