Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-50 of 32,123
- A reel of mirth-provoking stunts that will draw the pennies from the children, but which is of much interest to young and old alike. It opens with a crowd of children leaving school and marching through the streets to the "Humpty Dumpty Circus." We see them crowd into the tent and at the end of each act they vociferously applaud the performers These are the little wooden toys that are familiar to all, and which are made to perform all the usual acrobatic stunts of the circus performer in a remarkably realistic manner. Some of the scenes are really comical and it is hard to believe that the elephants and donkeys are not alive.
- Showing eight views of the most difficult portions of the railway, including the steepest gradients, practically, hanging on to the sides of the precipitous cliffs and mountain slopes with the peculiar trains ascending and descending over the roadway.
- In this beautiful little fairy story we see a rich old fellow who is the possessor of a magic donkey, and when he is currycombed he sheds gold in profusion, and keeps his master well supplied in wealth. The old fellow has a beautiful daughter and is desirous of marrying her to a man of his choice, but the latter is so ugly that when he is presented to the girl she turns away in horror, and will have nothing to do with him. He shows her beautiful gowns and tries in every manner (with the assistance of her father) to win her, but she is steadfast in her resolutions and finally turn him out. When she is left alone she opens the casket which contains the dresses, and out steps a beautiful Fairy Queen, who promises to befriend her. She advises the girl not to marry till her father gives her the donkey's skin, and then urging her to keep up her courage, the good Queen disappears. The next picture shows us the death of the poor old donkey and when the skin is ready the girl is presented with it; and from that time on is known only by the name of "Donkey Skin." The Queen appears to her again and when the maiden casts the skin from her the Queen picks it up and throws it over her shoulders, telling her to go out into the world and seek her fortune, and that in time she will marry a Prince. We next see her as she leaves the palace of her father and goes away to a farm, where she meets some good peasants, who take her in and give her employment. One day while she is tending a herd of sheep she is surprised to see a splendid looking young man coming on horseback towards her. It is Prince Charming whom the Fairy Queen sends to woo her. After promising to come to repeat his visit he takes leave and the maiden goes back to the cottage. In the next picture we see Prince Charming coming with a large staff of attendants to make love to her. He peeks through the keyhole of her room, and sees her making preparations for her coming wedding, and he does not disturb her, but returns home. The last thing that she does is to bake a wedding cake and, under the guidance of the Fairy, she puts her ring in it. The cake is brought to the Prince and when he eats a piece he discovers the ring and is told that he will marry the one that it fits. We see him trying it on every lady in the court, but it will not fit any. Finally "Donkey Skin" is presented and when he tries it on her, to his deep satisfaction, it fits her perfectly. The concluding picture shows us the betrothal and the happy couple are surrounded by their friends, receiving the blessings of the bride's father.
- A poet is writing a delightful sonnet. His wife is going out, and she brings him their eldest to kiss; he kisses the child, but to his horror his wife places it in a cradle by his side. Then she brings in the eldest but one, and places that in an arm-chair on the other side. Finally she brings in the tiniest baby, and forcing that into the reluctant father's arms, rushes out and leaves him just as all three children begin to yell their loudest. The distracted father tries to soothe first one child, and then another, and his friend the Lieutenant enters while he is in the middle of it. He pushes the Lieutenant into a chair, saddles all three babies into his lap before he can say a word and rushes from the room. The Lieutenant follows as quickly as he can with the three children in his arms. Then begins a chase of the wildest and most exciting order. The poet walks rapidly along reciting his verse as he goes; his friend the Lieutenant meeting the Colonel outside, forces one baby into his arms and the two give pursuit; a policeman whom they pass is pressed into the chase and given the third baby to carry. They dash through the streets and out on the tow-path by the river, followed by an ever increasing crowd of children. Other policemen join in, and becoming imbued with the spirit of the thing, they seize babies from the arms of astonished mothers as they pass, and all, including the mothers, give chase to the distracted poet. By this time the crowd has swelled to about one hundred, and they swarm over fields and through hedges, and tumble and scramble down the steep banks, until at last the poet sinks exhausted behind a blackberry bush. Then the people carrying babies begin to arrive, and very soon the luckless father finds himself almost smothered under a heap of six screaming, struggling mites, three of which may or may not be his own, and three certainly are not. Next come the mothers, and begin wildly sorting out the babies to find their own offspring, and they all unite in denouncing the, unhappy man, who is marched off by the policemen.
- Mishaps of a fat golfer and a small caddy.
- The pursuit of a highwayman taking a message to a knight.
- A pursued burglar changes clothes with a swell, a coster, etc.
- Two tramps put on a fake show and are chased by a PC and crowd.
- In this funny picture we see the vacuum cleaner, the modern dust eradicator, performing some very droll tricks. As soon as the fellow turns on the air then the fun begins. It is all accomplished through some clever trick photography. First we see two attendants start out to do a cleaning job, and while they stop to take some refreshments, two men, who happen to be passing, take the machine and start down the sheet to have some fun. They meet a woman with a dog on a leash, and at a turn of the wheel, the dog and its mistress are quickly drawn into the spout. Next a nursemaid comes sauntering down the street, and when they level the spout at her she meets the same fate. A girl and her lover are the next to disappear off the face of the earth, and still they go along, looking for more victims. Coming to a house, one of the men climbs in a window, and when the one outside turns the crank all the furnishings of the house are drawn into the machine. A maid rushes in to find out the cause of the commotion, but before she can look around, she also is swallowed up. As they move down the street they draw up two bales of straw, and then, as they stop in front of a meat store, it is amusing to see all the provisions hopping up and jumping into the machine. Two policemen now become interested in the pair, but pay for their curiosity by being drawn up also. Tired and exhausted, the fellows sit down to have a drink, but while their backs are turned some men steal the machine, and before they realize what has happened, they also go flying up the spout. The end of this film shows the men reversing the wheel and releasing all the victims, and it is an amusing sight to see them all come tumbling out of the spout onto the town in a heap.
