Watch Choose Your Weapons

Choose Your Weapons is a 1922 silent comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring Bobby Vernon, Charlotte Stevens and Earle Rodney. The film centers on Vernon's character, a slightly bumbling but well-intentioned man who finds himself in a series of mishaps as he tries to impress a young woman. The film begins with Vernon's character, who is referred to only as "the boy", attempting to propose to his girlfriend, played by Stevens. However, his plans are interrupted when her father, played by Rodney, comes home unexpectedly early. The boy decides to impress his prospective father-in-law by showing off his marksmanship skills with a pair of guns.

From there, the plot becomes increasingly complicated as the boy finds himself inadvertently involved in a series of gun-related mishaps. He accidentally shoots a hole in the ceiling and a vase, and tries to cover up his mistakes by blaming it on a neighbor's dog. But the dog, of course, ends up causing even more trouble.

Along the way, the boy also finds himself at odds with a rival suitor for Stevens' affections, played by Edgar Kennedy. Kennedy's character is a more traditionally "manly" man, and the boy feels that he needs to compete by becoming a skilled marksman.

The humor in Choose Your Weapons is mostly physical and slapstick in nature, with Vernon in particular displaying a talent for physical comedy. There are plenty of pratfalls, exaggerated facial expressions, and other physical gags that are sure to elicit laughs from even the most stoic viewer.

At the same time, however, the film also has some clever satirical undertones. The boy's attempts to impress his girlfriend's father with his gun skills can be seen as a commentary on the way that men feel pressure to be "masculine" and demonstrate their prowess with traditionally masculine activities. Similarly, the rivalry between the boy and Kennedy's character can be seen as a commentary on the way that men often compete with one another for the attention and affection of women.

One interesting aspect of Choose Your Weapons is the way that it blends together elements of different genres. On the one hand, it is a romantic comedy that centers on the relationship between the boy and his girlfriend. On the other hand, it is also a slapstick comedy that revels in physical humor and visual gags. And at the same time, it has elements of a Western, with the boy's skill with guns playing a central role in the plot.

Overall, Choose Your Weapons is a delightful comedy that has held up surprisingly well over the years. Despite being nearly a century old, its humor and satire still feel fresh and relevant today. And while it may not be a cinematic masterpiece on the level of some other silent comedies, it is a thoroughly enjoyable film that is well worth watching.