A masterpiece of silent comedy, The Italian Straw Hat is a tribute by René Clair to the early French pioneer filmmakers, but one which moves with a rhythm and tempo unseen before its time. The setting for this delightful farce is 1895. On the way to a wedding, the groom's horse stops for breakfast. This consists of one straw hat, belonging to a lady out for a stroll with a young officer. As she is married - but not to the officer - it is strongly recommended that, in order to allay the suspicions of the lady's husband, the hapless groom produce an identical hat. This he attempts while going through with the day's festivities, which are farcical enough to begin with. (JB)