I don't know why this film is listed as comedy when there are many dramatic and tear jerking moments. 'The First Auto' is a silent film from 1927 that offers food for thought about the introduction of the Horseless Carriage into American society. This story is set in a place called Maple City in rural America.
In 1895, the horse was King of the road and people couldn't imagine anything that wasn't pushed or pulled by one. Horses and horse racing are a dominant part of town culture, and we see horse rivalry in the story of a prize racehorse Sloe Eyes, owned by Hank Armstrong (Russell Simpson). He loved his Horses like they were own children, so when 'Sloe Eyes' dies of a stroke, he nurtures its foal as if she were his own child.
Fear of the unknown is well portrayed. Respected townsman, Mr. Stebbins (Douglas Gerrard) Insurance is canceled because he bought a Horseless carriage contraption. He is notified of the cancellation just before his pioneering feat. Stebbins has just bought the town's first horseless carriage and the entire population turns out complete with a parade to witness the first Horseless carriage move. Stebbins doesn't know how to drive and refers to a manual. The town undertaker is shown ready to do his duty. Stebbins takes his entire family, wife and five kids, on a perilous ride which spooks horses, damages property and finally ends up going off a cliff. Miraculously everyone survives.
Hank feels betrayed when his son, Bob (Charles Emmett Mack), shows no interest in horses but instead falls in love with everything horseless carriage. Hank's actions unintentionally end up endangering his son's life. Hanks once thriving business suffers because of the automobile. But in the end he learns that if you can't beat them join them.
Another indicator of the times, blacks are hired hands in the stable. But, I was even more shocked to see that even Silent film stereotyped. The dialogue for Blacks is written out, "I don no, suh, ah've done sent for th' hoss doctah!" The film ends with an old fashioned one person airplane flying over, and people being amazed by it. This left me thinking about the introduction of other inventions in the 20th century like the computer, and rockets.
Overall, it was a great film and it has been beautifully restored.
In 1895, the horse was King of the road and people couldn't imagine anything that wasn't pushed or pulled by one. Horses and horse racing are a dominant part of town culture, and we see horse rivalry in the story of a prize racehorse Sloe Eyes, owned by Hank Armstrong (Russell Simpson). He loved his Horses like they were own children, so when 'Sloe Eyes' dies of a stroke, he nurtures its foal as if she were his own child.
Fear of the unknown is well portrayed. Respected townsman, Mr. Stebbins (Douglas Gerrard) Insurance is canceled because he bought a Horseless carriage contraption. He is notified of the cancellation just before his pioneering feat. Stebbins has just bought the town's first horseless carriage and the entire population turns out complete with a parade to witness the first Horseless carriage move. Stebbins doesn't know how to drive and refers to a manual. The town undertaker is shown ready to do his duty. Stebbins takes his entire family, wife and five kids, on a perilous ride which spooks horses, damages property and finally ends up going off a cliff. Miraculously everyone survives.
Hank feels betrayed when his son, Bob (Charles Emmett Mack), shows no interest in horses but instead falls in love with everything horseless carriage. Hank's actions unintentionally end up endangering his son's life. Hanks once thriving business suffers because of the automobile. But in the end he learns that if you can't beat them join them.
Another indicator of the times, blacks are hired hands in the stable. But, I was even more shocked to see that even Silent film stereotyped. The dialogue for Blacks is written out, "I don no, suh, ah've done sent for th' hoss doctah!" The film ends with an old fashioned one person airplane flying over, and people being amazed by it. This left me thinking about the introduction of other inventions in the 20th century like the computer, and rockets.
Overall, it was a great film and it has been beautifully restored.