Hired and Fired

• Release Year: 1916

Plot

This Pokes and Jabbs comedy takes a poke, so to speak, at the famed Raffles character of E.W. Hornung's stories (actually, the silent era's best Raffles -- John Barrymore -- wouldn't make his appearance until 1917). Pokes (Walter Stull) and Jabbs (Bobby Burns) are hired as butler and secretary for Mr. Gink. The two new employees both fall for the maid, Ethel (Ethel Burton). Gink has a party, which includes the Countess de Splash and her escort, Cyril Cerise. Also joining the festivities is Rattles, a society crook who also happens to be Ethel's real love. The countess is wearing a gorgeous ankle bracelet, which both Pokes and Jabbs want to steal for Ethel. Pokes manages to get it, but the police show up and he sneaks the bracelet into Jabbs' pocket. Jabbs finds it and passes it onto Rattles. Rattles escapes with Ethel, while the police inform Gink that since the society crook has been in attendance at his party, recovery of the bracelet is unlikely. Gink makes up for this terrible social gaffe by taking it out on Pokes and Jabbs. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide