Rector's to Claremont (1904)

When a group of diners boards a carriage, one man is left behind and chases after them on foot.

Director:

Edwin S. Porter

Storyline

A large group of diners leaves Rector's restaurant in New York City, and climbs into a carriage. One man, however, has been left behind. He dashes out of the restaurant and runs after the carriage, pursuing it through the streets. At one point, he catches up with it and grabs hold of the back of the carriage, only to lose his grip and fall off. So he must once more renew his efforts.

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Plot Keywords:

carriage | restaurant | new york city | chase | manhattan new york city | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005)

User Reviews

The cut is quicker than the pan

Edwin Porter was experimenting when he made this movie. At this time, there was an argument as to what a cut and jump to another scene meant. Standard magic-lantern grammar, which Porter had used in the previous year's LIFE OF AN American FIREMAN was originally edited so that it would recapitulate the previous scene, from a different angle, perhaps, but moving back a bit in time. Yes, a change in scene could indicate a change in time on the stage and in a book, but would it mean the same thing on the screen? So Porter shot this carriage ride, with a bit of comic elaboration to test the question. It worked. Indeed, the modern viewer looking at it thinks there is a lot of dead time -- so says the other reviewer. But while it does seem to drag, it is still an enormous advance in the movement from camera tricks as the point of a film to the way those tricks help tell a story.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

1904 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edison Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

4 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White