A Prohibition Monkey 1920
Step back to 1920, when America's thirst was outlawed and Beer Bottle Bend felt like the last dry frontier on Earth.
Director: William Campbell
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Prohibition Monkey (1920) about?
Set in Beer Bottle Bend during Prohibition, the film follows a traveling evangelist and a peevish circus elephant as they disrupt a saloon-dominated town. When Joe Martin, a 'highly-cultured' monkey, joins the fray, the result is a whirlwind of satire, slapstick, and rebellious humor aimed straight at America's temperance laws.
Who directed A Prohibition Monkey?
William Campbell directed this 1920 silent comedy, blending sharp social satire with fast-paced visual gags.
Who stars in A Prohibition Monkey?
The film features Joe Martin, Fontaine La Rue, Frank Hayes, Robert McKenzie, and Larry McGrath in a lively ensemble cast.
Is A Prohibition Monkey (1920) worth watching?
While it's a short silent-era comedy with no IMDb rating, its blend of social satire, physical humor, and early 20th-century charm makes it a curious relic worth a peek for fans of vintage cinema and Prohibition-era antics.
How long is A Prohibition Monkey?
A Prohibition Monkey runs approximately 30 minutes, delivering a tight, punchy silent comedy experience.
About A Prohibition Monkey (1920) — A wild silent comedy monkey outwits a Prohibition-era saloon town
Step back to 1920, when America's thirst was outlawed and Beer Bottle Bend felt like the last dry frontier on Earth. Inside this sun-baked frontier town, saloon king Riley runs a Sunday-friendly business with iron fists and slick deals, while a once-bustling church sits silently boarded-up—until a traveling evangelist with a circus past rolls in alongside a famously grumpy elephant named Charles Bullephant. Enter Joe Martin, a cultured primate whose arrival sets the town's chaotic gears in motion, poking fun at Prohibition-era hypocrisy with slapstick antics, moral satire, and an unshakable spirit of rebellion. Directed by William Campbell, this silent comedy blends sharp social commentary with visual gags, riding the line between family-friendly fun and cheeky subversion.
Director William Campbell delivers a brisk 30-minute romp through a town where even the cradles are stuffed with chewing tobacco. Joe Martin, the so-called 'highly-cultured' monkey, stands out among a lively ensemble cast including Fontaine La Rue and Frank Hayes, whose expressions alone steal every scene. Amid sawdust and saloons, the film balances hearty laughter with subtle jabs at temperance politics, making it a time-capsule of early cinema mischief that still entertains today.