A guy is asked to play Santa but a burglar gets wind of it. So he uses his knowledge to pilfer the presents. It's a decent little story and pulled off decently. The bar is not very high in these early films, but this is a cut above some of the others.
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Hitchcoc22 December 2020
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screenwriter-972-14961220 December 2021Lots going on in this extended 'Octavious the Amateur Detective' series. Mistaken identities, peril and confusion abound. And there's Bliss Milford. A very good actress for the era and a delight to see, whenever she's on screen your eyes will be drawn to her. She knows what to do in front of a camera and does it naturally. Saw this with a new score and that added to the film's appeal.
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SnoopyStyle22 December 2023Octavius the Amateur Detective gets a note from his friends, the Randalls. They want Octavius to play Santa Claus for their children's party. While they're having the party, a burglar slips in and starts stealing while wearing a Santa Claus costume. Octavius vows to find the criminal Santa Claus and retrieve all the stolen gifts.
This is an Edison film. I do not like him sticking the cast list whenever a new actor shows up. It is really disruptive. I am glad they eventually stopped doing that. I don't think that the premise makes much sense. It's an excuse for a Santa chase. That is almost worth it. -
This entertaining feature is one of the better movies in the 'Octavius, Amateur Detective' series. It has an interesting story, and it builds things up to a resourceful chase sequence that combines suspense with humor. It does have some of the technical flaws, mainly in the editing, that were unfortunately common in the series, but otherwise it's pretty good.
As Octavius, Barry O'Moore efficiently defines the energetic, slightly self-satisfied amateur detective, making him likable despite his flaws and blind spots. Here, Octavius is asked to dress up as 'Santa Claus' for the benefit of his friends' children, only to become involved with a burglar who uses a 'Santa' suit for his own purposes. There is also a little romance thrown in on the side.
The best part of the movie is the chase sequence between the two 'Santas', which has some amusing moments and a clever outcome. The pace is a little more even than in other Octavius features, and the editing is also better, with only one or two really significant defects.
For a time, this series must have been relatively popular, given the number of features in it. The lively approach and the simple but well-defined central character also keep it watchable today. -
boblipton21 December 2020Barry O'Moore is ordered to attend a party for children at which he will play Santa Claus. When he arrives, he is given a Santa costume, but he has brought his own. When he goes to change, he is sapped by burglar John Sturgeon, wearing his own Santa outfit; Sturgeon then takes a train, with O'Moore close behind.
It's the twelfth and final episode of a serial about this gink -- O'Moore, that is. Given that it is a complete story, except for why everyone has a Santa suit, it should be noted that the term "serial" in that period might refer to what we call a series nowadays. The story also ran concurrently in a magazine, offering, presumably, more interior detail. -
planktonrules30 August 2017For some strange reason, Alpha Video stuck this short film on a DVD entitled "Silent Comedy Marathon". Why is this so strange? Well, it's not a comedy! The film is one of 14 about Detective Octavius. I've never seen any of the others and am not sure whether or not they even exist any more.
The story begins with the Detective being asked to play Santa for the kids of some friends. He's happy to and soon arrives. However, so does a crook who attacks Octavius and makes off with many of the family's presents. Octavius pursues the guy and saves the day.
If this were made later, I'd say the film was pretty dull. But for the era, it's not particularly bad...nor particularly distinguished. -
preppy-327 December 2003Comedy about when two different people both don a Santa Claus suit. One is a burglar, the other an amateur detective. It does lead to some amusing complications and a big old happy ending.
It's just silly fluff but entertaining. Some of the acting overly broad but it actually fits the material. Also perfect viewing for the whole family. Fun and cute. -
Ron Oliver2 January 2002THE AVDENTURE OF THE WRONG SANTA CLAUS begins when two very different fellows - an amateur detective & a robber - both don Santa suits...
This is an agreeable little film, with some pleasant romantic touches at the end. Notice how the items on the shelves of the toy shop are blowing around quite vigorously - a sure sign that the scene was filmed out of doors on one of Edison's primitive roofless one-wall sets.
Al Kryszak provided the score for the video compilation A Christmas Past, in which this film appears. -
deickemeyer24 June 2019Twelfth of the "Octavius Amateur Detective" series, featuring Barry O'Moore, supported by Bliss Milford, Richard Neill, Elsie MacLeod and others. A conglomeration of incidents in which Octavius gets mixed up with a burglar, and the burglar gets mixed up with Octavius and the others in the cast. It is quite entertaining to see how it ultimately works out, but of course Octavius comes out on top. - The Moving Picture World, January 2, 1915