#27) Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze (1894)
OR “The Right Snuff”
Directed by William K.L. Dickson
Class of 2015
The whole film, courtesy of the Library of Congress
The Plot: The harrowing true story of a journalist and a photographer trapped in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime…no, wait, that’s “The Killing Fields”. This film is just some dude sneezing.
Why It Matters: The NFR cites the film’s representation as “the invention of the movies” and goes into the film’s history and preservation.
But Does It Really?: Purely as film, yes. And I don’t mean film as in a movie, I mean the actual physical film itself. It is the first baby step in what we now know as cinema. I’m genuinely surprised that it took the NFR 26 years to add “The Sneeze” to the Registry.
Everybody Gets One: A brief note on Fred Ott; a respected surgeon and gynecologist in his native Cambodia…no, wait, that’s Dr. Haing S. Ngor from “The Killing Fields”. Fred Ott was just some dude who worked for Edison.
Other notes
For God’s sake Fred, cover your mouth!
Legacy
This is technically the first snuff film. Thank you!
Since it’s in the public domain, this is a handy clip to have in your “Great Moments in the Movies” montage.
Fred Ott followed this film up with “Fred Ott Holding a Bird”. Unfortunately, early cinema audiences recognized an inferior sequel when they saw it, and avoided that film in droves.
Director William K.L. Dickson went on to invent the mutoscope and direct the short “What the Butler Saw”, possibly the first film whose goal was pure titillation.
This film has been remade several times, most notably as “That Scene in ‘Annie Hall’ Where Alvy Sneezes on the Cocaine”.
Thomas Edison would go on to steal some of the world’s greatest inventions.
Listen to This: The National Recording Registry has several Edison recordings, but one of its most unique is a cylinder recording for a talking doll the Edison Company made in 1888. You can listen to the doll’s rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” here, and then have fun trying to go to sleep tonight. Also be sure to check out the Library of Congress’ catalogue of Edison Picture and Sound Recordings.
The Plot: Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move into an apartment building in New York City. While still settling in, a tenant commits suicide, and while gathered around the body Rosemary & Guy meet their neighbors, the elderly couple Roman & Minnie Castevet (Sidney Blackmer & Ruth Gordon). Shortly afterwards, Rosemary learns she is pregnant, and the Castevets start getting very nosy about the baby. As the months go on, Rosemary starts to figure out what’s happening in the apartment building, and the paranoia sets in. To say anything more would be, well let’s just say, a sin.
Why It Matters: The NFR hails it as “a masterpiece of the horror-film genre” and praises Polanski and the cast.
But Does It Really?: So I don’t usually do horror movies, but I was literally on the edge of my seat with this one. It takes its time to get started, but when it does, “Rosemary’s Baby” is quite the ride. Mia Farrow is pretty much flawless, and she and Polanski keep you in suspense the whole time. As with any great horror film, it’s not about what they show, but rather what they don’t show that creates terrific suspense.
Everybody Gets One: Amazingly, despite a nearly 50-year career in film, this is Mia Farrow’s only appearance on the Registry. And although he will appear many times as a writer and director, this film marks John Cassavetes’ single acting appearance on the list. Also noteworthy is an early film appearance by Charles Grodin (Though I expect “Beethoven” will show up sooner or later).
Wow, That’s Dated: Well that party Rosemary throws with her friends is pure 1966. Also very dated is the idea that a struggling actor and a housewife could afford a spacious Manhattan apartment.
Seriously, Oscars?: The film only received one Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Ruth Gordon (Presented to her by Donald Baumgart himself!). As much a lifetime achievement award as it was for her performance, Ms. Gordon gave the ceremony one of its best acceptance speeches. Roman Polanski was snubbed for directing but did get an Adapted Screenplay nomination, losing to “The Lion in Winter”. Perhaps because she was Hollywood’s latest pretty young thing, Mia Farrow’s performance was overlooked. She has yet to be nominated. I’d also like to give special mention to Sidney Blackmer, whose performance should have made it to Best Supporting Actor.
