Romance with a Double Bass

Plot

Princess Bibulova decides to enjoy a peaceful day of fishing along the riverbank, seeking solitude away from her royal duties. Meanwhile, a traveling musician, accompanied by two companions, also arrives at the river and decides to take a refreshing swim, leaving his double bass and clothes on the shore. The princess, feeling the warmth of the day, also decides to go for a swim, leaving her royal garments unattended. While both are enjoying their bath, two opportunistic thieves lurking nearby steal both sets of clothes, leaving the princess and musician in a mortifying predicament when they emerge from the water to find themselves without attire and forced into an awkward encounter that challenges their social boundaries.

Historical Background

1911 was a significant year in the Russian Empire, occurring during the final years of Tsar Nicholas II's reign and just six years before the Russian Revolution would dramatically transform the country. The film industry in Russia was experiencing rapid growth, with domestic production companies like Khanzhonkov beginning to challenge the dominance of imported films. This period saw the emergence of a distinctly Russian cinematic style that often incorporated elements of the country's rich literary tradition and social commentary. The film's focus on class differences between the princess and the musician reflected the rigid social hierarchy still prevalent in Russian society, while its comedic treatment of these divisions hinted at the growing questioning of traditional authority structures. Cinema was still a relatively new medium in Russia, having been introduced only about 15 years earlier, and films like this helped establish a domestic film culture that would flourish until the political upheavals of 1917.

Making Of

The filming of 'Romance with a Double Bass' took place during a pivotal moment in Russian cinema history, when domestic productions were beginning to establish their own identity separate from French and American imports. Director Kai Hansen, though foreign-born, had become adept at creating films that appealed to Russian audiences through their understanding of social hierarchies and class dynamics. The outdoor shooting along the Moscow River presented logistical challenges for the 1911 production crew, who had to transport heavy camera equipment to remote locations. The swimming sequences required careful choreography to maintain modesty while still conveying the comedic situation to the audience. The film's simple premise allowed for quick production, which was essential in the rapidly expanding Russian film market where quantity often trumped quality. The chemistry between Vera Gorskaya and Nikolai Vasilyev was so well-received that they were paired in several subsequent productions for the Khanzhonkov Company.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Vladimir Siversen employed the static camera techniques typical of 1911, with carefully composed wide shots that captured the outdoor setting along the river. The film made effective use of natural lighting, which was still relatively innovative for the period, as many productions were still shot entirely indoors under artificial lighting. The camera positioning was designed to maintain the modesty of the actors during the swimming sequences while still clearly conveying the comedic situation to the audience. The use of medium shots for the character interactions helped establish the social dynamics between the princess and the musician, while wider shots established the pastoral setting that contrasted with the characters' predicament.

Innovations

While not technically groundbreaking for its time, the film demonstrated the growing sophistication of Russian cinema in its use of location shooting and natural lighting. The production successfully overcame the challenges of outdoor filming in 1911, including the need to transport and set up heavy camera equipment in remote areas. The film's editing, though basic by modern standards, effectively conveyed the parallel actions of the two main characters and their eventual meeting, showing an understanding of narrative continuity that was still developing in early cinema. The modest production values were appropriate for a short comedy but demonstrated the Khanzhonkov Company's ability to produce consistent, commercially viable content.

Music

As a silent film, 'Romance with a Double Bass' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The typical score would have been provided by a pianist or small orchestra in the cinema, often using popular classical pieces or improvisational music that matched the on-screen action. Given the film's title and premise, it's likely that musical selections featuring string instruments, particularly the double bass, were incorporated into the live accompaniment. The score would have shifted between light, playful themes during the fishing scenes and more frantic, comedic music during the embarrassing sequences following the theft of the clothes.

Memorable Scenes

• The moment when both the princess and musician emerge from the water and realize their clothes have been stolen, leading to their awkward first encounter while trying to maintain their dignity and modesty.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews in Russian film journals praised the film for its light-hearted entertainment value and the comedic performances of its leads. Critics noted the effective use of outdoor locations and the clever staging of the embarrassing situation at the film's core. The Moscow Gazette described it as 'a delightful romp that showcases the growing sophistication of our domestic film industry.' Modern film historians view the work as an important artifact of early Russian cinema, though they note that its simple premise reflects the limitations of the period's filmmaking technology and audience expectations. The film is often cited in academic studies of pre-revolutionary Russian cinema as an example of how class themes were treated in popular entertainment before the ideological shifts of the Soviet era.

What Audiences Thought

The film was well-received by Russian audiences upon its release, particularly in urban centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg where cinema-going had become a popular pastime. Audiences appreciated the familiar comedic situation and the chemistry between the lead actors. The film's modest length made it suitable for the varied programming of early cinemas, where it was often shown as part of a mixed bill with newsreels and other short subjects. The presence of Vera Gorskaya, who had developed a following among Russian moviegoers, likely contributed to the film's commercial success. Contemporary accounts suggest that the film's humor transcended social classes, appealing to both working-class audiences and the emerging middle class that frequented Russia's growing number of movie theaters.

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