- A suspicious wife trails her husband to a fun fair.
- At a modern cycling hostel, there are seated three men, while in a stand adjoining are stored a couple of cycles. Another cyclist rides up. Placing his wheel in the rack, he proceeds to join the other two cyclists in an animated discussion. A fourth, noting the all-absorbing interest with which they are discussing their point stealthily makes his way to the rack and takes the newcomer's cycle, with which he rides hastily away. Finishing their conversation, they turn towards the rack for their cycles, and at once discover the loss of one, and pointing in the direction in which the cyclist had gone, they start to follow the thief. Up hill and down dale, through country lanes the chase goes merrily on. Two policemen stop the cyclist, who has thrown off his coat and hat and appears in cycling costume. He persuades them that he is only off on a heat or speed test and they allow him to go away. An automobile which the pursuers have pressed into service comes along and explains to the policemen the situation. They invite him to a seat, and follow quickly after the cyclist, who is seen proceeding down a number of stone steps, and half-way down he knocks over a couple and rolls them to the bottom until they arrive at a fountain, when they are stopped. He descends still more steps, they seeming almost interminable, and dashes into a window in which a party are partaking of a wedding breakfast. In his haste, running over the table, he drags the bride from her seat of honor and takes her along with him, clinging to the cycle, and falling down to the yard below. So rapid has been his ingress and exit that the guests have hardly realized what has happened to them, but, missing the bride, they proceed to follow the cyclist to get her back. Not knowing what to do with the fainting woman, he puts her on the cycle before him, and rushes off just as they are about to catch him, after breaking through a wall. Breaking away again, rushing through country districts, he comes to a quagmire where it is very hard pedaling, and the police, making a short cut, intercept him in his traveling through the morass, and. after braving many dangers, the bride is restored to the waiting arms of her husband, thus ending an exciting kidnapping with another man's bride.
- Village girls play tricks on a police recruit.
- A little wanderer with his bag on his back is trudging through the streets, endeavoring to find relief here and there. Some people help him and others do not. But he makes his way over hill and dale with his little bare feet, until, footsore and weary, he lies down on a cellar door to sleep. Here he dreams that a beautiful fairy has taken charge of him and an automobile runs up and a lady alights. She speaks to the boy in a kindly manner, and taking him into the huge touring car, they are soon shooting toward the city. Here the auto stops at a beautiful residence and the lady takes the boy in. Next she takes him to a store and fits him with a neat little sailor suit in which he accompanies her on a promenade. Reaching his new home, the servant waits upon him and he eats ravenously of the good things placed before him, after which he is put to bed, the kind lady kissing him good-night, and leaves him in a room alone. The boy falls to thinking of his good fortune, but suddenly the door of the cellar is opened and his entire dream disappears. He is again the little street waif, and a hard-hearted man is kicking him brutally for falling asleep on the cellar, but another stranger interferes and the boy is allowed to go on his way.
- In a Japanese garden, gather maidens with nets to catch butterflies, all in the joy of life and budding maidenhood; fresh Irish sweetness of blithe Spring; the light fantastic toe "tripping" the limpid music arranged for this unique piece of art in a large cage a pretty colored butterfly is brought in, to delight the winsome maidens, who execute a pretty umbrella dance ere the poor butterflies are forced to entertain the merry group. Scenes are passed and the pretty butterfly is imprisoned again in the cage. Forth from the sweet-scented garden appears the butterfly's companion; a cage opens and the two embrace and flutter to the sensuous music; when, lo! Appears the merry group of maids and master, who, in the agitation that ensues, catches the strange butterfly and cruelly cuts away the gossamer wings and leaves him trembling, feebler and feebler, to die. Then Nemesis, the avenging hosts of butterflies, gather and swarm about the cruel master and cast him into the cage, leading him away to be the victim of their dazzling, bewildering dance. Around him they gather, and to the exquisite melody of a waltz they fill the scene with the wonder of their dance. Upon them floods of gorgeous colors in ever varying harmonies are thrown, suited to the rhythmic whirl of the music and dance. No more dazzling effect has probably been attempted than is here used, united in one grand harmony of light, color, music and dance.
- This picture opens with a scene outside of the barracks, and all the artillery men ready to start on a trip up the mountains. Mules are being used to climb the inclines, which are all covered with snow. When reaching a height of about 200 feet above earth the most pictorial scenes are obtained. The guns are being loaded, which are carried by the mules, and the manoeuvers start. This is one of the prettiest pictures ever seen. Tinted mechanically with appropriate colors all the way through.
- A rich pair save an orphan who steals a pantomime lamp.
- A masterpiece of motography. The famed canals of Venice are here shown, the gondolas and launches and the beautiful palaces. The glistening water, the imposing architecture and every detail is distinctly shown with remarkable distinctness, and from every standpoint the film is the acme of perfection. The scene showing the feeding of the pigeons at St. Marks by the tourists is the highest type of animated photography.
