This Robert Bruce travelogue of tropical islands shows an incredibly strong sense of composition, and the use of the Desmet color process to restore the tinting and toning of the original release adds to the visuals in a way that tinting and toning often did not in silent film. It's an integral part of the composition instead of a poor substitute or a pointless extra. The overall effect is stunning -- were I to see these in almost any movie I would assume it was a carefully decorated set and not the real thing.
Bruce's travelogues were distributed by Educational from 1916 through 1934 and were deservedly popular, justifying the "Educational" part of the name -- other than these, the distributor was best known for a strong series of short comedies, often produced by Jack White. These Bruce travelogues are hard to find -- this is only the second I have seen -- but if those two are any guide, they stand head and shoulders above the others.
Bruce's travelogues were distributed by Educational from 1916 through 1934 and were deservedly popular, justifying the "Educational" part of the name -- other than these, the distributor was best known for a strong series of short comedies, often produced by Jack White. These Bruce travelogues are hard to find -- this is only the second I have seen -- but if those two are any guide, they stand head and shoulders above the others.
