The gardner just wants to water his plants in the grass so that his plants can grow and flourish. Let's say that the antagonist in the film was his neighbor and that he just wants a reaction from the gardener just for fun. The legacy has involved usually an innocent bystander and a mischievous prankster just for comic fare nowadays the idea would be simple and tame. As the evolution of comedy has evolved over the years. So the film set a precedent for other comic films to follow as an example as well as television. This film I found out was referenced in an episode of The Simpsons Season 14 episode 5 titled "Helter Shelter" where Bart suggested that they go outside and see Homer drinking from a hose just to enjoy their merriment since there is nothing exciting on television anymore as an example.
I want to add that I also felt like there was a nod to this in The Simpsons episode A Star is Burns that had Hans Moleman, who typically is cast as an old, weak and simply naive character suffering constant humorous misfortunte such as his attempt to move his house by car which was thrawted by Homer's impatience and resulted in it's destruction but also the claim that "drinking made him look like this and he's only 31 years old." Anyway in this episode Hans Moleman presents an old timey silent short called Man Getting Hit By Football which plays out as expected. There is the silent music, the same concise setup and obviously a predictable enough ending. The Simpsons has plenty of nods to the silent era in it's episodes and this one was no exception.
Discussion of the First Slapstick Film: "L'Arroseur Arrosé" (1896)
in OUCH! A Salute to Slapstick
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I want to add that I also felt like there was a nod to this in The Simpsons episode A Star is Burns that had Hans Moleman, who typically is cast as an old, weak and simply naive character suffering constant humorous misfortunte such as his attempt to move his house by car which was thrawted by Homer's impatience and resulted in it's destruction but also the claim that "drinking made him look like this and he's only 31 years old." Anyway in this episode Hans Moleman presents an old timey silent short called Man Getting Hit By Football which plays out as expected. There is the silent music, the same concise setup and obviously a predictable enough ending. The Simpsons has plenty of nods to the silent era in it's episodes and this one was no exception.