Hello, classmates. Forgive me if someone has already discussed this, but the thing that I always equated with early slapstick was that it transcended the need for sound. Sure, silly sound effects and exaggerated reactions (like those of The Three Stooges) took slapstick further, but initially, as this early silent film proves, it was not needed. Much simpler than writing dialogue and then designing and inserting dialogue cards into a film, slapstick could be filmed in one take, and elicit sizable, satisfying audience reactions. Ease of production, coupled with high rewards, was surely enticing to other early film producers. I suspect that the discovery of slapstick on film was regarded as a revelation! I'm excited to learn more about this topic as the class continues.
