Monday, January 21, 2013

The Little Train Robbery - 1905


Country: United States
Language: English
Director: Edwin S. Porter
Release Date: 1 September 1905 (USA)
Filming Locations: Versailles, Pennsylvania, USA
Production Co: Edison Manufacturing Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Escape | Horse | Parody | Train Robbery | Kiddie Train  | Mask | Rowboat | Bandit | Hideout | Boy | Swimming | Barn | Police Chase | Loot | Children | Girl | Child As Adult | Diving | Spoof Title | Arrest | Pursuit | Hit On The Head | Police Pursuit | River
Genres: Short | Action | Crime | Family | Western
In this parody of 1903's _Great Train Robbery, The (1903)_ , also made by Edwin S. Porter, young bandits rob the passengers of a kiddie train and are chased by police officers.
Seven or eight fellows are sitting around when their boss, a gal, tells them to put on their masks; she brings in a blindfolded man and sends the boys out to do a job. They borrow horses, block a train track, and set up an ambush. They knock out the engineer and rob each passenger, all of whom are dressed in white. The gang escapes in the first car of the train, then they remount their horses and scramble through forest and across a creek. Police pursue on foot. Back at the hideout, the gang split the swag and run from the cops. The gang tries swimming to safety, but the cops have a rowboat. Will any escape?
Trivia
The little train carrying the children appears to have the words "Olympia Park RR" written on its side, which might or might not be an indication of where it was, at least partially, filmed.
Connections
Featured in Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005) (Video) - The entire film is included on the DVD

Life of an American Policeman - 1905


Country: United States
Directors: Wallace McCutcheon, Edwin S. Porter
Release Date: 6 December 1905 (USA)
Production Co: Edison Manufacturing Company
Runtime: 14 min
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Drama | Short
A policeman has breakfast with his wife and children, and then prepares for the day's work. While on his beat, he finds and helps a lost child. Later, several officers try to save a woman who has attempted to drown herself. And there are some even more hazardous situations yet to come. 
Trivia
In December 1905, this movie was shown in New York City at two vaudeville benefits for the Police Relief Fund.
Connections
Featured in Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005) (Video) - The entire film is included on the DVD

Monday, January 7, 2013

Moonshiner Number 13 - 1920


Country: United States
Stars: Billy Franey
Production Co: Reelcraft Pictures
Genres: Comedy | Short

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Oh, What a Knight - 1919


Country: United States
Language: English
Director: Fred Hibbard
Stars: Mack Swain, Ethel Teare and Jack Cooper
Release Date: 26 January 1919 (USA)
Production Co: Fox Film Corporation
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Short | Comedy

A Busy Night - 1916


Country: United States
Language: English (intertitles)
Director: Marcel Perez
Stars: Marcel Perez
Release Date: 26 June 1916 (USA)
Also known as: Tweedledum's Busy Night (USA - alternative title)
Production Co: Eagle Films II
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Short | Comedy
Trivia
The Library of Congress has a copy of this film.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Goofy Ghosts - 1928


Country: United States
Language: English
Director: Harold Beaudine
Writers: Sig Herzig, Al Martin (titles)
Stars: Jimmie Adams, Lorraine MacLean and Billy Engle
Release Date: 28 April 1928 (USA)
Production Co: Christie Film Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Comedy | Short
A print of this film survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archives.