The Handy Man

In a 1920s house, a diligent handyman arrives to fix a tangle of chores and quirks that keep the place hopping. He rubs elbows with a sharp minded cook, an exacting overseer, and visitors who arrive with their own agendas. A mysterious stranger and a house guest spark confusion, and the handyman must improvise through a string of pratfalls, misfit tools, and near misses that turn routine repairs into comic chaos. Nothing is solved by words, since this is a silent farce driven by sight gags, timing, and a flurry of slapstick that keeps everyone on their toes without a single spoken line. The pacing never lags, letting gags unfold in tight sequences that reward attentive viewers. For film lovers.

Directed by Robert P Kerr, The Handy Man is a 1923 silent comedy created by Bob Munson. Stan Laurel leads as the handyman, with Merta Sterling, Otto Fries, Harry Mann, and Babe London in supporting roles, in memorable supporting turns.

Box office details for this 1923 silent comedy are not readily available, and there is no widely cited worldwide gross. The film survives mainly in filmography records rather than commercial tallies; exact grosses are not listed in studio records today.

There are no well documented nominations or awards for The Handy Man. This Laurel appearance reflects his early screen work before the famous pairing with Oliver Hardy, showcasing his knack for brisk physical comedy and precise timing that helped define early silent humor, hinting at his later stardom for scholars.

The film embodies classic silent era humor with quick sight gags and a domestic setup that heightens conflict among the handyman, the cook, the overseer, and the guests. It relies on character, rhythm, and visual wit rather than dialogue to land its laughs, inviting viewers to notice the craft everywhere.