mark-1624

I ran across this film while searching the National Achieves on-line for Bojangles and was able to download the entire film. The film is several vignettes of slap stick presentation of racial stereotypes. We are treated to murderous Mexicans, conniving Jews, brawling Irish, bloodthirsty Scots, an Indian, and even Uncle Sam. This little black and white silent feature is an interesting look, especially in that we really don't know what we are seeing. Is this what it first appears - a racist comedy that shows a disdain for all non-WASPs? Is the final scene depicting most of the cast (except the dancing Negros) working together to show that America is a melting pot? We don't know, but we do know it is interesting to look at perceptions of inner city America 100 years ago. Have our perceptions of these groups really changed and...why not?