All on Account of a Transfer (1913)

In a land of unfamiliar faces and tongues, Herr Frantz Muller, a stout German newcomer, finds himself navigating the intricacies of the American transportation system. A benevolent conductor, sensing his confusion, hands him a transfer to a crosstown streetcar and instructs him to follow a fellow passenger, a lady headed the same way. Unbeknownst to Muller, the lady decides to seize the spare forty minutes before her transfer lapses to indulge in a shopping spree. With the conductor's advice etched in his mind, Muller follows the lady through a labyrinth of shopping aisles and bustling bargain counters. His dogged pursuit, though born out of innocent misunderstanding, soon arouses the woman's suspicion. Despite her efforts to shake him off by weaving through the throng of eager shoppers, Muller remains on her trail, echoing the determination of legendary detectives. The shopping adventure culminates in a dramatic twist when the alarmed lady calls for help, leading to Muller's arrest. In the echo-filled confines of the police station, Muller attempts to explain his predicament in his native tongue, but the Irish sergeant, a stranger to the German language, is left perplexed. Just as Muller seems destined for a cell, the lady learns the truth behind his persistent following. She withdraws her charge, acts as his interpreter, and guides him to the correct car. This comedic tale of cultural confusion and mistaken intentions concludes on a heartwarming note as the once suspicious lady and her persistent follower strike up an unlikely friendship. The final glimpse of them is on a crosstown car, with the charming silhouette of Cupid suggestive of a budding bond formed out of an amusing misunderstanding.

All on Account of a Transfer is a comedy movie featuring William Bechtel and directed by C. Jay Williams.

All on Account of a Transfer is currently streaming on Fandor.