What Happened to Emile (Cooperation & Obedience): A Citizenship Chaos Lesson (1920s)

Peek into "What Happened to Emile (Cooperation & Obedience)," a silent 1920s black-and-white short that spins a lively citizenship lesson through young Emile’s misadventure. When his father challenges him to picture a home where everyone acts on whim—kids strew messes, mothers skip lunch, Emile gobbles the family’s dinner for himself—chaos erupts. A bold tramp snatches Emile’s food, sparking a frantic chase, all captured in shots ripe for logging. The title card lands the punch: “Even in a free country like America, authority is necessary.” This quirky reel hooks history buffs, silent film fans, and civics enthusiasts with its playful jab at freedom’s limits in a Jazz Age frame.