In this 4 minute short film, the 34 year old D.W. Griffith reworks Robert Louis Stevenson's novel by presenting a polemic against diversity. There was nothing to justify interest in the characters, but the Iris-in (vignette) was noticeable.
2 Reviews
The most lugubrious manner possible
deickemeyer31 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
A Biograph subject which shows a number of men in the most lugubrious manner possible drawing lots to see who shall be the next to commit suicide. It falls upon Frank Fairmount, the least lugubrious looking of any of them. The rest accordingly supply him with a large revolver, a huge knife, a bottle of poison and a rope. He goes home and while deciding which route he better select a maid brings him a note which says he has fallen heir to $50,000. He decides to postpone the commission of the act until the money is gone at any rate. The members of the club call upon him shortly after for an explanation and get it. He forces them at the muzzle of the revolver to sign a paper releasing him from his oath. In other words, they were perfectly willing to have him go, but were not particularly anxious to follow him and therefore signed when they saw the revolver pointing their way. - The Moving Picture World, May 8, 1909
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