A crime and romance film... but with monkeys, ducks and other animals as the stars! A hotel employee is in love with the director’s daughter, very much to the chagrin of the director. But in the end, the (un)happy suitor is hailed as a hero when he saves the father of his beloved from the machinations of two villains who are after the hotel safe. LOVE’S REWARD is one of thirteen short comedy films in the “Dippy-Doo-Dad” series, for which an entire town with incredibly detailed miniature sets was built for the animal actors.
The silent screen was full of animal stars. The lack of sound made it easy to instruct the bestial Barrymores and put them through their paces in front of the camera. Launched in 1923, Hal Roach’s “Dippy-Doo-Dad Comedies” was possibly the first series to create its own all-animal alternative universe. Monkeys, ducks, dogs, chickens, goats, and guinea pigs made up the rotating casts of the films, complete with amazingly detailed miniature sets and costumes. […] What gives these one-reelers their surreal edge is the deadpan seriousness of the clichéd stories, paired with the elaborate nature of production. An entire little Dippy-Doo-Dad town was built with running streetcars and automobiles. Hal Roach’s novel idea lasted for 13 instalments. Having run their course, the “Dippy-Doo-Dads” were discontinued in 1924.
Steve Massa, 38th Il Cinema Ritrovato catalogue, Bologna 2024
Hal Roach’s trained monkeys burlesque that time-worn theme of young love triumphant to perfection. While the youngsters will be satisfied just watching the animals, grown-ups will be apt to chuckle with delight over every bit of business – the stupid goose, cast as a house detective, Bad Bill Sikes who steals the “jools,” the poor but honest hero, cast as a room clerk and in love with the proprietor's daughter, they're all here. And after the hero saves father and the “jools” the lovers win a “God bless you, my children,” from stern papa. You’ll be giving your audience something really amusing when you run this latest “Dippy-Doo-Dad.”
Exhibitor’s Trade Review, 14 March 1924
