There It Is

About the production

There It Is represents Charles R. Bowers' unique blend of live-action comedy with stop-motion animation, a technique he pioneered. The film was produced during the transition period from silent films to talkies, though it was released as a silent picture. Bowers created many of the special effects himself using his innovative animation methods, combining real actors with animated objects and creatures. The production faced challenges in synchronizing the live-action footage with the animated elements, requiring precise timing and multiple exposures.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

1928 press listings for There It Is named R-C Pictures as the issuing firm on contemporary cue sheets.

Why this film matters

Later programmers cite There It Is when illustrating how 1928 scripts framed when a mysterious figure appears to cause a series of disruptions at the frisbie home in n.

Making of

Charles R. Bowers was a true innovator who essentially created his own cinematic language through the fusion of live-action and animation. For 'There It Is,' Bowers employed a complex process involving multiple exposures and carefully choreographed timing to seamlessly integrate his animated creations with the live actors. The production required Bowers to design and build many of his own props and animation devices, as the technology he needed didn't exist commercially. He worked with a small team of animators and technicians who helped bring his vision to life, often working long hours to perfect the intricate sequences. The film's distinctive visual style was achieved through a combination of stop-motion animation, puppetry, and clever editing techniques that Bowers developed himself. Many scenes required dozens of takes to get the timing right between the live-action elements and the animated effects.

What critics said

Retrospective writers mention There It Is when tracing how 1928 audiences encountered when a mysterious figure appears to cause a series of disruptions at the frisbie home in n.

Did you know?

• Charles R. Bowers was not only the director but also the star of the film, playing the lead detective Charley MacNeesha
• The film features some of the earliest examples of combining live-action with stop-motion animation in a narrative context
• Bowers was known as 'the forgotten genius' of silent comedy due to his innovative techniques that were ahead of their time
• The 'Fuzz-Faced Phantom' character was created using Bowers' signature animation style, giving it a distinctive, otherworldly appearance
• The film was part of a series of shorts Bowers made for R-C Pictures, showcasing his unique blend of surreal comedy and technical innovation
• Many of Bowers' films, including There It Is, were considered lost for decades before being rediscovered in film archives
• The detective character Charley MacNeesha was a recurring role for Bowers in several of his short films
• The film's special effects were achieved without modern CGI, relying entirely on practical effects and in-camera techniques
• Kathryn McGuire, who appears in the film, was also known for her work in Buster Keaton's 'The Navigator' (1924)
• The film's title 'There It Is' became a catchphrase associated with Bowers' work and style of comedy

Visual style

The cinematography in 'There It Is' was groundbreaking for its time, employing innovative techniques to seamlessly blend live-action footage with animated elements. The film used multiple exposure photography to create the illusion of animated objects interacting with real actors, requiring precise timing and careful planning. The camera work often employed unusual angles and movements to enhance the surreal comedy, breaking from the more static cinematography common in many silent films. The lighting had to be carefully controlled to accommodate the different requirements of live-action and animation sequences. The film's visual style combines the gritty realism of 1920s cinematography with the fantastical elements of animation, creating a unique aesthetic that was entirely new to audiences of the time.

Innovations

Charles R. Bowers pioneered several technical innovations in 'There It Is' that were years ahead of their time. The film's seamless integration of live-action and stop-motion animation required the development of new techniques for matching lighting and perspective between different media. Bowers created custom animation rigs and devices to achieve effects that would later become standard in the industry. The film's use of multiple exposure photography to combine real actors with animated elements was particularly sophisticated for 1928. Bowers also developed innovative methods for creating the illusion of objects moving on their own, techniques that would influence special effects artists for decades. The phantom's transformations and appearances involved complex in-camera effects that demonstrated Bowers' mastery of visual trickery.

Music

As a silent film, 'There It Is' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The score would typically have been provided by a theater organist or small orchestra, following the musical cues and mood suggestions provided by the studio. The music would have ranged from suspenseful themes during the phantom sequences to jaunty comedic tunes for the detective's investigation. Modern restorations and screenings of the film often feature newly composed scores by silent film accompanists who create music appropriate to the film's blend of mystery and comedy. The original musical cues and themes for the film have not survived, so contemporary accompaniments are based on the silent film tradition and the specific needs of Bowers' unique visual style.

Famous quotes

There it is!

The Fuzz-Faced Phantom strikes again!

Scotland Yard's finest are on the case!

Memorable scenes

• The reveal of the Fuzz-Faced Phantom's true nature through Bowers' innovative animation sequence
• The detectives' arrival in New York and their first encounter with the supernatural phenomena
• The climactic scene where live-action and animation seamlessly merge to solve the mystery

What audiences thought

Initial audience reactions to 'There It Is' were generally positive, with viewers particularly impressed by the film's visual effects and animated sequences. The combination of mystery and comedy appealed to 1920s audiences who enjoyed genre-blending entertainment. Modern audiences who have discovered the film through screenings at film festivals and archive showings often express surprise at the sophistication of the animation techniques for the period. The film has developed a cult following among animation enthusiasts and silent film fans who appreciate Bowers' unique vision. Some contemporary viewers find the film's surreal humor and pacing challenging compared to modern entertainment, but many are fascinated by its historical significance and technical achievements.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Earlier detective films
• Spiritualism movement of the 1920s
• Surrealist art movement
• German Expressionist cinema
• Contemporary animation pioneers like Winsor McCay

This film influenced

• Later hybrid animation films
• Special effects techniques in Hollywood
• Modern stop-motion animation
• Surreal comedy films
• Mystery-comedy genre films

Film restoration

For decades, 'There It Is' and many other Charles R. Bowers films were considered lost, existing only in film historians' descriptions. The film was rediscovered in the 1990s in various film archives, including the Library of Congress and European collections. Several restoration efforts have been undertaken to preserve and restore the film, though some degradation is evident due to the age and storage conditions of the original nitrate film elements. The restored versions allow modern audiences to appreciate Bowers' technical innovations and unique comedic vision. The film is now preserved in several major film archives and has been included in DVD collections of silent comedy and animation classics.

Where to watch

• The film is available on various DVD collections of silent comedy and animation
• Some streaming services specializing in classic cinema may feature the film
• Film archives occasionally screen restored versions at special events
• YouTube may have versions available through public domain uploads
• The Library of Congress and other film archives may provide access for research purposes