Knife abuse in a silent film

L

lambertiana

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
9,668
I guess there is a reason I see so many antique slipjoints with broken blades. Last night I was watching a silent film (The Patsy, released in early 1928) and in one scene they showed a closeup of a guy using a knife as a screwdriver. The view was very close up - just the hand holding the knife, plus what he was working on. It was a simple large pen or small jack, about 3.25", spear point master being used as a screwdriver, federal shield, and what looked like a wood handle. Sorry, I couldn't make out the stamp....

So abusing knives is nothing new.

Is watching silent films folksy, or just plain desperately bored? Some of them are actually interesting to watch.
 
I'd rather watch some of the old B&W films instead of the tosh they turn out today!!

Russell
 
The over acting can get a bit tiresome in most silent movies. I do love the comedies though: Harold, Buster, and Charlie!
 
Cheeseburger said:
The over acting can get a bit tiresome in most silent movies. I do love the comedies though: Harold, Buster, and Charlie!
Click to expand...

Buster was probably the most underrated stuntman in Hollywood history.

As far as knife missuse, even as a kid I recall seeing movie or TV charaters doing something with a pocket knife that made me cringe. It's hard to keep in mind, that for the rest of the 98% of the people who make up the human race, a knife is just a tool like a .99 cent screwdriver or putty knife. If it breaks, they just toss it and buy another one.
 
Keaton was great. Don't forget Fatty Arbuckle. I can't bear to watch the carchase/explosion/gunfire/ninja fight/new frame every half second rubbish out now. I must admit I don't mind seein' nekkid wimmen occasionally. As for knives, I'm taking care of mine. :)
 
Although I have gotten my wife to start watching a lot of the classics on TCM, she usually doesn't have any interest in the silent films. But one night I had her watch The Kid with Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan, and she really enjoyed it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top