Eradicating Aunty
Plot
A young couple is enjoying their peaceful married life when the wife's aunt arrives for an unexpected and tedious visit. The aunt proves to be an overbearing presence, constantly interfering with their daily routine and making herself at home in an unwelcome manner. The couple grows increasingly desperate as the aunt shows no signs of leaving, overstaying her welcome and disrupting their household. Their friend, recognizing their predicament, devises a clever scheme to make the aunt believe she must leave immediately. Through a series of comedic misunderstandings and orchestrated events, the friend's plan succeeds in convincing the aunt to depart, restoring peace to the young couple's home.
About the Production
This was one of hundreds of short films D.W. Griffith directed for Biograph during their prolific 1908-1913 period. The film was shot on 35mm film in the standard Biograph format of the time. Griffith was experimenting with narrative storytelling techniques that would later become fundamental to cinema language.
Historical Background
1909 was a transformative year in American cinema. The nickelodeon boom was in full swing, with thousands of small theaters opening across the country to meet the demand for motion pictures. D.W. Griffith, who had begun directing at Biograph in 1908, was rapidly becoming one of the most important figures in early American cinema, pioneering techniques like cross-cutting, close-ups, and sophisticated narrative structures. The film industry was still establishing itself as a legitimate art form and business, moving away from the novelty stage of earlier years. This period also saw the rise of the first movie stars, though studios initially tried to keep actors anonymous to prevent them from demanding higher salaries.
Why This Film Matters
While 'Eradicating Aunty' is a minor comedy in Griffith's vast filmography, it represents the development of domestic comedy as a film genre. These types of relatable family situations helped establish cinema as a medium for telling stories about ordinary people's lives, making it accessible to a broad audience. The film also demonstrates how early cinema reflected and reinforced social norms around family dynamics and hospitality. As part of Griffith's early work, it contributes to our understanding of how one of cinema's most influential directors developed his craft before moving on to his groundbreaking feature films.
Making Of
The film was made during the transition period when film production was moving from New York studios to Fort Lee, New Jersey, which would become the first American film town. Griffith was developing his distinctive directorial style, experimenting with camera placement, editing rhythms, and actor direction. The cast, particularly Florence Lawrence, was part of Griffith's stock company of actors who appeared in dozens of his films. The production would have been straightforward with minimal sets and props, typical of Biograph's efficient production methods. Griffith was known for his attention to detail even in these short comedies, often rehearsing scenes multiple times to achieve the desired comic timing.
Visual Style
The cinematography would have been typical of Biograph productions in 1909, using stationary cameras positioned at eye level. The film was shot in black and white on 35mm film, likely by Billy Bitzer or another of Biograph's regular cameramen. The lighting would have been natural or simple studio lighting, as artificial lighting techniques were still primitive. The camera work would have been functional rather than artistic, focusing on clearly presenting the action and actors' expressions.
Innovations
While not a groundbreaking film technically, 'Eradicating Aunty' represents the standard technical quality of Biograph productions in 1909. The film was shot on the Biograph camera, which used an unusual 68mm film format that produced exceptionally sharp images. The editing would have been straightforward continuity cutting, a technique Griffith was helping to perfect. The film demonstrates the emerging language of cinema that Griffith and his contemporaries were developing through their prolific output.
Music
As a silent film, 'Eradicating Aunty' would have been accompanied by live music during exhibition. The specific musical accompaniment would have varied by theater, ranging from a single piano in smaller nickelodeons to small ensembles or organ music in larger venues. The music would have been selected to match the comedic tone of the film, likely using popular songs of the era and standard musical cues for comedy scenes. No original score was composed for the film.
Famous Quotes
As a silent film, there are no recorded dialogue quotes. The comedy would have been conveyed through pantomime, facial expressions, and intertitles.
Memorable Scenes
- The scene where the aunt first arrives and immediately makes herself at home, disrupting the couple's peaceful existence. The friend's clever scheme to convince the aunt to leave, which likely involved some form of deception or misunderstanding that created comedic tension. The final relief of the young couple when they finally have their home to themselves again.
Did You Know?
- This film was released during D.W. Griffith's most productive period at Biograph, when he directed over 450 short films in just five years.
- Florence Lawrence, who stars in this film, was known as 'The Biograph Girl' and is considered one of the first movie stars, though she wasn't credited by name in early releases.
- The film showcases Griffith's early mastery of domestic comedy, a genre he would return to throughout his career.
- 1909 was a pivotal year for Griffith, as he was developing many of the cinematic techniques that would revolutionize filmmaking.
- The title 'Eradicating Aunty' reflects the era's penchant for catchy, sometimes exaggerated titles that clearly stated the film's premise.
- This film was part of Biograph's strategy to produce two one-reel films per week to meet the growing demand from nickelodeons.
- The film was likely shot in just one or two days, as was typical for Biograph productions of this era.
- Owen Moore, who appears in the film, would later marry Mary Pickford and become a major star of the silent era.
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of individual Biograph shorts from 1909 are scarce, as trade publications of the era focused more on the business aspects of film rather than artistic criticism. However, Biograph films were generally well-regarded by exhibitors for their consistent quality and entertainment value. Modern film historians view these early Griffith comedies as important stepping stones in the development of American film comedy, showing the director's ability to work in multiple genres and his growing mastery of cinematic storytelling techniques.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1909 would have received this film as light entertainment suitable for the mixed-age audiences typical of nickelodeons. The domestic situation would have been relatable to many viewers, and the comedic premise of dealing with unwelcome relatives was universal. Biograph films were popular with exhibitors because they consistently delivered satisfying entertainment that kept customers coming back to the nickelodeons. The short format was ideal for the continuous programming model of early movie theaters.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Stage comedy traditions
- Vaudeville routines
- Domestic melodramas
- Earlier Biograph comedies
This Film Influenced
- Later domestic comedies
- Family situation comedies
- Early Hollywood romantic comedies
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The preservation status of 'Eradicating Aunty' is uncertain. Many Biograph films from this period have survived, particularly those directed by Griffith, but some have been lost due to the unstable nature of early film stock. The film may exist in archives such as the Library of Congress, the Museum of Modern Art, or other film preservation institutions. If it survives, it would likely be available as a 35mm or 16mm print, and possibly digitized for research purposes.