A Funny Shave

Plot

A man sits before his mirror preparing for a morning shave, lathering his face with soap. As he raises his razor to begin shaving, bizarre and grotesque faces suddenly appear in the mirror, replacing his own reflection. Each time he attempts to shave, another monstrous visage materializes, causing him to recoil in horror and confusion. The man grows increasingly frustrated as the faces transform from one grotesque expression to another, mocking his attempts at personal grooming. In a final comedic twist, the man eventually gives up on his shaving routine, defeated by the supernatural mirror that refuses to show his proper reflection.

Historical Background

1905 was a pivotal year in early cinema, marking the transition from simple actualities to more complex narrative and trick films. The film industry was rapidly professionalizing, with companies like Pathé establishing global distribution networks. Cinema was moving from fairground attractions to dedicated theaters, and audiences were becoming more sophisticated in their expectations. This period saw the rise of specialized genres, with trick films becoming particularly popular due to their magical qualities. The technology was still primitive - cameras were hand-cranked, film stock was sensitive only to certain light conditions, and editing was done literally by cutting and taping film strips. Despite these limitations, filmmakers like de Chomón were pushing the boundaries of what was possible, creating illusions that amazed audiences of the time.

Making Of

The production of 'A Funny Shave' exemplifies the ingenuity of early filmmakers working with primitive equipment. De Chomón created the mirror effects using a combination of in-camera techniques and post-production manipulation. The actor would perform the shaving routine while a second exposure captured the grotesque faces, creating the illusion of supernatural transformation. The makeup effects for the monstrous faces were quite elaborate for the period, requiring quick application and removal between takes. This film was produced during de Chomón's most productive period at Pathé, where he was churning out numerous short trick films that showcased his technical innovations. The simplicity of the concept belies the technical complexity involved in executing the effects seamlessly.

Visual Style

The cinematography in 'A Funny Shave' was typical of Pathé productions of 1905, featuring static camera positioning and medium shots that clearly showed the actor's interactions with the mirror. The lighting was bright and even, necessary for the multiple exposure techniques used to create the effects. The film was shot on black and white film stock, though some prints were hand-colored later. The camera work was straightforward, allowing the special effects to be the main focus. De Chomón's approach prioritized clarity of the illusion over artistic composition, ensuring that audiences could clearly see and appreciate the transformation effects.

Innovations

The film's primary technical achievement was its sophisticated use of multiple exposure and substitution splicing techniques to create seamless transformations in what appeared to be a mirror reflection. De Chomón developed methods for superimposing images that were more advanced than many of his contemporaries. The timing of the transformations, synchronized with the actor's movements, demonstrated precise control over both filming and editing processes. The makeup effects for the grotesque faces were also notable for their complexity and effectiveness within the technical limitations of the era. This film contributed to the development of visual effects vocabulary that would influence cinema for decades to come.

Music

As a silent film, 'A Funny Shave' had no synchronized soundtrack. During its original exhibition, it would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small orchestra in the theater. The musical accompaniment would have been improvised or selected from a repertoire of classical and popular pieces appropriate to the mood of each scene. For the comedic elements, lighter, more whimsical music would have been played, while the appearance of grotesque faces might have been accompanied by more dramatic or startling musical cues. Some theaters may have used sound effects created manually, such as bells or percussion instruments, to enhance the impact of the transformations.

Memorable Scenes

• The sequence where multiple grotesque faces rapidly appear and disappear in the mirror as the man repeatedly raises and lowers his razor, creating a rhythm of transformation that builds from confusion to terror to comedic frustration.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of short films like 'A Funny Shave' was limited, as film criticism was still in its infancy. Trade publications of the era generally praised de Chomón's technical ingenuity and compared him favorably to Georges Méliès. Modern film historians and archivists recognize the film as an important example of early special effects work and a significant contribution to the development of the trick film genre. Critics today appreciate the film's simplicity and effectiveness in creating unsettling imagery with minimal resources, viewing it as a precursor to both horror and comedy traditions in cinema.

What Audiences Thought

Early 20th-century audiences reportedly found films like 'A Funny Shave' both amusing and astonishing. The transformation effects were novel and entertaining, providing the magical spectacle that cinema-goers of the era sought. The combination of humor and mild horror elements appealed to broad audiences, making such films popular in variety programs. The familiar domestic setting made the supernatural disruptions more relatable and therefore more impactful for viewers of the time. These short trick films were particularly successful in international markets because they relied on visual humor rather than dialogue, making them universally understandable.

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