- The news of an army advancing on the town, calls all the garrison out for its defense. A young and eager officer takes leave of his sweetheart who clings to him affectionately, and at the last possible moment releases him fearlessly but with much anxiety. The defenders going out to meet the enemy offer a stubborn resistance to the oncoming force. Driven back by numbers they are gradually compelled to retire to the town which is finally captured by the enemy. The victorious commander after his arduous toils, and suffering from many slight wounds, enters the house of the officer's sweetheart, where he decides to stay during the time he is in the place. The exquisite appearance of the lady more than pleases him and he settles down in an armchair and demands refreshment. She at first refuses, but seeing resistance is useless attends to him and prepares a meal. Alone with the conqueror she plays with a dagger and is tempted to take his life, but throws the weapon down in disgust The commander having refreshed himself and being attracted by the girl, endeavors to make love to her. He is interrupted by his guard, one of whom hands him a dispatch. As he is reading this communication the young lover enters the room and going across to his fiancée clasps her in his arms. At the general's orders weapons are immediately pointed at the rash man. The girl aware of her sweetheart's danger appeals to the officer for her dear one's life, disclosing in her plea her sincere love for him. Ordering the weapons to be put up the commander immediately writes out a pardon for the young man, and allows them to pass out through the guard. Turning as she reaches the door the girl speaks out her heartfelt thanks and gratitude to her friend the enemy.
- Swiftly passing through seas of floating ice, a vessel with masts, spars and decks entirely covered with ice is seen pushing its way northward. Seagulls make the air black, and the crew, clothed in heavy furs, move lively, on the lookout for walrus, seal and Polar bear. Within full view are seen in rapid succession seals disporting themselves on the icy brink of bergs. Walrus, with their immense tusks, are shown cavorting through the water, plunging after fish. The comical penguins in great numbers get in front of the camera at close range. The wonderful and mysterious musk-ox in his native haunts is shown life-size, and stamping his disapproval of being brought into such close proximity to man, his natural enemy. Then the critical dramatic moment arrives when the hunters leave their ship and start across the icy fields after his majesty of the Arctic regions. Soon is seen an enormous white Polar bear, slowly meandering in his search for provender. He discovers the hunters, rears on his hind feet, ready to give battle. A masterful shot striking a vital point fells him and he is seen rolling in his own life's blood. The hunters cautiously approach, and when fully convinced of the death of old Bruin, load him on their sleds and start for the ship. Finding the return trip too laborious, they unload their spoils and proceed to strip off the valuable, shaggy coat, remove a choice saddle of bear meat, and leaving the bare carcass freezing in the solitudes of the Arctic, trudge once more to their ship.
- Crooks hide inside a dummy pillar box.
- Hubby leaving home, is called back by his wife, who reminds him that this is her birthday. She furnishes money for purchases to celebrate the occasion. He celebrates, in a manner not contemplated, and then buys flowers. Further celebrations: drinks round with all comers. Full up, he departs, in jovial mood. He purchases an iced and decorated cake at a pastry cook's and, with this, the flowers and his potations, he has quite as much as he can carry. He meets a lady; casually shows her his cake. She resents the liberty, seizes the cake and ices his face with the sticky decoration. Beggars by the roadside are next greeted by the roysterer. He familiarly chucks the old beggar woman under the chin. She objects and belabors him, finally jumping upon his prostrate form. Fishing scene at the riverside. Angler, jovially accosted, loses his temper and throws the toper into the water. A stoneyard offers temptations. The reveler spreads his outer garments to dry and himself goes to sleep. His clothes are stolen. Very lightly clad he seeks his home and spouse, where he receives well-merited chastisement at her hands, which clutch a broom. The inebriate hubby is first unmercifully thrashed, and then dragged under the water tap, where he is copiously drenched. The incident closes with the picture of a still jolly celebrant drinking his wife's health in a less heady liquid supplied by the Water Works Company.
- This comedy production takes place at an institution of learning for young girls. It opens with the arrival of the cranky old Professor, who is not generally liked by the scholars. They immediately proceed to make him tired of his exalted position by playing practical jokes. One of the pupils is made up to represent Mrs. Smithers, and the Professor being near-sighted, mistakes the scholar for Mrs. Smithers and directly proposes marriage. As he is about to embrace her, Mrs. Smithers enters the room and takes in the situation at a glance, which ends disastrously for the pupil. The pupils then go to Mrs. Smithers' bedroom, taking with them a dummy of a man, which they place under her bed. Mrs. Smithers enters, and when she catches sight of the dummy screams for help. The Professor comes to her aid, and after a heroic struggle with the "man," discovers him to be only a stuffed dummy. The pupils then make a dash for the Professor's bedroom, where they perpetrate all sorts of practical jokes, such as tying his clothes into knots, filling his hat with ashes, nailing his shoes to the floor, etc. Hearing the Professor's approach, they scamper off. He enters the room, sees the general disorder, and finally gets into bed very much disgusted with the state of affairs. Two of the pupils then enter dressed as spooks. This proves to be a climax to the Professor's troubled and nervous condition, and he is prostrated with fright. We next see the pupils in the school gymnasium doing all kinds of physical culture exercises, such as dumbbells, horizontal bars, chest and lung testers, boxing, etc. The Professor winds up the exercises with a game of Basket Ball. Just as he is about to win the game, the entire class pounce upon him, tie a rope about him, and pull him up to the ceiling, screaming and helpless. Mrs. Smithers comes to the rescue and puts an end to their hilarity. The final scene shows the exterior of the Boarding-School The term has finished and the scholars are leaving, much to the satisfaction of the old Professor.
- A PC chases thieves to a granary where they are chopped up.
- An Eton boy's new silk hat causes trouble.
