This is the kind of movie that seems to have little to offer when viewed by itself, without reference to its original context. If it were nothing more than one simple scene of a band at practice, then there are only a couple of details that would be worth noticing, so that it would be of limited interest at best. But it is more interesting when seen with its original setting in mind.
This was one of several features (most of them now lost), filmed by the Edison Company, in which they re-enacted scenes from Charles Hoyt's stage show 'A Milk White Flag'. The now-forgotten Hoyt specialized in plays that that satirized or parodied contemporary attitudes and trends, and/or human nature in general. This scene comes from a musical that in large part poked fun at the military and patriotic spirit that was so widespread in the USA in the 1890s (and which culminated, later in the decade, in the popular demand for war with Spain).
In this short scene, the self-important band-leader leads his players into position, in a parody of the pomp and pride that was associated with the state and local militias of the era. Hoyt's production was designed to deflate them just a bit in the popular mind, not by showing any disrespect for genuine patriotism, but by depicting how some persons saw the military lifestyle simply as a way of promoting themselves socially or politically.
With its historical and social background, the brief movie takes on more significance, in calling attention to social trends that were soon to have their effect on world events.
This was one of several features (most of them now lost), filmed by the Edison Company, in which they re-enacted scenes from Charles Hoyt's stage show 'A Milk White Flag'. The now-forgotten Hoyt specialized in plays that that satirized or parodied contemporary attitudes and trends, and/or human nature in general. This scene comes from a musical that in large part poked fun at the military and patriotic spirit that was so widespread in the USA in the 1890s (and which culminated, later in the decade, in the popular demand for war with Spain).
In this short scene, the self-important band-leader leads his players into position, in a parody of the pomp and pride that was associated with the state and local militias of the era. Hoyt's production was designed to deflate them just a bit in the popular mind, not by showing any disrespect for genuine patriotism, but by depicting how some persons saw the military lifestyle simply as a way of promoting themselves socially or politically.
With its historical and social background, the brief movie takes on more significance, in calling attention to social trends that were soon to have their effect on world events.