Crude early Mack Sennett comedy in which a group of tourists cause mayhem when they stop off on a train journey to Mexico. No real laughs to speak of, but Mabel Normand is fun as the chief troublemaker.
5 Reviews
The Tourists review
JoeytheBrit25 June 2020
Very light on plot.
planktonrules24 July 2012
This short can be found in the recently released DVD collection "Treasures of the West"---a collection of mostly short films from the earliest days of movies until 1938. According to the accompanying commentary track, the Biograph Company (owned by D.W. Griffith) would travel each year--filming part of the year in California and part of it back East. This film was one of several made during the trip West and the crew apparently stopped off in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a few days. And, while Griffith was off filming some drama, Mack Sennett (also employed by Biograph) was off filming this comedy, "The Tourists".
Unfortunately, "The Tourists" just has almost no plot. Even compared to the average Sennett film of the day (which were often filmed off the cuff and with only story outlines), this one is plot-thin. A group of tourists miss their train and spend some time gawking at the Indian natives hanging about the railroad station. One of them, Trixie (Mabel Normand) begins flirting with the Chief and soon all the ladies from the tribe begin chasing her about--until she and her friends catch the next train and beat a hasty retreat.
In addition to having almost no plot (and no laughs), the film features many actual Native Americans BUT like films of the day, the Chief and his wife were actually played by White actors wearing LOTS of dark makeup. An interesting curio but not a very good comedy.
Unfortunately, "The Tourists" just has almost no plot. Even compared to the average Sennett film of the day (which were often filmed off the cuff and with only story outlines), this one is plot-thin. A group of tourists miss their train and spend some time gawking at the Indian natives hanging about the railroad station. One of them, Trixie (Mabel Normand) begins flirting with the Chief and soon all the ladies from the tribe begin chasing her about--until she and her friends catch the next train and beat a hasty retreat.
In addition to having almost no plot (and no laughs), the film features many actual Native Americans BUT like films of the day, the Chief and his wife were actually played by White actors wearing LOTS of dark makeup. An interesting curio but not a very good comedy.
A Nicely Shot and Edited Comic Improversation.
jayraskin116 November 2012
This is a great example of Mack Sennett's guerrilla film making technique. Obviously the plot is improvised around the event of Sennett's film crew stopping off at a Native American district in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Trixie (Mabel Normand) is happy to find Native Americans selling baskets. She buys so many that they miss their train.
Mable gets involved with the tribe's chief. His wife (Kate Toncray) is jealous and comes after Mabel with a tomahawk. Most of the film is a chase after this. The editing is quite smooth. It shows that Sennett really had nothing more to learn from Griffith.
This is a good film if you want to see the pure joy of improvising a movie on the spot. Mabel Normand should be given a lot of credit for her ability to do this so well.
Mable gets involved with the tribe's chief. His wife (Kate Toncray) is jealous and comes after Mabel with a tomahawk. Most of the film is a chase after this. The editing is quite smooth. It shows that Sennett really had nothing more to learn from Griffith.
This is a good film if you want to see the pure joy of improvising a movie on the spot. Mabel Normand should be given a lot of credit for her ability to do this so well.
Basic one reel silent comedy
Mozjoukine31 January 2012
Simple minded early comedy, which sustains itself with lots of movement and a little bit of Albuquerque local colour.
A group of tourists spend too long checking out the Indian Arts and Crafts at the station and miss their train. While waiting, Normand in a picture hat and black outfit, wanders off and takes an interest in Chief Evans, precipitating the usual chase, here by ax wielding Indian wives.
Shots of an Indian girl weaver and action moving towards camera are the most attention catching elements.
The excellent "Treasures of the West" transfer of a sharp original props up the historic interest.
A group of tourists spend too long checking out the Indian Arts and Crafts at the station and miss their train. While waiting, Normand in a picture hat and black outfit, wanders off and takes an interest in Chief Evans, precipitating the usual chase, here by ax wielding Indian wives.
Shots of an Indian girl weaver and action moving towards camera are the most attention catching elements.
The excellent "Treasures of the West" transfer of a sharp original props up the historic interest.
Worth Watching for the Non-Actors
Michael_Elliott1 January 2013
The Tourists (1912)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Mainly interesting as a curio, this Mack Sennett directed comedy has a group of white people missing their train so they decide to take a look around at the Indians. Trixie (Mabel Normand) decides to start touching up on Big Chief, which makes his wife and the other Indian women angry. THE TOURIST lasts just six-minutes so there's not too much in term of plot and for a comedy there really aren't any laughs. What makes this film so interesting to watch is that there were several real Indians that appear in the film. God knows if this was their first time seeing a movie camera or not but there are some pretty genuine moments to be seen here including the last sequence when the group of women are pretty much pushing the white people away. Just take a look at the non-actors trying to mix in with the professional ones. It should go without saying but the professional actors playing the Indian parts are in make up and it's so obvious when the two are together. With that said, I thought Normand was in good form as she was clearly meant for the screen as she floats around like a butterfly and her charm leaps off the screen.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Mainly interesting as a curio, this Mack Sennett directed comedy has a group of white people missing their train so they decide to take a look around at the Indians. Trixie (Mabel Normand) decides to start touching up on Big Chief, which makes his wife and the other Indian women angry. THE TOURIST lasts just six-minutes so there's not too much in term of plot and for a comedy there really aren't any laughs. What makes this film so interesting to watch is that there were several real Indians that appear in the film. God knows if this was their first time seeing a movie camera or not but there are some pretty genuine moments to be seen here including the last sequence when the group of women are pretty much pushing the white people away. Just take a look at the non-actors trying to mix in with the professional ones. It should go without saying but the professional actors playing the Indian parts are in make up and it's so obvious when the two are together. With that said, I thought Normand was in good form as she was clearly meant for the screen as she floats around like a butterfly and her charm leaps off the screen.
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