tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6435823559307305151.post3780055693486404907..comments2024-03-27T05:40:32.489+00:00Comments on Film: Ab Initio: 1904 - How a French Nobleman Got a Wife Through the New York Herald Personal Columns - Edwin S. PorterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6435823559307305151.post-85303073215443733562010-06-15T18:41:56.756+01:002010-06-15T18:41:56.756+01:00@ Rob - You raise an interesting point in regards ...@ Rob - You raise an interesting point in regards to the pacing of both Porter films that have been discussed so far. It would be helpful to learn what the contemporary audience's expectations were in regards to the pace of such films. <br /><br />Which brings to your point about the music - a problem we face is that we are viewing these films on our computers - one can only speculate what the effect viewing these films in a nickelodeon would have had on the contemporary audience. Film's ability to captivate is almost always more effective in a cinematic setting.<br /><br />Thank you for the link to Dream of a Rarebit friend - it is superb - I may have to add a few paragraphs to The Great Train Robbery post to discuss it.<br /><br />And finally, I will try and track down his version of Faust...Fritz Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06736626183920706099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6435823559307305151.post-38327851948388741842010-06-15T10:21:30.938+01:002010-06-15T10:21:30.938+01:00I think there is something haunting about that fin...I think there is something haunting about that final shot, of him in the river... Overlong definitely, but there is something to this film. I think Porter is a fascinating director, actually. If I'm not mistaken, he did the first version of Faust? <br /><br />With the right music set to it, the Porter films can be transporting - the slowness can become a weird virtue. That definitely goes for A Great Train Robbery, too. Also, check out this twisted masterpiece from 1903 - 'Dream of a Rarebit Fiend':<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awOFDc5vyVoRobnoreply@blogger.com