Years ago, I was lucky enough to get a copy of the original "Jazz Singer" along with its special features. I say lucky because the special features mostly consisted of many, many early sound experimental films...and I loved them. However, I had no idea that the Edison company also made some wonderful early sound films and was thrilled when I discovered "Jack's Joke" on YouTube.
The story is pretty simple. Jack sets up a couple on a blind date and has fun at their expense. He privately tells each that the person they are going to meet is extremely hard of hearing and so both talk very, very loudly when they meet. After a bit, however, they realize that Jack is having fun with them...and it all seems to be taken in stride.
Considering the film was made in 1913, it was amazing. Sure, there was a loud hissing sound over the voices (probably due to a scratchy recording due to time)....but even so, it was amazing and was synchronized with the picture very well. A really cute and well made experiment.
By the way, one of the actors is Arthur Housman...a guy was was very famous in the 1920s and 30s playing drunks and did so in some of Laurel & Hardy's films.
The story is pretty simple. Jack sets up a couple on a blind date and has fun at their expense. He privately tells each that the person they are going to meet is extremely hard of hearing and so both talk very, very loudly when they meet. After a bit, however, they realize that Jack is having fun with them...and it all seems to be taken in stride.
Considering the film was made in 1913, it was amazing. Sure, there was a loud hissing sound over the voices (probably due to a scratchy recording due to time)....but even so, it was amazing and was synchronized with the picture very well. A really cute and well made experiment.
By the way, one of the actors is Arthur Housman...a guy was was very famous in the 1920s and 30s playing drunks and did so in some of Laurel & Hardy's films.