Other notes
Rosemary mentions that Guy appeared on Broadway in “Luther” and “Nobody Loves an Albatross”, two actual plays from the early ‘60s that played around the same time. Also in the cast of the latter was Phil Leeds, who plays Dr. Shand in this film. It’s a conspiracy!
Why is everyone in the first 10 minutes dubbed? I understand for the on-location shots, but in the apartment too? If they’re going for unsettling, they did it.
This film partially takes place during Pope Paul VI’s visit to New York. It’s fun to think that this film is happening at the same time as “The House of Blue Leaves”.
Mia Farrow is excellent in this, and I can’t help but think that if her career had gone a slightly different way, she would have made a great Honey in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
That dream sequence is amazing. It perfectly conveys that stream of consciousness feeling as you drift in and out of sleep. A+ to everyone involved.
It’s also fun to think that at one point in 1968, you could see Maurice Evans in this film as Hutch, and at the same time go see him play a giant talking orangutan.
Speaking of the cast, it’s nice to see Ralph Bellamy in a role where he’s not losing his girlfriend or fiancée to Cary Grant.
I hope that this film did for Scrabble what “E.T.” did for Reese’s Pieces.
I appreciate that most of this film, especially the end, is shot from Rosemary’s point of view. Most horror films today do more shots towards the victim, giving everything a voyeuristic lens. Having it all be from Rosemary’s perspective is much more satisfying.
There’s only one Japanese character in the whole film and all he does is take pictures? Oy.
After doing some research on the film’s production, all I can say is “Fuck you, Sinatra”.
Legacy
Two unrelated sequels; a sequel to the book that negates everything from the original, and a TV movie sequel to the film that no one asked for.
“Rosemary’s Baby” is responsible for the rise in The Devil’s acting career; from “The Exorcist” to “The Omen” to that comedy album he did with Flip Wilson.
The first season of “American Horror Story” definitely took a thing or two from this film.
Don’t worry; they remade this for TV with Zoe Saldana.
The completely unconnected but identically titled episode of “30 Rock”. (That’s twice I’ve referenced that specific episode on this blog. It’s that good!)
Writer Ira Levin wrote several other novels and plays that circled around Gothic Horror, but none that were as successful as this one (though some would make a case for “The Stepford Wives”). I personally have a soft spot for his play “Deathtrap”.
And after the release of this film, everything worked out A-OK for Roman Polanski.
OR “Oooo Eeee Oooo Steve Looks Just Like Buddy Holly”
Directed & Written by Quentin Tarantino. Story by Tarantino and Roger Avary.
Class of 2013
The Original Trailer, which tries its best to clean up the language.
The Plot: A classic pulp magazine on film, “Pulp Fiction” is the interwoven stories of seedy lowlife in 1990s L.A. Among them are two hit men, Vincent & Jules (John Travolta & Samuel L. Jackson). Vincent has an unexpectedly eventful night when he has to take the boss’ wife (Uma Thurman) to dinner, and Jules experiences an epiphany while witnessing a robbery at a diner. Meanwhile (or before, or later) a prizefighter named Butch (Bruce Willis) makes a deal with crime lord Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and loses his family’s valuable watch. All this, plus at least two Arquettes.
Why It Matters: The NFR calls it, “one of the few films on the National Film Registry as notable for its lasting impact on the film industry as its considerable artistic merits.” The essay by film critic Jami Bernard echoes these sentiments, and also uses the phrase “pissing contests” in a complimentary way.
But Does It Really?: I’m gonna get this over with; I enjoy this movie a lot. It deserves to be here. It’s a movie I have to watch every year or two and just have a good time. But does that mean I think Tarantino’s a genius? No. I think he’s a great writer and a great lover of film whose work has been embraced (maybe a little too fanatically) around the world. But good acting helps good writing, and everyone in this movie relishes the opportunity to speak good dialogue. The film is uniquely stylized and is an instant classic, but to quote The Wolf, “let’s not start sucking each other’s dicks quite yet.”
