"The Black Viper" was one of the first films of D. W. Griffith and for an attempt at an early drama it actually isn't that bad. To be sure, the film lacks the excitement and intensity of later films ("The Girl and Her Trust" is a great example) because of how straightforwardly shot it is, but the story is milked for what it's worth and there are some excellent action scenes for the time. Also apparent in watching the short is already some emerging technique, impressive considering this was such an early effort and proof that Griffith was already at work revolutionizing film as it was then known.
The short deals with a thug who attacks a woman who is rescued by another man. The thug vows revenge and kidnaps the man, and so begins a chase sequence that ends in a burning building. (Admittedly, I was somewhat confused initially seeing this likely because I wasn't paying enough attention, but looking back the story was pretty straightforward and I must not have been paying attention). There are some great fight scenes including one on a roof and the part that really stood out was the cross-cutting in the scene where the thugs throw rocks down upon their pursuers as they are chased up a cliff. The cutting consistently between the top and bottom of the cliff as the stones are thrown down is skillfully done and as a whole the film does a good job telling its story. A remarkable early effort from Griffith.
The short deals with a thug who attacks a woman who is rescued by another man. The thug vows revenge and kidnaps the man, and so begins a chase sequence that ends in a burning building. (Admittedly, I was somewhat confused initially seeing this likely because I wasn't paying enough attention, but looking back the story was pretty straightforward and I must not have been paying attention). There are some great fight scenes including one on a roof and the part that really stood out was the cross-cutting in the scene where the thugs throw rocks down upon their pursuers as they are chased up a cliff. The cutting consistently between the top and bottom of the cliff as the stones are thrown down is skillfully done and as a whole the film does a good job telling its story. A remarkable early effort from Griffith.