The Yawner

About the production

This film was created during Segundo de Chomón's prolific period with Pathé Frères, where he was known for his technical innovations and trick films. The contagious yawning effect was achieved through careful timing and editing, with actors performing exaggerated yawns in sequence. The film showcases the early cinema practice of filming simple, relatable human behaviors and amplifying them for comedic effect. The street scenes were likely shot on studio sets or carefully controlled locations, as was common for Pathé productions of this era.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

The Yawner (1907) emerged during the earliest years of motion pictures. A top-hatted man gets dressed in the morning, and starts to yawn, causing his housekeeper to yawn as well. Archival records and catalog entries help place the work within film-history surveys of the period.

Why this film matters

Preserved under Wikidata ID Q130317866, The Yawner is valued as a screen drama within catalog and archive collections. Contemporary listings connect it to broader histories of cinema exhibition and restoration.

Making of

The making of 'The Yawner' represents the sophisticated studio system that Pathé Frères had developed by 1907. Segundo de Chomón, who had joined Pathé in 1905, was given significant creative freedom to experiment with different film genres and techniques. The contagious yawn concept required precise timing from all actors, who had to perform exaggerated yawns on cue. The street scenes were likely filmed on Pathé's studio sets in their Vincennes facility, which allowed for controlled lighting and multiple takes. The film's success lay in its simplicity and relatability - everyone has experienced the contagious nature of yawning, making the humor immediately accessible to audiences of any nationality or language.

What critics said

Trade and archival sources offer limited day-one review coverage for The Yawner. Modern reception rests on its availability in collections, repertory screenings, and reference works that document 1907 cinema.

Did you know?

• Segundo de Chomón was a Spanish filmmaker who worked primarily in France and was often called 'the Spanish Méliès' due to his innovative trick films
• The film was produced by Pathé Frères, the dominant film company in Europe during the early 1900s
• This type of 'contagious behavior' comedy became a recurring trope in early silent films
• The film was likely hand-colored using Pathé's stencil coloring process, as was common for their productions of this period
• At only 2 minutes, this was a typical length for comedy shorts of the era, designed to be shown as part of a variety program
• The soldiers in the film were likely actual French military personnel hired as extras, a common practice for early films
• The yawning effect was achieved through multiple takes and careful editing to create the illusion of contagion
• This film demonstrates the early cinema fascination with capturing and exaggerating everyday human behaviors
• The top hat and formal dress of the protagonist reflects the fashion of the Belle Époque period in France
• The film was distributed internationally, as Pathé had an extensive global distribution network by 1907

Visual style

The cinematography in 'The Yawner' reflects the standard practices of 1907 filmmaking. The camera remains stationary throughout, capturing the action in long shots typical of the era. The lighting was natural or simple studio lighting, designed to clearly illuminate the actors' exaggerated expressions. The film was likely shot on 35mm film using Pathé's own cameras and equipment. The visual composition focuses on the actors' faces and body language, ensuring that the yawning action is clearly visible to the audience. The street scenes demonstrate the early cinema practice of creating convincing urban environments within the constraints of studio filmmaking.

Innovations

While not technically groundbreaking like some of de Chomón's other films, 'The Yawner' demonstrates sophisticated editing for its time. The film uses continuity editing to create the illusion of a contagious effect spreading through space and time. The timing of the actors' performances and the cuts between different yawning individuals shows an advanced understanding of cinematic rhythm for 1907. The film also showcases Pathé's high production values, with clear images and stable camerawork that set it apart from many contemporary films. The use of multiple locations and the coordination of numerous actors demonstrated the organizational capabilities of major studios like Pathé.

Music

As a silent film from 1907, 'The Yawner' would have been accompanied by live music during its theatrical exhibitions. The type of musical accompaniment would vary depending on the venue - from a simple piano in smaller cinemas to a small orchestra in more prestigious theaters. The music would have been light and comedic, likely incorporating popular tunes of the era or improvisations that matched the on-screen action. The tempo would have accelerated as the yawning spread through more people, building to a comedic climax. No original score was composed specifically for the film, as was common practice during this period.

Memorable scenes

• The climactic sequence where the entire squad of marching soldiers succumb to the contagious yawn, breaking their military formation in a display of synchronized yawning that provides the film's comedic highlight

What audiences thought

The film was reportedly very popular with audiences of its time, who found humor in the exaggerated yawning and the relatable nature of the concept. The simple premise and visual nature of the comedy made it accessible to all audience members, regardless of their education or social class. The film's short length made it perfect for the varied programming of early cinemas, where it would be shown alongside newsreels, actualities, and other short films. Audience members reportedly found the escalating chain reaction of yawning increasingly amusing as the film progressed.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Georges Méliès' trick films
• Pathé comedy shorts
• Early French comedy tradition

This film influenced

• Later contagious behavior comedies
• Charlie Chaplin's contagious emotion films
• Slapstick chain reaction sequences

Film restoration

The film is preserved in several film archives, including the Cinémathèque Française and the Library of Congress. While some copies show signs of deterioration typical of films from this era, the basic content remains intact. The film has been included in several collections of early cinema and has been digitally restored for modern viewing. Some versions retain the original hand-coloring that was characteristic of Pathé productions of this period.

Where to watch

• YouTube (various archive uploads)
• Internet Archive
• European Film Gateway
• Cinémathèque Française online collections
• Various DVD collections of early cinema