Ready, steady, relay! This newsreel captures the pepped-up mood of the camera-conscious youngsters assembled for the South London Schools Sports event at Crystal Palace in 1908. Judicious editing succinctly conveys the excitement of the relay race as the competitors traverse the "finest and safest running track" - as a contemporary newspaper article described the Edwardian sports facility.
The story follows an absurdly calm and indifferent man whose every action is extreme yet executed with total composure. When his doorbell breaks, he shoots a mirror to summon his valet. On a walk, he shoots down a window that drops on a man’s head, lights a cigarette in front of an oncoming car, and hijacks a cab at gunpoint. At a hotel, he breaks dishes, tips a waiter who spills soup on him, and leaves wearing another guest’s coat. Even when stabbed by robbers, he calmly removes the dagger and hands it to a policeman. Returning home, he shoots open his door, but his composure is finally tested by mosquitoes. His valet catches and powders each insect, astonishing his otherwise unflappable master.
Actuality film showing Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland, and Princess Maria Pavlovna arriving in Stockholm in 1908. Scenes may include arrival at the train station, greetings by officials, ceremonial procession through city streets, crowds.
Actuality segment showing King Gustaf V’s visit to Ystad on 10 July 1908. Footage includes his arrival in a landau with white horses, interactions with local dignitaries, parade of military, crowds by the train station, and waving farewell as he departs.
In a corral, a cowboy tries to tame a horse.
Reading that a certain dealer has an ancient Egyptian mummy for sale, an antique professor goes out to inspect the curio. It meets with his satisfaction and he purchases it. He begins to carry the thing home, and meets with quite a little trouble; but his will makes the way and he reaches his room safely. Anxious to begin his investigations, he sheds his coat quickly, rolls up his sleeves, and taking his huge carving knife in hand begins to cut the mummy up. His old landlady passes by and sees her boarder at his peculiar work; he is so engrossed in his task that he does not see her, and she, catching a glimpse of a human form, runs out in alarm. With the cry that a man is being cut up in her house, she summons the butcher, the baker, the grocer and a score of women, who follow in wonder.
“A musician is given an invitation to a party, but finds that he has no dress suit to wear. He visits a friend, an artist, to see if he can borrow one, but he too does not have one. However, the artist is about to paint a portrait of a man in the dress of a Roman soldier; when the man arrives he is wearing a dress suit and has to change into his costume. The musician dons the suit and goes to the party. The other man, when his portrait is finished, discovers that his suit is missing and follows the musician to the party; he find the musician playing the piano, recognises his suit, and throws the wearer to the floor.” - BFI.
An old man attempts to hang a picture on the wall and asks for a step-ladder. His assistant takes a little too long to get it to him.
A kabuki scene starring actors Ichikawa Udanji an Uchikawa Unosuke.
“Kvinnliga akademiska fotbollsklubben Virginia: Ko-misk!” is one of five films (three of which are now lost) that were made by students at the University of Lund, Sweden, as a part of their 1908 carnival. The film is a parody of female students engaging in sports.
Short comedy about a man who dreams that he runs over everyone with his skates. A man falls asleep on the sidewalk and dreams that he gets into trouble with his homemade skates because he runs over everyone. He is woken up with a garden hose by two mischievous boys. When he takes the garden hose away, a police officer gets wet, which puts the man in trouble after all.
Short film from 1908
During an effort to repair a horse carriage a boy grabs the wheel and gives it a push down the hill and towards the city. The wheel turns and turns and causes one accident after the other until everybody runs after it to stop the mayhem. Bizzarrie di una ruota is a slapstick film in love with an object out of control and the confusion it can cause, over and over again in endless variations.
A submarine coming into port is seen gliding smoothly on the water and the little rowboat which is to bring the captain of the vessel to his post is seen leaving for shore. We see the dashing young officer bidding his love adieu, and then seating himself in the frail craft is soon once more on duty at the wheel. Away they go, and reaching the wide sea the ship gives a lurch and disappears under the water.
A couple of performers perform the big love number from the Oscar Strauss operetta.
Sigmund Liban sings forty second from the prologue to PAGLIACCI in this early sound film.
German Tonbild.
