Jean the Match-Maker (1910) User Reviews

The Go-Between

[boblipton · 5/10 · 19 August 2012]

This is the second starring vehicle I have seen of Jean the Vitagraph Dog. Jean appeared in a score of shorts in the early teens and she was a handsome black-and-white border collie, that most intelligent of sheepdogs. This one turned up in New Zealand and can be viewed at the National Film Preservation Foundation Filmsite.

In this one, Florence Turner and Mary Fuller are camping for vacation and Jean brings them baskets of doughnuts from Charles Kent and Ralph Ince. Eventually the ladies follow Jean back to her shy masters and romance blossoms.

Jean isn't given that much to do in this picture, but the humans are good actors too. If this isn't as charming as A TINTYPE ROMANCE, it's still good to see.

Jean the Match-Maker review

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 15 May 2020]

One of only three surviving shorts out of more than 20 made by director Laurence Trimble and his dog Jean for Vitagraph between 1909 and 1913. The dog is a natural in front of the camera, and the picture is laugh out loud funny at times thanks to the comic antics of the two gawky lads whose awkward attempts to woo Florence Turner and her friend invariably end with them running away in fear.

I think the last minute or so might be missing from this one...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 30 July 2013]

For 1910, "Jean the Match-Maker" is actually an amazingly long film--clocking in at about 14 minutes. What's also amazing is that Jean is a dog! The film begins with two young women going on a vacation. As they camp out, along comes a collie--carrying a picnic basket full of food! The women are impressed but have no idea who sent the food. In actuality, it seems to have been Jean the dog--as this pooch seems intent on match-making, as there are two young men at home. Eventually, the four manage to get together thanks to Jean--but also the final moments of the film appear to be missing.

This is a rather cute story. And, because most films made in 1910 were AMAZINGLY simple, this one is better than most because it tells such a complete story (even though, as I mentioned, the final minute or so appears to be missing).