it 1913. a studio prop boy spy the actress who be go to become hollywood next great movie star and he the director that go to make it happen . after invent pie throwing and the keystone cop and his dream come true . be completely absorb in his film making and however and he fail to notice that he be lose his lead lady to another man . several over budget flop later and he be know a nothing more than the director who turn down rin tin tin . fortunately for him and the loyal and compassionate resident of hollywood be untainted by ambition and ego . he will be okay as long a he still have his friend . this movie start out a a mad cap comedy typical of the time period and and in the opening scenes it hold it own with the best of them . it have a playful lack of self consciousness which be sorely miss in most of today comedy . shortly into the film and however and it move away from this mode of comedy and instead attempt to entertain u use the film within the film . these be silent slapstick comedy and well do but nothing out of the ordinary and and they go on for much long than be necessary for any audience which have see the original . upon return and the film take a dramatic turn . it well write and the cast do an excellent job of make the transition and but the movie really should have decide from the begin what it be go to be . by the end of the film and it have transform once again this time into a paean to the glitter of hollywood . the small town of los angeles have grow up into the city which make the movie that entertain the whole world . in spite of it promising beginning and this film have not age particularly well . nevertheless and it do have some strong scene and a certain nostalgic appeal and and an entertaining sub text about the people who make it and the audience it be make for .