FISH (1916) Bert Williams

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Richard M Roberts
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FISH (1916) Bert Williams

Postby Richard M Roberts » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:13 am

Here's a look at Bert Williams second Biograph Comedy, released November 20, 1916, ignore the awful score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_YtUJoHWz0

The notes say this is a rare film in any form, I actually own two different prints of it, one is the rough-cut version, assembled in shot order, but only showing numbered slates where intertitles should be, the second is a fully-intertitled print (one of the im(dum)b reviewers says the intertitles do not exist in any form, also wrong).


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Jim Roots
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Re: FISH (1916) Bert Williams

Postby Jim Roots » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:37 am

Is your copy more complete? The Youtube version leaves out the key scene: i.e., what happens to the fish after Bert shows it to the white guy for the second time and his own family catches up to him at the same moment.

Williams sure liked to take his time in his routines. Harry Langdon must have crossed paths with him on the vaudeville circuit -- wonder if Bert's slowness impressed Harry with some ideas for his own routines?

Jim
When you're surrounded by vultures, playing dead is not a good strategy.

Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2895
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Re: FISH (1916) Bert Williams

Postby Richard M Roberts » Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:18 am

Jim Roots wrote:Is your copy more complete? The Youtube version leaves out the key scene: i.e., what happens to the fish after Bert shows it to the white guy for the second time and his own family catches up to him at the same moment.

Jim


As this Youtube version only runs eight minutes at somewhat slo-moed speed, and both my prints are full reels, I'd have to say yes, something is definitely missing.


RICHARD M ROBERTS


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