Terrible Teddy, the Grizzly King

1901 Comedy 1 minute Directed by Edwin S. Porter

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About Terrible Teddy, the Grizzly King

A hunter with big teeth runs downhill through the woods, a photographer and a press agent behind him. He kneels, fires into a tree, and a black cat drops out. He stabs it with a bowie knife, then holds the pose while the photographer takes the picture and the press agent writes the adventure. Edison sold it as a burlesque of Theodore Roosevelt's mountain-lion hunt in Colorado.

Cast & crew

More about Terrible Teddy, the Grizzly King

Edwin S. Porter directed. Thomas Edison copyrighted it on 23 February 1901, H1402, the same day as the release. It runs 75 feet. The three players are not named. The scenes follow panels in Hearst's New York Journal and Advertiser of 4 February and 18 February 1901. The title is the cartoon series' title. A paper print, LC 1887, went to the Library of Congress with the copyright.

Themes

Background

Made within weeks of the Journal cartoons about Roosevelt hunting in Colorado and posing for the press.

In film history

It is described as the earliest known political satire in an American film.

Look

The Library of Congress lists Edwin S. Porter as cameraman. The AFI Catalog lists George S. Fleming. The view is a wood set, ending on the posed kill.

Music

Silent.

Preservation

A paper print deposited in 1901 was later copied back onto film. The Library of Congress has a digital viewing copy.

Notes

  • A circulating copy runs 1 minute 15 seconds.
  • The Library of Congress credits Porter with the camera. The AFI Catalog credits George S. Fleming.
  • The 4 February cartoon showed Roosevelt on a pile of dead animals, with a tiny photographer and press agent behind him.
  • It is in the public domain.

Scenes

  • Teddy fires into the tree and a black cat falls.
  • He stabs the cat, then waits while the photographer and the press agent record it.

Influenced by

  • New York Journal and Advertiser cartoons, February 1901

Also available

  • Wikimedia Commons (Terrible Teddy, the grizzly king (1901).webm)
  • Library of Congress (digital viewing copy)

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