The First Auto

This "dawn of sound" museum piece (3 spoken words, sound effects, and music)does have a certain charm, when it doesn't try to be funny, in telling of a livery stable operator who has trouble accepting the emergence of the automobile. Russell Hicks and Patsy Ruth Miller are pretty good in their roles. The rest of the cast are pretty awful. If you can time warp yourself back to 1927 to view the film in the ambiance of its era, you may find it mildly enjoyable. If you are firmly fixed, mind-wise, in the year 2000 probably not.

Only thirty years after the emergence of the automobile this is a historic classic. Son Bob's love for his father, who is not able to adjust to the coming of the auto, makes for good storytelling and lends itself well to silent film. The use of some sound effects and a few words makes the story even more interesting. The high point for me was seeing Barney Oldfield playing himself. One of the great racing drivers of all time he seems a thousand years away from the young, slim and clean driver popular today. I truly enjoyed this film.

"The First Auto" is a nostalgic film all about the early days of automobiles and its impact on Hank's livery business. Hank (Russell Simpson) is very proud of his champion racehorse and is saddened that his son has little interest in the family business. In fact, young Bob (Charles Emmett Mack) is a nut about autos and sees them as the logical replacement for horses. Not surprisingly, this causes friction between the two and Hank, at first, seems right. The earliest cars were unreliable and a bit dangerous. But, time passes and Hank's business is in ruins. He has a plan to sabotage the auto race coming to town--maybe that will convince everyone that the horse is here to stay. However, what he doesn't know is that Bob's car is the one he sabotaged! What's next? See the film and find out for yourself.

This is an amiable little film and not much more. The animated fire and schmaltzy tone of the film don't help it, but the film is breezy and entertaining. If you are a big fan of silent films, it's well worth seeing. But, if you aren't, this one probably won't change your mind.

By the way, this film features synchronized music and sound effects-- something Warner Brothers was pushing very hard at the time. Additionally, it's ironic that young Mack was actually killed in a car accident near the end of the making of this film! Because of this, I assume that's why so much of the story rests on Simpson and so much of Bob's actions are off-camera and described in the dialog.

This film about the displacement of the horse by the automobile was made by Warner Brothers as a morality tale on the perils of resisting progress - like talking pictures such as this early experiment in sound technology. Not only are there synchronized sound effects and music in this film. There are actually a few words of dialogue such as the father speaking the son's name - "Bob", and the word "Go". Nothing more complex than that was possible at the time.

The beginning is light and breezy - you have a man, Hank Armstrong, with a champion race horse - 'Sloe Eyes - and a successful livery business. His son, Bob, courts a local girl and at the same time dreams of building horseless carriages. He has competition for the girl's hand - a fellow that does not like to fight fair - and he enters importantly into the plot near the end of the film. In time, father and son come to a parting of the ways when the father sees Bob's boosting of and participation in the auto business as betrayal.

There are a few interesting things to note in this film. One is William Demarest as comic relief throughout the movie. Another is Barney Oldfield playing himself. Finally there is the bizarre fact that the fellow who plays Bob died in an automobile accident at the age of 27 during the time this film was being made. If the ending seems a bit incomplete or unsatisfactory because of his absence, this is the reason.

It's 1895 Maple City. Hank Armstrong loves horses. He owns horse, races them, and often wins. On the other hand, his son Bob is much more interested in the new invention of horseless carriage. This causes a rift in their relationship as the whole world switches and Hank loses his business. Bob moves to nearby Detroit and joins the car business.

The story is not that dramatic. It feels as inevitable as the spread of the automobile. It's a little like Hank. I also wonder if this was financed by Ford. Early real racer Barney Oldfield has a minor role. I've never heard of the name but it's interesting to learn something. The old car racing is quite compelling. It has a recklessness about it although I would definitely get rid of the fake flames. The effect looks bad. This is an easy story and probably more compelling for people who lived through the era.