Black Eyes

Plot

In this 1915 silent comedy, a married couple makes a solemn pact to never again sneak out on each other with their respective friends. Despite their good intentions, both husband and wife find themselves tempted to break their promise when social opportunities arise. The film follows their humorous attempts to conceal their secret outings from each other, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and near-misses. As their deceptions grow more elaborate, the couple's relationship is tested by their mutual dishonesty. The story culminates in a farcical revelation where both partners discover they've been equally guilty of breaking their vow.

Historical Background

1915 was a watershed year in American cinema, occurring during the transition from short films to feature-length productions. The film industry was rapidly professionalizing, with studios establishing more systematic production methods. World War I was raging in Europe, but America remained neutral, allowing the film industry to flourish domestically. This was also the year that the Motion Picture Patents Company, which had monopolized film production, was effectively dissolved by court decisions, opening the market to independent producers like Joker Film Company. The comedy genre was evolving from the broad slapstick of earlier years to more sophisticated situational comedies involving domestic scenarios. The film industry was also moving westward, with Hollywood rapidly becoming the center of American film production, though East Coast studios like those in New York were still significant contributors.

Making Of

The production of 'Black Eyes' took place during the transitional period when American film production was consolidating in California, though many East Coast studios were still active. Director Will Louis worked extensively with the Joker Film Company, creating numerous short comedies featuring recurring character types. The casting of Raymond McKee was significant, as he was establishing himself as a reliable comedy leading man. The film would have been shot with natural lighting or early artificial lighting techniques, with the camera remaining largely static, as was typical for comedies of this period. The physical comedy sequences would have been carefully choreographed to maximize visual impact, with actors performing their own stunts. The editing would have been simple, with straight cuts between scenes, as more sophisticated editing techniques were still developing.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Black Eyes' would have employed the techniques common to 1915 comedy production. The camera would have been largely static, positioned to capture the full action in medium shots, with occasional close-ups for emotional emphasis. Lighting would have been basic, using available natural light from studio skylights supplemented by early artificial lighting when necessary. The film stock would have been orthochromatic, which was less sensitive to red light and required careful makeup application. The visual composition would have emphasized clarity of action to ensure the physical comedy was easily understood by audiences. The cinematographer would have focused on maintaining consistent exposure and focus throughout the rapid movements typical of comedy sequences.

Innovations

While 'Black Eyes' was not a groundbreaking film technically, it represents the standard practices of 1915 comedy production. The film would have been shot on 35mm film at approximately 16 frames per second, the standard speed of the era. The editing would have employed simple cuts between scenes, with limited use of cross-cutting or parallel action. The film's technical aspects were functional rather than innovative, focusing on clear storytelling and effective presentation of physical comedy. The production would have utilized the basic camera movements available at the time, primarily panning to follow action. The film's technical execution would have been designed to ensure reliability and efficiency in production rather than artistic experimentation.

Music

As a silent film, 'Black Eyes' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during theatrical exhibition. The accompaniment could range from a single pianist in smaller theaters to a small orchestra in larger venues. The music would have been selected to match the mood of each scene, with upbeat, playful melodies during comedic moments and more romantic themes during the reconciliation scenes. Popular songs of the era might have been incorporated when appropriate to the action. The tempo of the music would have been synchronized with the pacing of the visual comedy, enhancing the humorous effect. Theaters often used compiled cue sheets or generic photoplay music collections rather than specially composed scores for short comedies.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening scene where the husband and wife make their solemn vow never to sneak out again, likely performed with exaggerated earnestness typical of silent comedy
• The parallel sequences showing both spouses secretly preparing to go out with their friends, creating dramatic irony for the audience
• The climactic confrontation scene where both partners discover each other's deceptions, probably featuring exaggerated reactions and physical comedy

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception for short comedies like 'Black Eyes' was typically limited to trade publications like Variety and The Moving Picture World. Reviews generally focused on the film's entertainment value and the performances of the lead actors. Without surviving copies, modern critical assessment is impossible, but films of this type were generally considered reliable crowd-pleasers for theater programmers. The formulaic nature of domestic comedies meant they were rarely reviewed as artistic achievements, but rather as commercial products designed to entertain working-class audiences. The film's reception would have been influenced by the popularity of its stars and the reputation of the Joker Film Company for producing consistent comedies.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception for short comedies in 1915 was generally positive, as these films were designed to provide light entertainment between more serious fare. The domestic theme of marital discord and reconciliation would have been relatable to contemporary audiences. The physical comedy and visual gags would have transcended language barriers, making the film accessible to immigrant audiences who were a significant portion of early cinema patrons. The film's short length (one reel) made it ideal for the varied programming common in theaters of the era, where audiences expected a mix of genres and formats. The success of such films depended largely on the comedic timing of the actors and the clarity of the visual storytelling.

You Might Also Like