Domestic Difficulties (1916) User Reviews

Husbands running around on their wives--even back in 1916

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 13 June 2014]

This is an early Mutt and Jeff cartoon. Based on the characters created by the cartoonist, Bud Fisher, the pair of characters appeared in 1907 and continued until 1983--with various artists illustrating them. While Fisher told the world he made the cartoons himself and his name appears prominently on the title cards, according to Leonard Maltin's history of animation, Fisher actually left these silent cartoons up to others to make.

I've seen several of the Mutt and Jeff cartoons and compared to them, "Domestic Difficulties" seemed a bit stiffer and more poorly animated. But, considering how early these cartoons were, I tend to cut them some slack.

The cartoon finds Mutt at home and his wife is going out---so Mutt sneaks off to the bar with Jeff. Unfortunately, they get so drunk that they don't come back until 3am---and wow, is Mutt's wife mad! In many ways, the plot is much like a Laurel & Hardy film or episode of "The Honeymooners" or "The Flintstones" and "Domestic Difficulties" is one of the earliest films with such domestic entanglements. Worth seeing though far from the best in the series.

Oddly, I found this cartoon as an extra in the Popeye multi-disc set!

One of The Funniest Cartoons From 1916 Ever.

[verbusen · 10/10 · 17 April 2024]

I was taken aback that this has a pretty low overall rating under 6. Domestic Difficulties has a lot of rough edges to it. Plus its silent and in black and white so some viewers may dismiss it and not be entertained. As another contributor has said, there is reptation in the movements and you can see a lot of the scenes are using the same drawings. BUT, the material is hilarious! The humor starts nuanced where Mutt (who's wife calls him Augustus here) is sitting at home stroking a banjo or small guitar acting like a regular boy scout saying "yes Dear" to everything his wife demands of him. This is very similar in premise to the 1930 Laurel and Hardy film, Blotto, predating it by 14 years; when Mutt telephones Jeff to meet him for drinks after he gets away from his wife. The boys eventually get out thinking the coast is clear (its not) and get smashed drunk. Which, after personally being in that situation before, with everything spinning around, is hilarious. I played this twice, the second time with my wife and she was greatly amused also, especially the end when the boys come back to Mutt's home. I watched this on the internet, its public domain and easy to find. Thinking that this funny adult humor is from 1916 gives it extra star ratings in my book, kind of dirty! 10 of 10!

Early Mutt & Jeff

[Mozjoukine · 27 January 2013]

Animation from the Mut and Jeff series is a bit crude in it's movement and it's wife with rolling pin humor but even now it's passably amusing.

While his wife is gone, the errant husband sneaks out for a night drinking at the Dutchman' with his stumpy buddy. On their return, the wife clobbers the friend, who tells him the coast is clear and winks at the camera.

Looks like a drawn on paper, style with lots of repetitions. The dialogue balloon captions are brighter than the action and have been laid on top of this - one effect where the street spins round the drunken pair.

Interesting to see Charlie Bowers' name in the credits.