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Post by schlager7 on Feb 13, 2009 0:21:16 GMT -6
I found this on YouTube
The posters notes read:
Opens on a stage with a painted backdrop of a lake surrounded by forest. A bearded man wrapped in a dark cloak and wearing a dark fur shako--apparently the novel's character of Major Devinsky--stands stage left. Behind him, a group of three soldiers move about impatiently, watching for someone offstage. According to Marchmont's story, the men should be late 19th century Russian soldiers, but in the film they wear military uniforms that seem French in design instead, with light-colored breeches sporting embroidered designs, dark buttoned jackets with another coat slung over one shoulder, dark fur shakos with plumes, and shiny black boots to the knee. From stage right enters the story's main character of Hamylton Tregethner, masquerading as infantryman Alexis Petrovitch in a similar uniform and cloak. The duelers remove their cloaks and jackets, roll up their shirtsleeves, and accept their swords from the soldier acting as "second." The portion of the book where Tregethner tries to persuade Devinsky to abandon the duel is presented on film as a pantomimed discussion, then the two opponents face each other and the duel is started. During the swordfight, Tregethner is brought to his knees at one point, but prevails and ends the duel by cutting Devinsky on the arm. As the loser storms off the stage, one of the soldiers salutes the victor.
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Post by bladesparks on Feb 13, 2009 8:16:52 GMT -6
Well now, that was... different.
Never heard of the novel this is based on. Sure makes the "Arte of Defense" show at TRF look good.
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Post by fightgal on Feb 13, 2009 19:00:48 GMT -6
Very interesting! They've staged it in a really tight space and so nobody can go anywhere or extend their reach, that's why it looks odd. Note how they have to stand close to stay within view and their blades meet nearly hilt to hilt all the time, reaching well beyond the target rather than pushing someone out of view. I wonder if this is basically all the space they have onstage, or if they just couldn't set the camera any farther back to make the view wider because the room isn't deep enough. Maybe both.
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Post by fox on Feb 15, 2009 12:55:05 GMT -6
Cameras were static objects in 1904, heavy and clumsy to move. I've seen a number of early Edison shorts shot in his small studio, dubbed the "Black Maria." The space in those shorts looks pretty limited, as well.
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Post by bladesparks on Feb 17, 2009 9:37:42 GMT -6
If there are more early films of what are, essentially, stage pieces, this could be a very worthy area to sift through. I'd certainly be curious to see more.
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