A Strong Revenge - 1913

Country: United States

Language: English (intertitles)

Director: Mack Sennett

Stars: Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand and Ford Sterling

Release Date: 10 March 1913 (USA)

Also known as: The Rivals (USA - reissue title); The Shoemaker's Revenge (USA - working title)

Production Co: Keystone Film Company

Sound Mix: Silent

Color: Black and White

Genres: Short | Comedy

In the early 1900's, German comedy teams were very popular and so were Limburger Cheese jokes and routines. Limburger was "the cheese you could smell in the dark." It is probable that this entire movie is based on a vaudeville routine. Both Sennett and Sterling had vaudeville backgrounds. and probably saw routines very much like this.

In a recent article called "The Cheese That Stands Alone," Ben Schwartz in "Lapham's Quarterly" notes the many films based on the bad smell of cheese:

"the movie, Oh! That Limburger: The Story of a Piece of Cheese (1906), in which two boys slip Limburger into their father's pockets, after which he is chased out of his office by his co-workers.

Still, it's doubtful Andrea foresaw how the new media of silent films aimed at younger, modern audiences would offer up Limburger as a comedy star. They include Limburger and Love (1910) and, conversely, Love and Limburger (1913), A Strong Revenge (1913), Adventures of Limburger and Schweitzer (1914), Limburger's Victory (1915), A Case of Limburger (1915), A Limburger Cyclone, (1917), and the Katzenjammer Kids cartoon, Down Where The Limburger Blows (1917). In Chaplin's Shoulder Arms (1918), the comedian plays a GI at the front who receives Limburger in a care package. He needs a gas mask to get near it, and then throws the cheese into an enemy trench forcing thirteen German soldiers to surrender. As a war hero, Limburger found one of its few positive images."

What is amazing about this movie, which is really one long and one short practical joke, is the ability of the actors to make you see how bad the cheese smells. The facial expression by Normand and the rest of the cast are so good, that you feel how bad the cheese smells. 

Cohen's Fire Sale - 1907

Country: United States

Language: English

Director: Edwin S. Porter

Release Date: 29 June 1907 (USA)

Production Co: Edison Manufacturing Company

Runtime: 13 min

Sound Mix: Silent

Color: Black and White

Plot Keywords: One Reeler | Garbage Collector | Firefighting | Milliner | Jewish Stereotype  | Insurance Fraud | Arson

Genres: Short | Comedy

A shipment of merchandise from France arrives at Cohen's Millinery, and is placed outside the storefront, where Mr. Cohen opens it up. When he and his employees have gone back into the store for a moment, a trash collector mistakenly picks up the crate and carries it off. A frantic chase results in most of the hats being scattered throughout the neighborhood. Later, Mr. Cohen, upset about the loss, looks for a way to make some of his money back.

Connections

Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005) (Video) - The entire film is included on the DVD 

Black Eyes - 1915

Country: United States

Language: English

Director: Willard Louis

Writer: Lee Arthur (story)

Stars: Raymond McKee, Jean Dumar and Guido Colucci

Release Date: 6 October 1915 (USA)

Production Co: Edison Company

Sound Mix: Silent

Color: Black and White

Genres: Short | Comedy

A husband and wife swear never again to sneak out on each other with their friends, and are both faced with complications when they go back on their word.

Jack and Beatrice Willard have plans to go to the theater, but when Jack's law partner gets tickets to a prize fight, Jack lies to his wife and cancels the theater trip. Beatrice then decides to play bridge with some friends, and when they both come home very late, they have a bitter argument. The next morning, they make up, and swear never again to sneak out on each other. But then, on their wedding anniversary, a similar situation arises, and this time both of them will find it much harder to explain themselves.

Connections

Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005) (Video) - The entire film is included on the DVD 

The Lesser Evil - 1912

Country: United States

Language: English

Director: D.W. Griffith

Writer: George Hennessy

Stars: Blanche Sweet, Edwin August and Mae Marsh

Release Date: 29 April 1912 (USA)

Also known as: El mal menor (Spain)

Filming Locations: California, USA

Production Co: Biograph Company

Sound Mix: Silent

Color: Black and White

Plot Keywords: Rescue | Smuggler | Smuggling | Boat Captain | Kidnapping  | Melodrama | Ship | Sailor

Genres: Short | Drama

A young woman has a peaceful existence, living near the sea and enjoying a romance with a simple, hard-working fisherman. But she finds herself in sudden danger when she happens upon the crew of a boat while they are ashore in the act of smuggling. She is abducted and forced aboard their boat. While the fisherman races to organize a rescue mission, the crew of the boat decides to seize her from the captain, in order to have their way with her. 

Connections

Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)