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The Grocery Clerk

Name: The Grocery Clerk
Director: Larry Semon
Released: 1919
Duration: 27 min

Representation Score

0.4/10

Minimal

1919

Director

Larry Semon

Runtime

27 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Grocery Clerk is a typical silent slapstick comedy from the early 20th century. The film adheres to standard romantic-comedy clichés, focusing on a protagonist, a love interest, and a traditional antagonist. Since the film emphasizes situational mishaps and physical humor, it does not challenge established social hierarchies or romantic archetypes. Instead, it reinforces these conventions. Overall, the movie offers a glimpse into early 20th-century social and commercial stability, without delving into complex issues of diversity or progressive representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Grocery Clerk have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on a traditional romance between a clerk and a postmistress, without addressing non-traditional gender identities or questioning the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does The Grocery Clerk portray gender?

Limited

The story follows traditional gender roles where the male character drives the plot, while the female character serves mainly as his love interest.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Grocery Clerk?

Minimal

The setting implies a homogeneous society with no evidence of a diverse cast or varied ethnic backgrounds.

How does The Grocery Clerk represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story is set in a typical small town with interpersonal conflicts, lacking any critique of Western institutions or cultural norms.

Does The Grocery Clerk include disability representation?

Minimal

No information is provided regarding the inclusion or portrayal of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film presents a clear, structured romantic-comedy narrative typical of the silent era.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional gender characters.
The narrative relies on traditional gender roles and romantic archetypes.
There is a lack of racial and ethnic diversity within the social structure.
The story does not offer any critique of Western institutions or cultural norms.

Official Synopsis

Big Ben has the largest store in the town of New Ralgia. His chief clerk is in love with the post mistress. The three of them get involved in a series of mishaps with their customers and with the town ladies' man, whose advances conceal a more sinister purpose.

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