''Skinner's Dress Suit'' is a 1926 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

produced and distributed by

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

and starring Reginald Denny.

William Seiter William Alfred Seiter (June 10, 1890 – July 26, 1964) was an American film director. Life and career Seiter was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennet ...

was the director of the film which was based on the 1916 novel of the name by Henry Irving Dodge.

Laura La Plante Laura La Plante (born Laura Laplante; November 1, 1904 – October 14, 1996) was an American film actress, whose more notable performances were in the silent era. Early life La Plante was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 1, 1904, the dau ...

and

Hedda Hopper Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885February 1, 1966) was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, her readership was 35 million. A strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committ ...

co-star in this comedy which has seen video and DVD releases. A previous silent film based on this story had been made in 1917 directed by

Harry Beaumont Harry Beaumont (10 February 1888 – 22 December 1966) was an American film director, actor, and screenwriter. He worked for a variety of production companies including 20th Century Fox, Fox, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Goldwyn, Metro Picture ...

for the Essanay Company.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: ''Skinner's Dress Suit''
/ref>

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine, Honey (La Plante) idolizes her husband Skinner (Denny) and makes him demand a raise which is refused as Jackson (Braham), the biggest customer, has withdrawn his business. Honey has already told friends about the raise and Skinner has not the heart to tell her the truth. She starts spending the "raise" by making him buy a dress suit made by a Jewish tailor (Strauss). This new suit opens the way to social triumph which, of course, means more spending. At work, the plodding Skinner is starting to blossom out and has the stenographer (Morrissey) teach him the

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

and gets caught by the boss. As the bills begin coming due, Skinner is fired but before he has a chance to tell Honey, she whisks him off to a society dance at a swell hotel.Jackson is stopping at the hotel and his pampered wife (Ward) insists she wants to go to the dance and he must get someone to invite them. He finally picks on Skinner to obtain his invitation. Skinner and Honey's social triumph comes when they teach the jazzy steps of the Charleston to the village "society swells," and soon an odd assortment of human beings of all shapes, types, and sizes are lined up trying bravely to master the intricacies of this peppy dance. Before the evening is over, Skinner has landed the big Johnson contract. The next morning his ex-bosses are camping on Skinner's trail begging him to come back as a partner in the firm, and he pretends that he must give his bosses' offer due deliberation.

Cast

References

External links

* *
Stills and review
at moviessilently.com * 1926 films American silent feature films Films directed by William A. Seiter Universal Pictures films Silent American comedy films American black-and-white films 1926 comedy films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub