BERTHA THE BUTTONHOLE-MAKER 1914

[David Denton]

A post-Sennett Biograph comedy directed by Del Henderson with Madge Kirby, Clarence Barr and Walter Coyle

http://europeanfilmgateway.eu/node/33/d ... QtMS0xNg==

The beginning is a little frenetic and then it settles down a bit. Clearly aping Keystone, down to their own police force ( a fat guy, an Al St. John type, a chief...). Interesting to watch Biographs after Griffith and Sennett left. Del Henderson and Eddie Dillon seemed to be holding down the comedy front for a little while.

Does anyone recognize any of the cops? I think Dave Morris is the chief.....

[Pasquale Ventura]

The calendar on the wall reads 1914 Tuesday 1, the month is hard to make out, think it's September.

Was this shot in New Jersey or New York?

Must have been a warm day Madge Kirby has really wet underarms.

Pasquale

[Steve Massa]

Yeah, that's Dave Morris as the chief. The little cop is Gus Alexander, Gus Pixley's there as well, and the fat cop is Russ Powell. MoMA has a print of this which is more complete with the opening footage of the main characters working in the sweatshop. Soon-to-be Sennett regular Laura La Varnie is in the opening section.

[David Denton]

Thanks, Steve. I thought Pixley might be there, but wasn't sure. Never knew Gus A. or Powell were at Biograph. Learn something new every day.