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Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son
(1905) United States of America
B&W : [?] 86, 115 or 508? feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company production; distributed by [?] American Mutoscope & Biograph Company and/or Kleine Optical Company? / Scenario by [?] Frank Marion and/or Wallace McCutcheon? Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 9 March 1905 by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company [H57387]. Released March 1905. / [?] Biograph 35mm spherical format? / The production was shot entirely indoors in Biograph’s ‘electric’ studio on 12 February 1905. Biograph production number 2987.
Comedy: Chase.
Synopsis: [From Biograph promotional materials] Of all the popular nursery rhymes there is probably none better known than “Tom, Tom,” and to everyone, young and old, it at once suggests a lively and comical chase. We have carried out the idea in this production by reproducing, at great expense, the scenery and costumes of old England, using famous Hogarth prints as guides in our scene painting and following the details of furnishings, surroundings, etc., with the greatest care. Although only slightly over 500 feet in length, the film includes eight splendid scenes, all with different settings, and all taken in our electric studio, the only one of its kind in the world. Scene 1. AT THE CHATSWORTH FAIR. The opening scene is laid in a typical old English Fair, with a primitive “Midway” in full swing. There is a lady tight-rope walker, a clown juggler, a fakir with a shell and pea game, a goose girl, etc., and a great crowd of rustics. Among the latter appears Simple Simon trying to sample the Pieman’s wares, and at one side the old blind Piper is blowing merrily on his pipe, while Tom, his son, is on the watch for pennies. A bumpkin strolls in leading a small pig by a string. He stops to watch the shell game, over which a fight shortly ensues. The village constable arrests the gambler and there is great excitement. The bumpkin has in the meanwhile handed his pig over to a small boy who is also greatly interested in the turmoil and drops the string. Tom takes the opportunity and seizing the pig darts away. The owner sets up a shout, and starts after him, followed by the entire crowd. SCENE 2. TOM’S COTTAGE. The second scene shows the exterior of Tom’s cottage, a low thatch-roof house, with a great cobble-stone chimney. Tom darts in, closely followed by the small boy, and the door is hardly closed before the rabble appears. They try to force an entrance, but without avail, and the village blacksmith is sent for. He quickly appears with his assistant armed with sledges and the door is battered in. SCENE 3. INTERIOR TOM’S COTTAGE. In the meanwhile Tom has gone up the chimney with the pig and the third scene transforms into the interior of the cottage showing the destruction of the door. The crowd pours in, but Tom has vanished. Some of the rabble, suspecting his means of escape, go up the chimney after him, but the greater number pour out of the door. SCENE 4. OVER THE ROOF. They are too late however, for Tom has slid down from the low roof with the pig in his arms, and is out of sight when his pursuers come from the cottage, some run one way and some another. SCENE 5. ON THE HAY MOW. The next scene shows Tom dragging the pig, darting into a barn and concealing himself and prize in the hay mow. A half dozen country lads and lasses are in close pursuit, but they make the mistake of thinking Tom has gone up in the hay loft, and they clamber up the ladder as fast as they can go. They are no sooner up when Tom jumps out, knocks down the ladder and legs it out of the door, the squealing pig trailing on behind. There is nothing for the crowd to do in the hay loft but to jump, and down they come in bunches, falling over each other. SCENE 6. THROUGH THE FENCE. Tom gets out of the barn in safety and makes for a nearby vacant cottage. He is obliged to jump a fence with the pig but manages that nicely. Not so with the pursuers. One fat woman gets stuck between the bars, and is released only after a great deal of tugging and pushing. SCENE 7. OUT OF THE WINDOW. This gives Tom a little leeway but not for long. He holds the door against the onslaught of the crowd and then releases it suddenly. The town folks try to rush in all together but become wedged in the door, and Tom vaults through a window, the pig still in his arms fighting to get away. SCENE 8. THE WELL IN THE BARNYARD. The last scene is in a barnyard. Tom rushes in with the pig, and seeing no other place to hide, jumps into a big old fashioned stone well. The yard is filled with ducks, chickens, and pigeons peacefully feeding when Tom rushes in, but the poultry is soon in an uproar, for the rustic crowd comes up pell-mell. A dozen hands are soon on the well sweep, and poor Tom is hauled from the depths, wet and bedraggled. The villagers are grouped about, making a striking tableau to close the play.
Survival status: Prints exist in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive]; and in the Museum of Modern Art film archive.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Chases
Listing updated: 24 August 2023.
References: Film viewing : Niver-Early p. 329; Niver-First pp. 61, 88-89 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb; Website-NFPF.
Home video: DVD.
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