Is Hit-the-Trail Holliday Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1918)

📖 The Core Premise

Hit-the-Trail Holliday returns to the screen in 1918, bringing a fresh narrative to the Comedy genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Bartender Billy Holliday loses his job for refusing to supply drinks to minors at the behest of his employer. In the little country town he wanders into looking for work he finds two elements, the wets and the drys. When he meets the daughter of the leader of the drys, he casts in his lot with them, and when the leader of the wet faction threatens vengeance, Billy is instantly on the job. At a meeting of prohibitionists, which the brewery element seeks to disrupt by the introduction of a number of roughnecks, Holliday takes the platform and nullifies their efforts with a fiery speech. He finally succeeds in putting the wet element out of business--and in winning the love of Edith Jason."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Hit-the-Trail Holliday, even the presence of George M. Cohan struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Comedy. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Hit-the-Trail Holliday worth your time? If you appreciate Comedy films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Hit-the-Trail Holliday misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 50 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.