Everybody Gets One: Among the big names in this film making their only NFR appearance are Uma Thurman, Amanda Plummer, Tim Roth, and Bruce Willis (Though I suspect Willis has at least two movies that will show up eventually**). Noteworthy in the featured cast are Phil “Hermes” LaMarr, Julia “It’s Pat” Sweeney, and Kathy “Kathy Griffin” Griffin. Also starring Stephen Hibbert as “The Gimp”.
Wow, That’s Dated: Cellular phones the size of your head, and the ability to smoke indoors in California. Plus that woman who Marsellus accidentally shoots could not be dressed more like 1994.
Seriously, Oscars?: The little indie film that could, “Pulp Fiction” ended up with seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. But in a year dominated by big studio-backed “Forrest Gump”, the film only took home one prize; Best Original Screenplay for Tarantino and Avary. Samuel L. Jackson’s loss in the Best Supporting Actor category gave us one of the great nominee reactions ever.
Other notes
Never, ever, under any circumstances, watch this movie on basic cable.
Geez, less than four minutes in and Tarantino has used more ethnic slurs than your average ‘40s film.
I would love to have seen the woman who Jules is dating.
What’s in the briefcase? Who cares?
Samuel L. Jackson is clearly enjoying every minute of this film, and we all benefit from it.
Don’t be a…rectangle?
What exactly about it makes it a “Douglas Sirk steak”? Is it melodramatic? Does Todd Haynes eat it?
Of all the casting “what-ifs” posed on the internet, the one that intrigues me the most is Alfre Woodard as Mia Wallace. I would love to have seen that.
“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” is performed of course by…Urge Overkill? What, did Neil Diamond want too much for his version? This is why we can’t have nice things!
I’m not his biggest fan, but I must admit John Travolta is damn good in this film.
The little detail I noticed this go-round with the film is Trudi, as played by Bronagh Gallagher, just sitting on the couch with her bong while Mia’s life is at stake. Hilarious.
Christopher Walken as Captain Koons is the reason the Oscars should have a “Best Cameo” category. In a limited amount of screen time he fully captures the spirit of this film. This is also just before Walken became a caricature of himself.
Butch has my favorite never-quoted line in the film; “We’re American, honey, our names don’t mean shit.”
For what it’s worth, “The Watch” is my least favorite of the film’s segments. It’s the most removed from the other segments (this is Roger Avary’s primary contribution to the screenplay), and it moves at a slower pace. There’s the conversation with Butch and the cab driver, then him and Fabienne, then another conversation between them the next morning, and THEN we finally get to the missing watch. We’re too far into the film to slow things down like that.
Zed kinda looks like Daniel Day-Lewis. Oh, but what if it IS Daniel Day-Lewis? Such range.
I respect Quentin Tarantino as a writer and director, not so much as an actor.
If only Jules and Vincent had waited a year, then they could have seen “Babe”, the most charming pig of them all!
Legacy
Every indie movie since 1994. Seriously, every damn one. Just Google it, I’m tired.
John Travolta: Act II.
Samuel L. Jackson’s entire film persona.
Confused Travolta!
Not only did Uma Thurman’s Oscar nomination thrust her into movie-stardom, but she got to meet Oprah too!
That point in the ‘90s when the ‘70s came back.
This Banksy mural;
Countless parodies, but we’ll focus on this one from the 1995 MTV Movie Awards that gave the other Sweathogs a chance to shine.
What happened next? Well in Hollywood they say, that Tarantino’s small ego grew three sizes that day.
Listen to This: Another fantastic film soundtrack, one song from “Pulp Fiction” has made it onto the National Recording Registry: Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”. You could listen to it while staring at Ving Rhames’ neck band-aid, or while getting next to that special someone. The point is, “Let’s Stay Together” is awesome.
** 2017 Update: And one those movies just showed up: “Die Hard“.
The Plot: The Middletons come to New York to see the goings-on at the 1939 World’s Fair, though mainly just the exhibits at the Westinghouse pavilion. Along the way they see modern marvels like an automatic dishwasher, a robot named Elektro, and a new thing called television. But all of this takes a backseat to steamy romantic intrigue when daughter Babs (Marjorie Lord) is torn between Westinghouse worker/Capitalist mouthpiece Jim (Douglas Stark) and her art teacher/Marx-loving dirty Commie boyfriend Nick (George J. Lewis). Also around is her little brother Bud (Jimmy Lydon) who’s just a complete pain in the ass.
