The Curtain Pole

Plot

In an elegant upper-class drawing room, a gentleman accidentally breaks a curtain pole while attempting to hang curtains. Determined to replace it, he ventures out into the city but first stops at a pub for refreshments. After purchasing an excessively long curtain pole, he begins his journey home, creating chaos and destruction everywhere he passes as the unwieldy pole knocks over people, merchandise, and street vendors. His mishaps attract an ever-growing crowd of angry victims who begin pursuing him through the streets in a escalating chase sequence. Through a clever bit of movie magic, he eventually escapes his pursuers, only to return home and discover that the broken curtain pole has already been replaced in his absence.

Historical Background

The Curtain Pole was released in 1909 during a transformative period in American cinema. This was the era when filmmaking was transitioning from simple novelty attractions to narrative storytelling. D.W. Griffith was at the forefront of this revolution, developing cinematic language that would define film grammar for decades. The film emerged during the peak of the nickelodeon boom, when short films were the primary form of entertainment for working-class urban audiences. 1909 was also the year that the Motion Picture Patents Company (the Edison Trust) was formed, attempting to control the American film industry through patents and licensing. Biograph, where Griffith worked, was initially part of this trust but would later break away. The film's urban setting and comedy of manners reflected the social changes of Progressive Era America, where traditional values were clashing with modern urban life.

Making Of

The Curtain Pole was produced during a remarkably creative period at the Biograph studio when D.W. Griffith was making multiple films per week. The film was shot on location in New York City and Fort Lee, New Jersey, which were the centers of American film production before Hollywood. The chaotic street scenes required the cast and crew to work quickly and discreetly, as they often filmed without official permits. Mack Sennett, who would later revolutionize comedy filmmaking, was still a performer at this stage of his career and brought his physical comedy skills to the role. The film's chase sequence was groundbreaking for its time, showing Griffith's developing understanding of cinematic rhythm and continuity. The production team had to carefully coordinate the increasingly complex chase scenes, which involved more and more extras as the protagonist's entourage of pursuers grew larger throughout the film.

Visual Style

The cinematography in The Curtain Pole was typical of Biograph productions of 1909, using stationary cameras for most scenes with occasional panning to follow the action. The film was shot on 35mm film with the distinctive Biograph format that used a larger frame size than standard. G.W. Bitzer, Griffith's regular cinematographer, likely handled the camera work. The urban location shooting provided authentic backgrounds that added realism to the comedy. The cinematography effectively captured the increasing chaos of the chase sequence, using wide shots to show the growing crowd of pursuers following the protagonist with his unwieldy pole. The visual composition emphasized the contrast between the elegant drawing room setting and the chaotic street scenes.

Innovations

The Curtain Pole demonstrates several technical achievements for its time, particularly in its execution of chase sequences and spatial continuity. The film showcases Griffith's developing understanding of editing rhythm, particularly in how he builds tension during the increasingly chaotic chase scenes. The coordination of multiple extras and props in the street scenes represents an early example of complex action staging. The film's use of actual urban locations for comedy rather than studio sets was relatively innovative. The 'movie magic' escape at the end, while simple by modern standards, represents early experimentation with editing tricks that would become more sophisticated in later films.

Music

As a silent film, The Curtain Pole had no synchronized soundtrack. During its original theatrical run, it would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small orchestra in nickelodeon theaters. The musical accompaniment would have been improvised or selected from standard repertoire to match the on-screen action, with faster, more frantic music during the chase sequences. Modern screenings of the film often feature newly composed scores or period-appropriate music from the early 20th century. The lack of intertitles in this early film means the visual comedy had to carry the entire narrative without textual assistance.

Memorable Scenes

• The escalating chase sequence through New York streets where the gentleman with the oversized curtain pole accumulates an ever-growing crowd of angry pursuers, creating increasingly chaotic situations as the pole knocks over vendors, pedestrians, and street displays in a masterful display of early physical comedy and spatial choreography.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception for The Curtain Pole is largely unavailable due to the limited film journalism of 1909. However, trade publications like The Moving Picture World and Variety did cover Biograph releases, and Griffith's films were generally well-regarded by industry professionals. The film was likely appreciated for its technical innovation and comedic effectiveness. Modern film historians and scholars recognize The Curtain Pole as an important example of Griffith's early development and the evolution of American comedy cinema. It is frequently cited in studies of early film comedy and Griffith's formative years at Biograph. Critics today appreciate the film for its historical significance and its role in developing cinematic techniques that would become standard in narrative filmmaking.

What Audiences Thought

The Curtain Pole was likely well-received by nickelodeon audiences of 1909, who enjoyed the escalating chaos and physical comedy. The film's simple premise and visual gags made it accessible to the diverse urban audiences of early American cinemas. The chase sequence, in particular, would have been exciting for viewers still experiencing the novelty of motion pictures. Audience reactions from this period are not well-documented, but the film's survival and inclusion in film archives suggest it was considered successful enough to preserve. Modern audiences viewing the film in retrospectives and early cinema festivals often appreciate its historical significance and find charm in its straightforward comedic approach.

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