Bad Influence This film marked a disastrous turn in American society. No, I’m not talking about the overtly racist content. Any nitwit can see that and adjust, though I suspect that my grandchildren will decry with equal vehemence the content of the films I now casually accept. The disaster that “Birth” brought was far more… Continue reading The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Tag: 1910s
Films released in the 1910s
Re Lear (1910)
Colour Only If you have not seen this, it is a pantomime of a play with all the characters and plot of “Lear,” but wonderfully coloured. Just looking at the colouring is an adventure because they are so abstract, so unnaturally pure. But the sad thing is that many people, including actors I suppose, think… Continue reading Re Lear (1910)
A Dash Through the Clouds (1912)
Dimensional It wasn’t until Tarkovsky that we got a truly dimensional awareness in our camera, and not until “Finding Nemo” that it hit the mainstream. There was a hiccup there with the first “Star Wars” and “Soy Cuba”, but it faded fast. Not that we didn’t always want a swooping camera. Here is the first… Continue reading A Dash Through the Clouds (1912)
Fatty Joins the Force (1913)
Behind Bars Sometimes it is a joy rummaging around in the old Hal Roach and Mack Sennett comedies. There’s an assumption behind the humor that by itself is rewarding: physical stuff and often heartfelt goodness. But sometimes they fall into sour recall, the times not being so forgiving of the humor of pain and embarrassment.… Continue reading Fatty Joins the Force (1913)
Fatty’s Spooning Days (1915)
Wife-swapping As a comedy, this one is poor in the things that seemed to matter, the physical bits, the comic takes when the situation turns sour. But its amazing in what it chooses as its story. Remember, film was young, younger in those days that the web is now. It was still experimenting and the… Continue reading Fatty’s Spooning Days (1915)
Frankenstein (1910)
The Witch’s Looking-glass I’m putting this on my list of films you must see. It is short and at first glance completely uninteresting. But look again. Here’s what happens: Young Frankenstein goes to college where he discovers the secret of life. Interesting that the filmmakers would think it cinematic to watch a man think and… Continue reading Frankenstein (1910)