Why It Matters: The NFR calls it “[b]oth charming and heavy-handed” and cites the historical document of the fair’s exhibits as well as “the heartland values of the age”. These thoughts are echoed in an essay by San Jose State Professor Andrew F. Wood.
But Does It Really?: I think Westinghouse went a little too far with this one. You want to document your time at the World’s Fair? Go ahead, we’re happy to see it. But do you really have to throw in a convoluted love story too? The whole film lays it on really thick; Technology is progress and anything else is pure Communism. Those of you who are not big fans of Capitalism these days may want to skip this one. If you’re willing to take a deep breath and just accept this film’s very optimistic view of industry, you might enjoy yourself. As a peek at the 1939 World’s Fair, I give it a pass. As entertainment – or heck, even as a Westinghouse commercial – it’s a bit much.
Shout Outs: Quick mention of how stuff like Frankenstein’s Monster is “only in the movies”.
Everybody Gets One: Marjorie Lord would go on to TV fame as Wife #2 on “Make Room for Daddy”. Jimmy Lydon played Henry Aldrich in a series of films in the ‘40s and as of this writing is the only cast member who is still alive. Special mention to Harry Shannon (Father), who would go on to play Kane’s father in “Citizen Kane”, and Georgette Harvey (Elvira), who was in the original Broadway cast of “Porgy and Bess”.
Wow, That’s Dated: I mean, the whole thing really. I’ll mention some more along the way, but for now let’s settle on Barney Google being in the Westinghouse Time Capsule alongside Mickey Mouse and Dick Tracy (A Note to Readers in the Year 6939; no one knows who Barney Google is back now).
Seriously, Oscars?: How this thing didn’t get a nomination in any category is beyond me.
Other notes
I want to beat the crap out of Bud.
Geez Dad, stop being such a creep towards your daughter. Who are you, the President?
I got a feeling the dishwashing competition was fixed in favor of Mrs. Modern. But to their credit, both she and Mrs. Drudge do the whole thing in heels.
So there’s the main plotline about the family visiting the fair, the love triangle, Bud being persuaded to like Westinghouse, Bud entering the letter contest, Grandma’s little soliloquy…. For Pete’s sake “Short Cuts” had less plotlines than this film.
Grandma loves what electrical engineers did for housewives; “They signed our Emancipation Proclamation.” All I can say is [Deep exhale].
I’m glad that when Westinghouse made its first robot the first thing they taught him was how to smoke a cigarette.
No information I can find can confirm this, but I’m pretty confident the same actor who was the lead in “A Case of Spring Fever” plays the salesman towards the end of this film. He is uncredited in both films. Anyone know the guy’s name?
Speaking of which, I would love to see what the folks at “Mystery Science Theater 3000” would make of all this.
Yes, the future does look bright for technology and job opportunities. Hope there isn’t a war anytime soon.
Legacy
The 1939 New York World’s Fair was so successful they did another one 25 years later. It was the Woodstock ’94 of its day.
Knoxville! Knoxville! Knoxville!
Television would become a big hit after the World’s Fair, but let’s focus on its greatest impact; game show bloopers.
Thanks to the universal success of this film, Communism was never heard from again.
Elmer “Bud” Middleton: Killed in Korea, 1952.
Elektro would later appear as Thinko in the 1960 film “Sex Kittens Go to College”. That’s not a joke – that actually happened.
And of course, the Time Capsule would lead to Earth rediscovering Barney Google in the year A.D. 6939, and adopting his adventures with Snuffy Smith as scripture. Praise be to Barney Google!
Further Viewing: This newsreel shows off the non-Westinghouse parts of the World’s Fair, including something called “Futurama”.
#27) Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze (1894)
The Horse's Head 