Modern Education (1909)
The great men of letters and military conquest pose on subsequent pages of a very special history book.
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Modern Education (1909) *** (out of 4) Director Emile Cohl certainly came up with some clever ideas when it came to films. This one here has a large history book on a stage and when the page turns we see a different historic figure on the left side of the screen. The right side of the screen is an open slot where an actor, dressed as that character, walks into it. Yes, there's certainly nothing ground-breaking about this film but I thought the idea of a living history book was quite fascinating and the three minute film kept me entertained. We get to see figures like George Washington and Napoleon brought to life. The costumes aren't the greatest and sometimes the actor doesn't look 100% like the character but these are just minor complaints.
When you watch the earliest silent films, you really need to adjust your expectations. What might seem like a very inconsequential film today might have been a huge hit and innovative title in its day. That's how it often is with the films of the French filmmaker and animator, Émile Cohl.This film consists of a set that looks like a book and historical figures step out of the pages. While this IS a clever notion, the characters (consisting of Washington, Shakespeare, Peter the Great, Napoleon, Dante, Bolivar, Cervantes and Goethe) really don't DO anything. It's not really all that different than looking at a picture book and the idea, though clever, isn't brought to life. However, the sets, costumes and technology are very good.