The Baron - 1911

Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 31 August 1911 (USA)
Filming Locations: Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA
Production Co: Biograph Company
Genres: Comedy | Short
Director: Mack Sennett
Writer: Edwin August
Stars: Dell Henderson, Mabel Normand and Joseph Graybill
If you want to understand how you joke with yourself (which is the centerpiece of being) you need to understand how film comedy works. And for that you have to experience the inventors: Chaplin, Keaton, Arbuckle. And deeper yet, the inventor of the inventors, Sennett. He is that ghost behind the babbling ghosts in your soul.
This is one of Sennett's apprentice films from the period where he was directing... one every week. They aren't remembered fondly. This is the first I've seen from this period as they are hard to find, and he didn't write it.
Nonetheless, there are several comic twists in this seven minute story, twisted cleanly. No sign yet of the frantic.

A Roman Orgy - 1911

Country: France
Release Date: 24 November 1911 (France)
Also Known As: L'orgie romaine (Original French title)
Director: Louis Feuillade
Stars: Jean Aymé, Louise Lagrange and Luitz-Morat
Plot Keywords: Lion | Roman Empire | Assassination
Genres: Drama | Short
Production Co:
Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont
Elagabalus was married as many as five times, lavished favors on courtiers popularly assumed to have been his homosexual lovers, and was reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. His reputed behavior infuriated the Praetorian Guard, the Senate and the common people alike.(Wikipedia)
Feuillade could have chosen a more famous emperor ,for this obscure one -who also despised Roman religion- looks like Nero or Caligula. It's Rome 218 AD,folks ,and the decadent emperor is having a good time with male and female courtiers taking part of an orgy.The emperor and the ladies' costumes seem more oriental than Roman.
First sequence:looks like a fashion show .
Second sequence: the grooming of the emperor: although the emperor seems to enjoy the ladies who keep him company ,he looks himself more like a woman .alas !someone scratches the emperor !"you deserve to die" ;in spite of the people who implore him ,he is delivered to the lions.
Third sequence :the lions pit;people have a wonderful time watching the lions' meal;De Mille will show the same sadism when he films his "sign of the cross"
Fourth sequence:the orgy (at last for that's what the audience was waiting for)binge,pagan dances and flowers showering down:lovely.No sleeping around.Alas ,the lions spoil the party.
Fifth sequence:the assassination:the courtesans decide to put an end to this shameful reign.Down on his knees,the king tries to save his life ,crying for mercy;contrast between the effeminate sovereign and the virile brutal guards .
Thus died Elagabalus.