Review(s): DVD More Treasures from American Film Archives 1894-1931
Surprising, inspirational and enjoyable
This marvellous second set of rare archival material never before released on video truly is a treasure for anyone interested in the development of motion pictures in all its genres. I found the diverse variety on these 3 dics surprising and impressive, as well as very educational. An excellent book contains all the background information you might start to wonder about once you see some of the unusual and unexpected short films, and there are commentaries by critics and historians on the discs as well. As a silent film enthusiast, I was most delighted to see the four feature films (over an hour in length) in this set, as well as the poignant D.W. Griffith short, "The Country Doctor" an action-packed episode from the movie serial "The Hazards of Helen", and the fascinating 1907 Edison short, "The Teddy Bears" with impressive puppet animation. And I was simply amazed by the fun animations by the Inkwell Studios and in particular, the bizarre comedy short "There It Is" with Charley Bowers.
The four feature films show the development of the movie: from the stirring story about Sioux and Cheyenne conflicts in Thomas Ince's "The Invaders" of 1912, to the plight of Dutch migrants who fall victim to a gang of counterfeiters in "Gretchen the Greenhorn" played superbly by the talented Dorothy Gish, then to "Clash of the Wolves" in 1925 starring Rin-Tin-Tin, the amazing super dog, giving the most impressive performance I've ever seen by an animal actor; and finally the smooth and sophisticated Ernst Lubitsch rendition of Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" rounds off this collection. Apart from these feature films, each disc has been carefully arranged to present a balanced and fascinating variety of short films in chronological order, lasting from about 1 to 20 minutes and covering advertisements, documentaries, promotional material, educational films and some surpringly good early experiments with color and sound. Apart from the entertainment value of the feature films and quality shorts, I'm sure most people with an inquisitive mind and a general interest in our recent history and development should find this box set a real treat.
Much to admire about this collection
This boxed set of 3 dvds and extensive commentary is a marvelous survey of the development of motion pictures as a technology, as an art form, and as a means of documenting the history and culture of the times. Those who will treasure this collection the most are those who still feel awe and wonder in watching moving images of people long gone and times far removed, as well as students of film who want to see early manifestations of techniques that are standard in today's movies. There are three categories of films in this collection: experimental films that test early advances in sound or color; political, industrial, or commercial documentaries; and early, rare, curious, unique, or important films by familiar or obscure film makers.
The best in the box include "The Country Doctor", from 1909, directed by D.W. Griffith for Biograph, a beautifully photographed and remarkably well-acted moral tale of a physician torn between his duty to family and profession; "The Suburbanite", from 1904, a polite comedy about the exploits of a middle-class familiy moving to the "burbs" of New Jersey; "The Invaders" an early Western produced and directed by Thomas Ince, an early film pioneer; "Gretchen the Greenhorn", staring Dorothy Gish, a warm and honest story about urban immigrant life; and Ernst Lubtisch's "Lady Windermere's Fan", an entertaining comedy-drama that illustrates the extent to which silent cinema had evolved by 1925 in its ability to tell a complex psychological tale without the need for extensive dialogue. Each of these films are still capable of drawing modern viewers into their story, despite their age and, for the early movies, the limitations of the techniques available to the film-maker.
The remainder of the box are less interesting to the modern viewer as stories, but are often fascinating as indicators of what sort of cultural life existed for viewers of movies nearly 100 years ago. There's an early version of "The Wizard of Oz", a remarkable absurdist comedy by Charlie Bowers called "There it is", two films by Edwin S. Porter including the pivotal "The Life of an American Fireman", and early experiments in sound, including voices of George Bernard Shaw, Eddie Cantor, and Calvin Coolidge. It's quite a hodge-podge, and it helps the viewer to have explanatory guides both on the DVD and in a 200 page book that accompanies the set. There's much to marvel, and learn, about the history of the movies in this box.
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