Animal Act with Baboon, Dog and Monkey
Animal Act with Baboon, Dog and Monkey
Probably filmed ca. 1918-19 in Chicago. Commonwealth Pictures Corporation ; Hans A. Spanuth, producer The film appears to be a Spanuth's original vod-a-vil movie given the similarities in title graphics and camera technique to identified Spanuths. Opens on a closeup of a baboon "playing" a violin, then cuts to a medium shot of the same. Cannot determine if the baboon is acutally playing music or just immitating the motions of a person playing the violin. The baboon wears a white short-sleeved shirt with a loose bow tie and tweed pants. Cuts to a closeup of the baboon in a circular mask or iris effect, without the violin but with a collar around his neck and a striped kitten that he places on his shoulder. Another iris effect opens to a long shot of a stage with a painted backdrop of a river. Standing at stage left is a woman (you can see her arm holding the donkey, but she is not visible) in a spangled, sleeveless dress to the knee and high laced boots, holding the leash of a dark donkey. The baboon stands center stage, near a man in a white animal trainer suit with dark piping and a white cap. On a chair stage right sits a black and white spotted dog. A series of cuts show the baboon performing various tricks, including roller-skating in a circle around the man, doing a walking handstand, circling the stage atop a large ball, and riding the ball down a ramp with the kitten in his arms. The dog then creates figure-eights through the woman's legs as she walks, and jumps a rope held by the woman and baboon. Cuts to the baboon riding a bicycle in a circle around the man. Cuts to the baboon leading the donkey onstage, and then to the donkey apparently play-biting and kicking two men. Intertitle: "A 100% kick." The gag of the men trying to mount the donkey--only to be bitten, kicked, or thrown off--is repeated. One man is bent over with his butt in the air and the donkey headbutts him. The baboon then repeats this by jumping and pushing the man rather than using his head.