Latina, Dislocation Act
Latina, Dislocation Act
Filmed Nov. 15, 1905, in the Biograph New York City studio. Opens with a repeat of the last scene in "Latina, contortionist." In a medium shot from the bust up, Latina faces the camera and interlaces her fingers with her arms held out in front of her, palms towards the camera and elbows pointed out. In that position, she raises her arms over and behind her head and then down her back, dislocating her shoulders in order to achieve that motion. She then turns her back to the camera, with her hands still locked behind her, and slowly brings her locked arms up and over her head; the viewer can clearly see her shoulder joints dislocate in the process. She turns back to face the camera as her arms continue to return to their starting position in front of her. Latina closes by unlacing her fingers and spreading her arms with a flourish. From K.R. Niver, Early motion pictures: Taken from the audience's point of view, the film shows a contortionist demonstrating that she can completely revolve her arms in the shoulder sockets. The exhibition was a waist-high front view, side view, and rear view. From the New York clipper, 12/26/03, p. 5: Mlle. Latina, whom Eugene Sandow characterizes as a type of "the perfect woman," is a more than ordinary contortionist, and saves a rather repellant specialty by the pleasant manner in which she performs her work. This little lady does her work in a clever and most finished style, her costumes are always bright, clean, and attractive looking. She is engaged as a special feature with Neil Burgess' "County Fair" Co. this season.