Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY.
Production Of the Moving Pictures
Which Mystify Many Persons.

Which Mystify Many Persons.
From the London Mail.
The biograph. having depicted most things
in the world Of fact, has now found new
realms to conquer in fiction.
1t has become a juggler, or, as 1t might
prefer to call itself, an 'illusionist,' and
the uncanny feats it performs will soon put
it's more human competitors to shame.
1t commences its performance by showing
on the white screen two men seated at
small table They seem to be carrying on
an excited conversation, but, after some
discussion, agree to make a wager on the
cause of the dispute. Then each takes from
his waistcoat pocket tiny doll, dressed
like boxer ready for a championship
match. The dolls are placed on the table,
Immediately come to life" and commence
sparring in the most scientific manner. The
two Gullivers applaud the Lilliputian pugil-
lists as they fight vigorously in space that
might be covered by dinner plate, and
when at last a five-grain glove inficts the
knockout blow on head that is smaller
than an early green pea the conqueror and
the conquered are picked up and ignomin-
iously replaced in the waistcoat pockets of
their owners.
This clever effect, the manager Of the bio
graph company explained is obtained by
superimposing two films, which are exposed
separately. First the two men seated at the
table act their part of the performance in
front of the camera, and then another bio
graph photograph Is taken Of a boxing
match, and the two rolls of films are then
skillfully placed together. The difference in
the size of the boxers and the onlookers is
accounted for by the fact that the latter
are placed much nearer to the camera than
the former.
But even more startling Illusions than this
can be produced. For instance, the bio
graph throws upon the screen a picture Of
headless man standing by a huge egg, from
which one might expect healthy young
roc to emerge. The decapitated man cracks
the egg with a mallet and discloses his
missing head inside.
The face smiles recognition, and allows
the hands to take a few hundred ordinary
reason except to show that 1t is capable of
further miracles. Then it looks longingly
toward the neck and shoulders from which
it has been exiled, and is finally lifted into
it's place. The complete man then bows to
the audience and disappears. 1t spoils a
good Illusion to describe too fully it's inner
mysteries; but it may be limited that this
effect is obtained by the judcious use Of
is the material from which the modern bio
graph magician shapes his invisible
cloak" and the garment is quite as effect
i've the one the prince in Andersen's
fairy tale wore when he set out to discover
the wicked doings Of the witch.
THE Prisoners Dream Is the name OF
another piece of geographic juggling. The
prisoner is shown in his cell asleep. On the
forbidding stone wall mistiy outlined fig
ures appear Gradually they become more
and more sharply defined, though the wall
can still be seen through the substancelesS
forms One of the figures is recognized as
that Of the sleeping prisoner, the other is a
girl
There is a quarrel the flash of weapon,
and the girl falls Imply to the ground as
the "reaP' prisoner starts from his sleep
and stares wildly at the dream picture of
himself and his victim. The vision fades
away, and in it's place the ghostly face Of
he DIR 70 haU wa
The subject is somewhat morbid. but as
an example of trick photography 1t Is an
extremely clever piece of work. The result
is obtained as in the case Of the boxers, by
the combination of two films.
All the scenes are acted in studio illumi-
mated by what Is perhaps the most unique
electric-lighting apparatus in London-how
effective can be judged when 1t is said that
each Of the thousands that compose bio
graph moving picture only receives about
one -hundredth part of a second ex-
posture.
Actors of some considerable ability are re-
quired. for 1t Is by no means an easy mat
ter to tell a story entirely In pantomime 80
that every one can clearly catch the mean
ing, and careful rehearsal Is generally nee
essary before the actual photograph Is
taken. A really successful biograph mega
tive" however. Is worth striving for, as 1t
may prove little gold mine, for hundreds
of films may be printed from it. and they
are sent all over the world and exhibited
before millions of people in the course Of a
few months. The trick photographs are
certain to be popular. as the variety Of
subjects that may be produced is endless.
and the widest dreams of the most imagi-
native conjuror may be realized. THE Ara
bian Nights stories of magic carpets upon
which their lucky owners navigate the air
lose their SAVIOR when compared with the
feats the biograph will make possible.
Already the films have been shown In a
few provincial theaters, and they are short
ly to be seen in London: and it is probable
that the new illusion-making scheme will
be a standing feature for many months.