Though only the second half survives, here's a synopsis of what's left: Stan is a Robin Hood-type character in a medieval walled town. He's chased by an army of knights, but both he and his pursuers ride music-hall half-horse costumes in lieu of real steads. He proceeds to fight, Fairbanks-like, dozens of swordsmen at once, and defeats his rival one-on-one, leaving him to marry the princess in a state ceremony.
Early silent screen leading man Roy Stewart played a dual-role in this independently produced "Northwestern" about identical twins, separated at birth, who grow up on opposite sides of the law.
Stan is Jimmy Smith, a salesman who is trying hard to pitch his Napoleon book to an uninterested customer as they stand in front of some iron gates. When an elderly gentleman approaches the two men he uses sign language to communicate to the 'customer' and they leave together. This is when Stan sees the sign for the Deaf & Dumb Institute that his subject was standing in front of. An elderly lady then walks out of the gates and Stan uses sign language in an attempt to talk to her. Of course, she is not deaf or dumb and gives him some verbal abuse for assuming so.
A 1923 silent comedy.
