“This is one of the most important films I’ve come across.”
December 14, 2018 11:40 AM Subscribe
They are on screen for less than 30 seconds, a couple in simple embrace. The man, dressed in a suit and bowtie, and the woman in a frilled dress. They hug and kiss, swing wide their clasped hands, and kiss again. Titled Something Good-Negro Kiss, the newly discovered silent film from 1898 is believed to be the earliest cinematic depiction of African-American affection.
Over on Twitter, @kyalbr scores the clip using music from If Beale Street Could Talk (trailer), the critically-acclaimed new film depiction of black love, based on the James Baldwin novel.
Over on Twitter, @kyalbr scores the clip using music from If Beale Street Could Talk (trailer), the critically-acclaimed new film depiction of black love, based on the James Baldwin novel.
I saw this on Twitter! It's delightful. What a find.
posted by apricot at 12:10 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by apricot at 12:10 PM on December 14, 2018
Looks like they’re enjoying it a lot more than the original moustache-twirling The Kiss (1896 film) [YT video].
posted by cenoxo at 12:15 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by cenoxo at 12:15 PM on December 14, 2018
WOW WOW WOW I love it <3
I'm in love with early early early cinema like this, and this is so unique and special!
posted by Dressed to Kill at 12:22 PM on December 14, 2018
I'm in love with early early early cinema like this, and this is so unique and special!
posted by Dressed to Kill at 12:22 PM on December 14, 2018
Awwww.
I'm a bit puzzled with this analysis -- "There’s a performance there because they’re dancing with one another". In 1898 a WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE danced in public than kissed in public. The polka had seduced half the world into closed hold generations before. It's not like now when almost everyone's experience of ballroom dance is watching a professionally choreographed performance.
I'd read it as two people who were going to dance with each other -- short reels demonstrating "the new dances" were popular through WWII -- and were repeatedly overcome by affection. Awww.
(A bit later: something like a quadrille or square dance which has some fancy polka steps and is beginning to develop into jazz and swing, in 1914.)
posted by clew at 12:39 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm a bit puzzled with this analysis -- "There’s a performance there because they’re dancing with one another". In 1898 a WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE danced in public than kissed in public. The polka had seduced half the world into closed hold generations before. It's not like now when almost everyone's experience of ballroom dance is watching a professionally choreographed performance.
I'd read it as two people who were going to dance with each other -- short reels demonstrating "the new dances" were popular through WWII -- and were repeatedly overcome by affection. Awww.
(A bit later: something like a quadrille or square dance which has some fancy polka steps and is beginning to develop into jazz and swing, in 1914.)
posted by clew at 12:39 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
They look fun
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:49 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:49 PM on December 14, 2018
A bit later: something like a quadrille or square dance which has some fancy polka steps and is beginning to develop into jazz and swing, in 1914.
Later in that clip they are doing what looks almost exactly like an early version of Shag including non-footwork moves you might see even today. This is 6 years before the "20's" figure often given for the invention of Shag! Amazing!
posted by delicious-luncheon at 1:58 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Later in that clip they are doing what looks almost exactly like an early version of Shag including non-footwork moves you might see even today. This is 6 years before the "20's" figure often given for the invention of Shag! Amazing!
posted by delicious-luncheon at 1:58 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by blob at 12:03 PM on December 14, 2018