This very brief movie consists of only two shots, and the action is simple, but even so it's incomprehensible to modern viewers without explanation. Intended as political satire, Terrible Teddy the Grizzly King was inspired by two editorial cartoons published under that name in the Hearst papers, cartoons which were critical of the newly elected Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt. The vigorous young T.R. was known as an outdoors-man, in the style later adopted by Ernest Hemingway (i.e. camping out and killing lots of animals), all very macho as we would say now. He was also known for a decided lack of shyness in publicizing his exploits. The Hearst cartoons depicted "Teddy" killing a mountain lion in Colorado, all the while making certain that his photographer and press agent record the event. Afterwards, he gallops home with his trophy.
This film follows that scenario, but is rather heavy-handed in its approach. In the first shot, the actor playing Roosevelt dashes awkwardly into the woods, in a kind of crazed, high-speed toddle, falls, and quickly rights himself. Already, he seems foolish. Then, and only after his photographer and press agent have arrived on the scene, he fires his rifle into a tree. The body of a dark cat falls, and Teddy seizes it and stabs it repeatedly. (The photographer, by the way, is labeled "My Photographer," while the press agent writes in a big pad labeled "Press Agent." It's like an old newspaper cartoon come to life.) Once this act has been properly documented, the three men ride homeward in triumph on horseback.
Perhaps the biggest drawback here is that the face of the actor playing Roosevelt is barely visible. In both shots the camera is distant from the actors, although we can read the signs carried by T.R.'s flacks. Perhaps it was felt that the actor's resemblance to the Vice President wasn't strong enough to permit a better look, but the satirical point is nonetheless blunted when the hunter's identity has to be explained. Still, this probably wasn't an issue when the film was first shown. There was only one "Teddy" in the news then, and his outdoor adventures were so well publicized that audiences of the time must have laughed in recognition from the moment he appeared on screen. Although this film is brief and crudely made, it's an important milestone: perhaps the first utilization of the cinema as political satire.
This film follows that scenario, but is rather heavy-handed in its approach. In the first shot, the actor playing Roosevelt dashes awkwardly into the woods, in a kind of crazed, high-speed toddle, falls, and quickly rights himself. Already, he seems foolish. Then, and only after his photographer and press agent have arrived on the scene, he fires his rifle into a tree. The body of a dark cat falls, and Teddy seizes it and stabs it repeatedly. (The photographer, by the way, is labeled "My Photographer," while the press agent writes in a big pad labeled "Press Agent." It's like an old newspaper cartoon come to life.) Once this act has been properly documented, the three men ride homeward in triumph on horseback.
Perhaps the biggest drawback here is that the face of the actor playing Roosevelt is barely visible. In both shots the camera is distant from the actors, although we can read the signs carried by T.R.'s flacks. Perhaps it was felt that the actor's resemblance to the Vice President wasn't strong enough to permit a better look, but the satirical point is nonetheless blunted when the hunter's identity has to be explained. Still, this probably wasn't an issue when the film was first shown. There was only one "Teddy" in the news then, and his outdoor adventures were so well publicized that audiences of the time must have laughed in recognition from the moment he appeared on screen. Although this film is brief and crudely made, it's an important milestone: perhaps the first utilization of the cinema as political satire.
