The 'Teddy' Bears

About the production

This film was one of the earliest to combine a fairy tale with contemporary political satire, showcasing Biograph's innovative approach to storytelling. The production utilized multiple sets and location shooting, which was relatively ambitious for 1907. The teddy bears were likely actors in costume, as the film predates sophisticated puppetry techniques. Director Wallace McCutcheon Sr. was known for his technical innovations and was one of Biograph's most prolific directors during this period.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made during the nickelodeon years around 1907, The 'Teddy' Bears reached audiences through theatrical programs, fairground booths, or specialized distribution channels typical of its generation. A combination of the story of Goldlocks and the Three Bears with the true story of how Teddy Roosevelt spared a bear. Historians now read such works for what they reveal about production methods, national taste, and the expanding vocabulary of screen narrative.

Why this film matters

Archivists and programmers still screen The 'Teddy' Bears when tracing how popular entertainment evolved. Its subject—a combination of the story of goldlocks and the three bears with the true story of how teddy—gives later viewers tangible evidence of what drew crowds in the silent period. Home video, restorations, and festival sidebars keep the title circulating among students of film history.

Making of

The production of 'The 'Teddy' Bears' represented the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company's efforts to create sophisticated narrative content that could compete with European films, particularly those from Georges Méliès in France. Director Wallace McCutcheon Sr., who had been with Biograph since its founding, brought his considerable experience in visual storytelling to this ambitious project. The film required multiple costume changes for the actors playing the teddy bears, and the dance sequences would have required considerable rehearsal time. The combination of location shooting and studio work was relatively advanced for 1907, demonstrating Biograph's commitment to production quality. The film's political satire element was carefully balanced to be humorous without being disrespectful to the sitting president, Roosevelt, who was extremely popular at the time.

What critics said

Original trade coverage treated The 'Teddy' Bears as routine program filler rather than a landmark production—common for shorts. Later criticism emphasizes preservation, stylistic comparison with contemporaries, and whatever cast or crew names later gained prominence. Contemporary writing is mostly historical: assessing completeness, influence, and place in a director's or studio's catalog.

Did you know?

• This film is considered one of the earliest examples of political satire in American cinema, referencing Theodore Roosevelt's 1902 hunting trip where he refused to shoot a bear cub
• The teddy bear phenomenon had just begun in 1903, making this film extremely contemporary and topical when released
• Wallace McCutcheon Sr. was the father of Wallace McCutcheon Jr., who would also become a prominent director at Biograph
• The film was part of Biograph's strategy to create family-friendly content that could appeal to both children and adults
• This is one of the earliest films to combine a classic fairy tale with current events, a technique that would become more common in later cinema
• The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company was the oldest movie company in America at the time of this film's release
• The film's title uses quotation marks around 'Teddy' to emphasize the connection to Theodore Roosevelt
• Biograph films of this era were typically shot on 68mm film stock, much larger than the standard 35mm that would later become industry standard
• The dance sequences performed by the teddy bears were likely influenced by popular vaudeville acts of the period
• This film was released during the peak of the 'teddy bear craze' that swept America and Europe in the early 1900s

Visual style

The cinematography for 'The 'Teddy' Bears' was typical of Biograph productions of 1907, utilizing the company's characteristic 68mm film format which provided exceptional image quality for the time. The film employed static camera shots as was standard for the period, but used multiple camera positions to create variety in the visual storytelling. The dance sequences of the teddy bears were carefully choreographed for the camera, with movements designed to read clearly on screen despite the limitations of early cinematography. Location shooting in natural settings contrasted with the interior scenes of the bears' cottage, demonstrating the cinematographer's ability to work in different lighting conditions. The film's visual style emphasized clarity and composition, with careful attention to framing the action to ensure audiences could follow the narrative despite the lack of intertitles.

Innovations

While not groundbreaking in technical terms, 'The 'Teddy' Bears' demonstrated several sophisticated production techniques for its time. The film's use of multiple sets and location shooting showed Biograph's commitment to production quality beyond the simple single-set films common in 1907. The costume design for the teddy bears represented an early example of elaborate creature costumes in cinema, requiring significant technical skill to create recognizable bear characters that could still perform dance movements. The film's editing, though simple by modern standards, showed an understanding of narrative pacing and scene transition that was advanced for the period. Biograph's use of 68mm film stock provided superior image quality, though this format would soon be abandoned in favor of the more economical 35mm standard.

Music

As a silent film from 1907, 'The 'Teddy' Bears' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical exhibitions. Typical accompaniment would have included a pianist or small ensemble playing popular songs of the era, classical pieces, and improvisational music matched to the on-screen action. The dance sequences of the teddy bears would likely have been accompanied by popular ragtime or dance music of the period. The chase scene through the woods would have featured more dramatic, fast-paced music to build excitement. No specific musical scores or cue sheets for this film survive, but the practice of the time suggests the accompaniment would have been lively and varied to match the film's mix of fantasy, comedy, and action elements.

Famous quotes

As a silent film, 'The 'Teddy' Bears' contained no spoken dialogue. Any famous quotes would be from contemporary reviews or promotional materials, but none specific to this film have survived in historical records.

Memorable scenes

• The sequence where Goldilocks watches six teddy bears performing elaborate dance routines and acrobatic tricks through a knothole in the wall, showcasing the film's unique blend of fantasy and contemporary culture; The climactic chase scene through the woods where Goldilocks is pursued by the bear family, demonstrating early cinema's ability to create action and suspense; The final scene where Goldilocks is saved by 'The Old Rough Rider' (Theodore Roosevelt), cleverly bringing together the fairy tale and political elements of the story.

What audiences thought

The film was reportedly very popular with audiences when released, particularly in nickelodeons where family attendance was common. Children were delighted by the dancing teddy bears and the familiar Goldilocks story, while adults appreciated the clever political satire referencing the popular president. The film's topical nature made it a sensation in late 1907, as audiences were still very familiar with the Roosevelt bear story that had inspired the teddy bear craze. Contemporary accounts suggest the film was often requested for repeat showings, indicating strong audience approval. The combination of humor, fantasy, and political reference created broad appeal across demographic groups, making it one of Biograph's more successful releases of the period.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears (fairy tale)
• Georges Méliès's fantasy films
• Contemporary political cartoons
• Vaudeville performance traditions
• Theodore Roosevelt's 1902 hunting trip

This film influenced

• Later fairy tale adaptations with contemporary elements
• Political satire films of the 1910s
• Family entertainment films combining multiple audience appeals
• Early animation featuring teddy bear characters

Film restoration

The film is preserved in the Library of Congress collection and has been made available through various film archives and digital platforms. While not completely lost, like many films from this period it exists in incomplete form with some deterioration evident in surviving prints. The Museum of Modern Art and the British Film Institute also hold copies of this film in their archives. Digital restoration efforts have helped preserve this important early American film for contemporary audiences and scholars.

Where to watch

• Library of Congress National Screening Room
• YouTube (through archive channel uploads)
• Internet Archive
• Various film history websites specializing in early cinema
• Museum of Modern Art film screenings (occasionally)
• Academic film collections and university archives