- The story is of the affaire de coeur of two French swordsmen, both rivals for the hand of the same fair Parisienne. The opening scene is at the academy of the Fencing Master. A friendly bout with the foils between the Master and his then unknown rival is indulged in, which clearly proves the former indeed a master of the art. A letter is received by the Fencing Master from his sweetheart breaking off their engagement and requesting the return of her letters. He, obedient to her wishes, meets her at Place Royal and returns the treasured epistles. Here his rival appears and a wordy combat ensues, which terminates in a challenge to fight a duel. Notwithstanding his mother's earnest entreaty, the Fencing Master accepts the challenge, apprising the girl that he will "let her lover take the life that is worthless without her love." The next scene is the duel in the snow. Both men are eager for the fray. A spirited contest is waged, when the rival, with a well-directed thrust, which meets with no resistance, sends the Fencing Master to the ground seriously wounded. The final scene shows the Fencing Master at the hospital, where he is visited by his opponent. There is a reconciliation, both attributing the affair to a woman's whim, when the girl enters and, hysterical from remorse, falls prostrate across the wounded man's cot, making an intensely dramatic climax to a most thrilling production.
- A dude reading a love letter is unaware of where he walks.
- A very exciting story in several dramatic scenes. The villain pays unwelcome attention to the girl; she refuses him. He swears revenge; procures two accomplices to abduct her. Frustrated by the girl's lover, a terrible fight ensues. The villain stabs the lover and flees from justice. The detective on the track traces, through a cuff he leaves, and by means of the laundry mark, to the possessor. Exciting chase. Villian attempts to shoot detective; overpowered; finally commits suicide, and begs forgiveness from the girl. The lover recovers. Thus virtue is triumphant.
- In this production the Biograph has hit upon a subject rich with comedy opportunities and has taken advantage of them; the result being the funniest film yet produced. The story is that of two mischievous youngsters who have a strong aversion for the confines of the schoolroom, but a lively aptitude for practical jokes. While playing "hooky" and dodging the truant officer, they pay a visit to Biddy, the cook, and during her absence from the kitchen, place two giant firecrackers in the stove in which she is about to start a fire. She returns and the boys scamper off. Through force of habit, although on this occasion entirely unnecessary, Biddy saturates the kindling with kerosene and then applies a match. There is an explosion, the echo of which we are sure Biddy doesn't hear, for when the smoke clears away we find her reclining beneath a covering of portions of the ceiling, the stove and other portable and importable kitchen furnishings, from which she is rescued by her friend, the cop. In the next scene the boys hang a bucket of ashes over the front door, tying a rope from the bucket to the door-knob and then ringing the bell. The lady of the house answering it, receives the contents of the bucket all over her. The boys have hidden in the cellarway, where the lady discovers them and goes to mete out their punishment. Meanwhile they chase off on more mischief bent, and the truant officer takes their hiding place in the hope of their returning, and, of course, gets the pail of water intended for them. The following scene is next morning, showing the truant officer still abed, aweary from the arduous day before. Outside his chamber window the truants are playing in a swing. One gives the other a push that not only sends him high in the air, but clean out of the swing and through the window, taking glass and sash with him, and landing with a thud on the officer's chest, rudely awakening him from his peaceful slumbers. He seizes the boy, while a deputy on the outside captures the other. They are taken to court, where the leader is subjected to a violent paddling at the hands of the truant officer and his deputy. The fortitude of the boy amazes the court until it is discovered that he has placed a board in the seat of his trousers for protection.
- A magnificently staged old-time romance, in which a real castle, with turrets, moat and drawbridge are used for settings. A beautiful love-story, magnificently produced, with characters in sixteenth century costume. The hero and heroine oppose the wishes of the stern parent, who has another and richer suitor selected for his daughter. The daughter, through many pretty and touching love scenes, proves her preference. The hero is abducted in one scene, returns in the next disguised as a wandering minstrel, serenades his inamorata, who is leaning from the window of yon tower. She, quickly descending, is enveloped by his cloak, and they hurry past the sleeping sentinel and flee through beautiful woodland scenes, stopping anon to rest her ladyship. Finally, overcome with fatigue, they seek shelter under a spreading tree. The stern father, entering the castle gates with the suitor he has chosen, to arrange the betrothal, discovers the absence of his daughter and calls for his courtiers and men with bloodhounds to start the search for the miscreant ones. The party of the irate father track the fleeing ones over hill and through valley, until finally they come upon the lovers peacefully sleeping in blissful ignorance of the approaching danger. Rudely are they awakened and torn from each other's arms, the lover hurried back the castle and ordered shot. The Baron's riflemen face the unfortunate lover, who, with bared head and bended knees awaits his doom. As two shots ring out the beautiful daughter springs forward, and the two lovers receive the two bullets. The frantic father throws himself upon the prostrate form of his beloved daughter.
- An escaped baby finds a gun and chases pursuers.
- In a bower of giant tulips a boy and girl practice flower magic. They cause flowers and birds to open and human forms to issue therefrom, and on the black background of the wonderful garden there appear myriad flowers, in the center of each of which is a smiling feminine head. Tableaux showing pretty girl and flower effects are plentiful and the film winds up with a burst of multi-colored flame, which shoots in fiery splendor from leaves and petals.
- Poor Mr. Peck, a human bantam, is the meek and submissive husband of a giantess, who rules him with a tyrant's hand. Humble obedient for a while, he at last determines to burst asunder the chains of domesticity and become a "real sport." A mad rush from his home to the club, where he is engaged in a little game of poker, then, "Oh, look who's here!" Wifey appears. There is something doing, and Peck leaves by means of a rope fire-escape through the window. Mrs. Peck accelerates his descent by cutting the rope before Peck has made half the journey, and he falls with a thud to the sidewalk. He must have struck his bump of combativeness, for he still fights for liberty, and we next find him in a bowling alley. Here Mrs. Peck makes a record strike; not only knocking down all of the pins, but everything and everybody as well, in her wild endeavor to catch Peck. He, however, escapes to the pool parlor, but milady still pursues, and devastation marks her advent. From here he seems to have successfully eluded her and is seated in the front row of a vaudeville theater enjoying the sinuous gyrations of a Salome dancer. One of the veils falls lightly upon the shoulder of happy Peck, which is sharply contrasted by the fall of the bass fiddle on his head. It is needless to state that Mrs. Peck hovers over him. From the theater she drags Peck by the heels back to his happy home, where, in the last scene, she regales him with a version of the same dance he will never forget, though he may try.
- The cyclist is dispatched upon an important errand, and his humorous and alarming adventures by the way form the subject of this series. Misadventure follows misadventure with great frequency, but the cyclist comes up smiling every time, mounts his machine, and again resumes his journey. Accidents which would maim or kill an ordinary mortal serve only to spur him on to fresh exertions in a mad search for physical inconveniences and dangers, which always present themselves. It may indeed be predicted of the hero that he will either die peacefully in his bed or end his career through slipping on a piece of orange peel, or swallowing a pin. Only an ordinary and simple ending would be appropriate after such a strenuous life. Certainly he will never be hanged or drowned. He charges at full speed a horse-drawn tram car, and is upset. He attacks the double windows of a corner shop, to falls into a basket of eggs on the other side. He bodily upsets a donkey, cart and driver. He is precipitated into and disorganizes a party of men and women enjoying refreshment at an open-air café. He is thrown into a deep excavation in the road, and, colliding with the parapet of a bridge, is thrown over and falls forty feet into a swiftly flowing river, to be fished out and remount his machine. Finally, he appears in full view of the audience, a sorry spectacle of mud, eggs, water and other accumulations, but wearing a grin of triumph which augurs well for his future.
- A detective hides behind a bush to catch a blackmailer.
- A country woman is observed leaving a village grocery store leading a dog in a leash, rapidly making her way with her purchases through streets, over hill and dale, until she comes to a cottage in a field by the side of which there grows a tree, to which she ties the dog, hangs her bag of provisions on one of the branches, and bidding the dog take care of the same, she makes her way to pay a call, to the inhabitants of the cottage. A tramp now appears on the scene, and, seeing the bag of good things hanging on the tree tries to reach it, but is kept at bay by the dog. Finding all efforts futile to gain a meal, a though at last strikes the beggar, which he at once puts into execution. Taking from his pocket a half-gnawed bone, he offers it to the dog, and runs around the tree, followed by the dog, who is gradually drawn to close quarters, and unable to do any harm, finding the coast clear, the tramp now reaches down the bag. and makes off with it, the dog in vain trying to get after him. The woman now appears, goes to the tree for her bag, finds it gone, and the predicament the dog is in, unwinds him, and they start off on a run after the tramp. The tramp having made his way to a quiet spot on the roadside, sits down to enjoy the good things the bag contains. Scarcely had he taken a bite, when his startled ears catch the sound of someone running, looking round he sees the dog coming after him in the distance. Cramming the good things back into the bag, he starts off, with the dog quickly pursuing. Up hill and down dale they go, the dog taking a piece of clothing here and another there, across a sheep pen, falling in the midst of the sheep, which they scatter in every direction, falling down an embankment, where the dog pins him to the ground until the arrival of his mistress, who, gathering her goods, which she rejoices to regain, calls off her dog, goes her way, leaving the poor, battered beggar to soothe his wounds. We see him dragging his weary bones, until he falls down utterly exhausted, bemoaning his lost hopes to obtain a stolen meal.
- A pretty bit of nature bursts upon our view, showing the banks of the falls surrounded by foliage. A pair of lovers (evidently escaped from a party of tourists and more interested in themselves than the salmon fishing) are observed in foreground. The lady is now seen busily playing rod and line, proving she is an apt pupil of Izaak Walton. A panoramic view is shown in which appear the ubiquitous tourist photographer taking everything and everybody in range of his lens. A group going over rustic bridge. The falls with rushing water and rich sunlight effect. A boat with two anglers, who are skillfully beating the waters, approaches. One gets a nibble and an exerting moment intervenes, until, with careful expertise, he hooks his fish. Wading into stream, reeling in the line while his companion gets net ready, the salmon fighting and leaping to obtain its liberty, is at last caught in the net, landed, killed and weighed.
- Hunting scenes have ever been a leading feature in motion pictures since their inception, and the Biograph here presents a most thrilling series, a Caribou Hunt in the Barrens of Newfoundland. It starts with a scene showing the hunting party leaving Portland, Me., by train. They arrive at Millertown, N.F, where they are met by the guides, and from here the journey is made in canoes. Next is shown real camp life in the wilderness. The hunters start out in pursuit of the fleet-footed game, of which many are seen at remarkably close range. Several caribou are shot and taken in the course of the hunt. The excitement reaches a climax when one of the animals is run to the beach, and as he stands sniffing the air, a well-directed shot takes effect. Leaping forward, he plunges into the water, but a second shot follows and the magnificent caribou becomes the sportsman's trophy. This film is unquestionably an interesting hunting picture.
- A mail carrier is about to go on his rounds and asks his wife to bring his shoes, of which he seems to wear out a large number, judging from the relics she displays for his selection. Finding none to his satisfaction, his wife goes to the shoe store and a boy returns with some on approval. Selecting a pair, he put them on, kisses his wife, and commences his journey. He is seen delivering letters en route, at the same time admiring the shoes. "Pride comes before a fall," and he, not noticing where he is going, stumbles and falls. On rising he finds, to his disgust, one of his new shoes broken, sole from upper, in which condition he has to complete his round and ultimately reaches his home, limping and footsore, falling exhausted into a chair. Utterly at a loss what to do to find money to keep him in shoe leather, his wife conceives an idea which she puts into immediate execution. Taking her husband to a horse shoer, she has him shod with iron. This proceeding causes a complete change in the man; from an affectionate husband he becomes a maniac and seems to take on the nature of a vicious horse. He kicks and buffets his wife, starts off on a rampage, knocking, down two soldiers who try to stop him. They go for reinforcements, and on explaining to the officer in charge, he orders out a skirmishing party, who, fully armed and headed by the regimental drummer, start in pursuit of the devil, whom they imagine the mail carrier to be. Scattering everything before him, eluding his pursuers, the carrier goes off to river brink causes excitement all around, knocking several into the water, into which he falls himself, and is rescued by a life-saving corps. Regaining terra firma, he leads the soldiers a merry chase, leaping over houses, up hill, down valley, bounding over every obstacles; coming to a church, he scatters a group of boys who are playing. A church dignitary in all solemnity appears at the church door, and pronounces a curse on the man, who flees; coming to a narrow passageway, the soldiers barricade it, but the man leaps over them all, going on his way exhausted but unable to stop; he hails a coach on which is a boy driving, who takes him home, where with all dignity and blessings given by a priest of the church, assisted by the horse shoer, the offending shoe is removed and the mail carried takes on once more his normal nature.
- Two gentlemen dressed in riding costume are observed at the stables, discussing the qualities of various mounts. A third approaches and joins in the conversation, which becomes animated, the last comer evidently boasting of his prowess. A groom is called and an order being given, he enters the stables and is seen leading therefrom a fine thoroughbred, which the braggart tries to mount. It soon becomes evident that he is only booted and spurred for show. His first attempt to mount exhibits his amateurishness; instead of lightly vaulting into the saddle he slips, loses his footing, and with difficulty retains his balance. Again essaying to mount, he succeeds after a fashion, losing his hat in the effort, to the great amusement of the bystanders. The groom hands him his hat and he goes off to pick up what adventure he can gaining a little confidence as he gets more accustomed to his position. A lady is seen at a window, and the horseman, to make an impression upon her, causes his horse to curvette a little; much to his credit he manages to keep his seat, and raise his hat. His steed becoming restive, goes off at a gallop into the midst of a party of fair equestriennes, who laugh at the efforts of the amateur to keep on his horse by embracing him round the neck. A passing street car startles the horse, who, taking the bit between his teeth, goes off at a gallop, not stopping until he lands his rider in the midst of a Summer party at a wayside inn. They are incensed at his careless riding and commence to belabor him for spoiling their pleasure. His horse is returned to him, and he goes away leading him by the bridle. On his way he has to pass many friends of both sexes who are well mounted and enjoying their ride. After a time he again essays a ride home, but is thrown by the horse, who is thoroughly tired of such a poor rider and gallops off to his stable, leaving the poor fellow battered and torn to be led back by two sympathetic pedestrians. The riderless horse is caught by its groom, and some anxiety is shown as to the fate of the rider, who finally makes his appearance in very sorry plight and receives the commiseration of his friends. He evidently makes up his mind to take lessons before again venturing in public on horseback.
- At the dinner table the husband informs his wife he will take her to the White Citv She hurries off to dress; and in a short time he also goes, leaving Mother-in-law alone. She makes up her mind to accompany them; calling the maid, she asks for her outdoor costume. The maid, bringing it in, helps her to dress. On the appearance of husband and wife ready to bid Mother good-bye, they are astonished to learn of her determination to accompany them. The more they try to persuade her not to go, the more obstinate she becomes, and for the sake of peace and quietness they reluctantly take her and her three hundred pounds of avoirdupois with them. Arriving at the White City, she insists upon going up in a balloon, and suffers as a consequence. The Ferris wheel next claims her attention, and as it revolves she becomes dizzy, then sick, and falls out. Recovering from this, she goes up the escalator, and gets a very rough handling. Then she shoots the chutes, bumps the bumps, rides the switchback, from which she is taken out in hysterics. The photograph gallery next excites her curiosity, and she has her photo taken in what she thinks an angelic pose; when she sees the result she goes mad with rage. She next tries the mechanical swing and falls on the neck of her son-in-law and is lifted out with difficulty. The clowns make fun of her, and invite her to a boxing match; she puts on the gloves, but is knocked out, very much to her discomfiture. She next tries the wrestling bout, from which she comes a cropper. After this they carry her to a carriage and drive home, where the maid with smelling salts, poultices and medicine attends her. The doctor bandages her broken head and face, and makes her as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. The daughter and son-in-law now appear dressed for outdoors; invite her to go with them to the White City, but she has had enough of that, so they bid her good-bye and go off for a good time without the unwelcome presence of Mother-in-law.
- A man without legs is seen in a low wagon, propelling himself along with specially prepared pieces of wood, with which he touches the ground, and the wagon is skillfully guided through the streets. He is seen proceeding to a saloon where a bottle of wine is brought to his order; he escapes payment and is pursued by the waiter. In his haste he rushes down a steep pathway of steps, knocking over others who are coming up. Falling in a heap at the bottom, he gathers himself together and flees. An officer tries to stop him, but is bowled over. Hastily rushing to the barracks, he orders out a sergeant and squad of infantry who in obeying orders get themselves mixed up in trying to capture the man, who leads them a merry dance up the side of a house and off the roof, up hill and down dale, eluding them at every point. He is seen making his way in the distance, and the soldiers deploy in the valley hoping to cut off his chance of escape as he comes down a rapid incline. The better to do this, they bring barrels, and get into them to hide. In his rapid descent he trundles the barrels and soldiers down the hillside into the river, into which he falls himself, and is rescued by the soldiers, who have difficulty in putting him into his wagon. They tie his hands and push him along over the difficult places through which they have to retrace their steps, until they reach the barracks, where they hand their prisoner over to the guard.
- One of the great ocean liners is seen in the dock, undergoing the necessary repairs, preparatory to starting on her trip across the ocean. Painters are busily engaged on her smokestacks, her cabins, and over the side of the ship; others are holystoning her decks, and swabbing down, polishing brasses, and a hundred and one duties necessary to make the ship spick and span. Then we see great piles of bed and table linens, brought on the lower deck, sorted out by the men and women stewards, tied ready for the laundry, and piled in great bundles on the deck. Others are coiling rope and doing odd repairs. The side of the vessel is now seen; her port holes are open like great mouths, ready to receive the food which we observe is being brought in by scows. The coal heavers now get busy emptying the scows into scoops and baskets, which they carry into the hold of the ship. Quite an animated scene is this. After loading up with the coal, we see the side of the vessel smudged and smeared with dust and dirt. The hose is then turned on, washing down the sides, and also the scows, making an effective series of fountains playing around the ship.
- The wind, one morning, started out for a frolic and in the street scene before us he is evidently enjoying himself immensely. Hats go flying and are chased and captured, but one (the one causing all the trouble) flies upward into an open window of a lady's dressing room and lies unnoticed. A fiery French gentleman, who seems to be thinking things unutterable, comes down the street with coat tails flying, gripping his hat which the wind seems bent on stealing. He escapes the fury of the wind and dashes into the room of his wife still out of humor with himself, but smiles wreathe his countenance at her loving reception. Suddenly noticing the man's hat in the room, he picks it up and all his fury returns. Demanding an explanation from his wife, which she cannot give, he looks out of the window and, seeing a man hatless, looking up at the window, his suspicions are fully aroused. He accuses his wife of having a visitor, which she indignantly denies. Thrusting her from him, he snatches a sword from the wall and sallies forth. The hatless individual, still looking up, is suddenly assailed by the husband and flees from his wrath. A cyclist coming down the street is knocked off his wheel by the husband, whom he attacks fiercely. After his pummeling the husband catches sight of the hatless one and again goes after him. Several loafers are playing craps on the sidewalk and are scattered by the husband, who falls over them. They give him rough usage, take off his coat hat and vest, and run away. The husband, minus these garments, resumes his quest for the cause of his wrath, who flies to a café. His pursuer, in his haste, knocks over the customers seated at tables outside. They begin to punish him unmercifully and he is borne to the ground by overwhelming numbers. The man whom he has pursued, seeing that he is getting the worst of the bargain, returns and with a stout stick drives off the assailants, and is thanked for his help. Mutual explanation follows and the pair go off arm in arm. The wife being left in such a fashion, picks up the hat and examines it, then calls the maid and asks her if she has a follower. The maid replying in the negative still adds to the mystery. The battered husband now appears, offers profuse apologies, explains the circumstances, kisses his wife (who is glad peace is once more proclaimed), embraces his rescuer, and makes his wife do the same, to the great confusion of the pair. The husband then goes off to make himself presentable, leaving his embarrassed wife and visitor to entertain each other. On his return he insists upon his new-found friend staying to supper, and continually adds to the confusion of the guest to the end of the scene.
- A rocky spur of the mountain range is seen, when two hunters enter, one carrying a bag. The first one climbs up the rocks and with a pronged stick catches a snake in the bushes which he drops into the bag. With care he manages to descend, and a rocky wall is next seen with a reptile at least three feet long crawling over it. This is promptly caught and after some excitement is got into the bag. The hunter is next seen in: the bed of a stream struggling with a monster snake some six feet in length. Several times he stumbles, but it is a case of life or death, so that he manfully holds on to his prey. Down a fall of water he next clambers and manages to hit upon another reptile; in fact, he seems to know exactly how to "spot" a lurking place. His assistant apparently tries his hand, for he is seen descending the rocks with one wrapped round him and struggling with all the force at his command. Eventually he is released, when the tourniquet has to be used, but after a dose of brandy he seems to pull himself round again. Both men climb the rocky hillside like antelopes until they come across the trunk of an old tree, in which a serpent is taking its siesta. The hunter enters a cave from which. he issues with quite a number of fine specimens, the effect caused by the play of light on the rocks and stream issuing from the cave being exceptionally fine. He next catches several snakes in a field by the aid of a large towel, and the last one to be caught nearly strangles the hunter before he can manage to shoot it. The film concludes by showing a. snake being skinned while still alive.
- While Chung Lung, the washee-washee, is delivering his goods, a dog takes hold of his trousers, tearing the same in pieces. While complaining to the proprietor of the dog, he is told to take the dog and kill him. The Chinaman and the butler are going to kill the dog. He is tied to a tree and shot by the butler. The butler then goes home and tells his master how he killed the dog, but hardly had he finished when the dog came back. A candy man on the street is next attacked by the dog, who seems to have a special liking for men's trousers. When the peddler comes in for complaint, he, too, is told to take and kill the dog. The butler and peddler are going to kill the dog. They put a rope around his neck and pull him up a tree. They then depart, leaving the poor dog to his fate. The butler, returning home, describes to his master how he killed the dog this time. Again the dog came back before the butler had finished. Now the dog attacks a colored woman. It is funny, indeed, to see the struggle between the big fat wench and tiny little dog. She, too, comes in for a complaint and is advised to kill the dog. The colored woman and the butler put the dog in a sack, fill it with stones and throw it in the water. The butler then goes home and reports to his master how he killed the dog, but hardly had he finished when the dog sits on his master's lap. Next, two little boys are attacked by the dog, and again it is the trousers' seat that suffers mostly. The mother of the boy, when complaining, is advised to take the dog and kill him. The butler, together with all the sufferers, go to the butcher to have the dog made into mince meat. The butcher lays the dog upon the block and severs the head with one stroke of a big axe. He then puts the body in a sausage machine and makes Wiener-wurscht out of the dog. The butler then goes home and reports to his master that the dog is killed, this time for good, but hardly had he finished when the dog came back. The sufferers, not knowing that the dog has come back, came to get some compensation for their torn clothes. Just then a little boy is begging for the dog. The master, glad to get rid of the dog, presents him to the little boy.
- Playing cards become animated.
- Interior of room, showing master of house impatiently ringing bell for maid and glancing at clock on mantel. Maid shortly appears with coat, which he dons, but when she leaves the room he finds she has not brought his hat, for which he violently rings. On her reappearance he explains his wants; she calls at the door, and the chef, in full uniform of the kitchen, appears with the hat, which the master receives, places it on his head, and goes off. As soon as the coast is clear, the chef and maid indulge in a little frolic, during which the chef accidentally breaks an ornament of the clock on the mantel. Consternation ensues, until a happy thought strikes the chef, who seizes the clock, wraps it in his apron, and with many explanations to the maid, departs. Following him down the areaway and the street, we see him pause before a clock repairer's store, into which he enters, and finds the repairer at work. He explains his errand, producing the clock. The clockmaker soon takes it to pieces and puts the spring in a glass of liquid with the other works. He then leaves the workbench, presumably to attend a customer, when the chef, smelling at a bottle, notices what appears to be a glass of water, into which he empties some of the spirits and drinks the liquid containing the works of the clock. After a while, pains in the stomach become intense; the clockmaker, observing him, hurries him off to a surgeon, to whom is explained the predicament. After the surgeon and assistant have listened to the ticking of the swallowed mechanism, they produce the X-Ray apparatus and get a radiograph of the contents of stomach, which they show the chef. The surgeon then produces a scimitar, making a motion to cut open the chef, who strenuously refuses to submit to the operation. Some explanations pass, after which the clockmaker, taking the chef by the arm, hurries him back to the workshop, puts him on a table, then taking the dial of the clock, screws it onto the works in chef's stomach, giving instant relief. The chef goes on his way rejoicing, with the clock buttoned inside his coat. The room interior is now seen. The master enters and at once misses the clock from its accustomed place. He bangs the table bell, which immediately brings the maid on the scene. He asks about the clock, and while she is covered, with confusion the chef enters, and, being questioned, opens his coat, showing the clock at work. A little comic by-play with the hands of the clock finishes the scene.
- A row of tenement houses at which a house agent appears; knocking at the door of the first one, a woman appears in answer and hands him the weekly rent. At the next door, in answer to his summons, a man appears and prepares to pay him his due. Quite a different reception awaits him at the third house, for, on making known his wants, he is refused. On his persistence "he must have the rent," the woman, without further ado, although not young in years, promptly knocks him down. He gets up and indignantly protects against such treatment, and is again knocked down by the virago. On arising from the second fall, he goes off for the police, and goes to the door with the policeman; again he demands his dues. The virago simply knocks the man and the policeman into the gutter. As the policeman tries to arrest her he is rather heavily mauled. The policeman blows his whistle for further assistance and calls upon a gentleman, in the name of the law, to help him. The gentleman fearlessly lays his hand upon the woman, when, to his utter astonishment, he finds himself sprawling on the ground. Hastily picking himself up, shaking the dust from his frock coat tails, he again essays the task; with the assistance of the policeman and rent collector they make cautious advances. The virago receives them figuratively with open arms, standing as though saying, "Come one and all." No sooner do they come within reach of her fists, than she lays the three in the dust, as though they were a set of ninepins put up for the pleasure of her knocking them down. Four pedestrians now appear and go to the aid of the three fallen men. Several of the crowd assist the three men, and the overwhelming numbers compel the woman to seek safety in flight into the house, slamming the door in their faces. We see her in the room, on the first floor, throwing out pots pans, chairs and stools, onto the heads of the crowd below. The men break in, enter the room, carry the virago and her daughter (who had been assisting her to throw out the kitchen utensils) down the stairs, where the ambulance truck awaits them. In spite of her kicking, scratching and biting, she is eventually placed and strapped down, and with a whole crowd of children at her heels, is run off to the police station, while the daughter, in custody of two stalwart policemen, brings up in the rear.
- A man pushes his wife into a bath of hair restorer and exhibits her as a bear.
- This film, showing the American oyster industry, is a most interesting subject. The oyster fleet starts out on its cruise. We see the dredging of the oysters in large nets. While some of the oyster fishers use the large nets, others dredge for oysters with wire screens, a very interesting proceeding. We then see how the oyster boats are unloaded by filling large barrels with the delicate bivalves. The next scene shows how the oysters are opened so as to be canned. Men of all nations are employed. It is most interesting to note the speed with which the oysters are opened. A great many women and girls are employed in opening and assorting the oysters. The oysters are brought to the canning department, while the shells are hauled away by carloads. Next the oysters are canned, sealed and labeled. This work is done almost exclusively by young girls and women. After this we see the oysters boxed and shipped away to all parts of the world. The picture ends with a connoisseur enjoying his "oysters on the half shell."