This is the story of the making of "The Lumberjack", a 1914 short feature that itinerant Filmmakers from Paragon company shot in Wausau, a small town in Wisconsin, with the inhabitants as nonprofessional actors. The director interviews those still alive who were in it or who are in some ways connected to it. We are shown the locations, views featured in the film, old and new buildings. The director interviews a man who recovers old timber floating in the river, since the lumber mills were long gone in 1983.
Pianist Louise Elster, with an excellent timing and sense for silents, supplies both background music and some of the nicest moments in the documentary, with her lively interpretations and remembrances of an era long gone. It is great to watch how she enjoys her playing and easily adapts it to each moment´s mood in the picture.
Interviewing a woman who was featured in the wedding scene is somewhat shocking, as she is seen in 1910s fashions and hairdo, which makes a sharp contrast with seeing her in color in 1983. Watching a silent "talk" after all those years is an interesting experience, that helps fill a gap in our conscience about movie making.
It is of interest to those who like silents, though a bit slow paced, and helps connect us with a black-and-white (albeit tinted !) past, when songs were made about people wearing tulips and big red roses on their Sunday clothes.
"The Lumberkack"(1914) has survived. Those interested look at the film´s IMDB entry.
Pianist Louise Elster, with an excellent timing and sense for silents, supplies both background music and some of the nicest moments in the documentary, with her lively interpretations and remembrances of an era long gone. It is great to watch how she enjoys her playing and easily adapts it to each moment´s mood in the picture.
Interviewing a woman who was featured in the wedding scene is somewhat shocking, as she is seen in 1910s fashions and hairdo, which makes a sharp contrast with seeing her in color in 1983. Watching a silent "talk" after all those years is an interesting experience, that helps fill a gap in our conscience about movie making.
It is of interest to those who like silents, though a bit slow paced, and helps connect us with a black-and-white (albeit tinted !) past, when songs were made about people wearing tulips and big red roses on their Sunday clothes.
"The Lumberkack"(1914) has survived. Those interested look at the film´s IMDB entry.