Poor Jake's Demise (Allen Curtis, 1913)

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lady wakasa · #1 Post by **lady wakasa** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:19 pm

I just found out that as part of the Pordenone Silent Film Weekend (the Brooklyn Academy of Music recap of the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy), a fragment of Lon Chaney Sr's first film, Poor Jake's Demise, was shown. The fragment was found last fall in the UK and restored.

Was just wondering if anyone had heard anything about this. I would think it'd be pretty big, but I see little mention anywhere.

#2 Post by **kinjitsu** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:13 pm

BAM's listing must be incorrect. According to the 2006 Pordenone Silent Film Festival calendar, Poor Jake's Demise is from 1913.

MichaelB · #3 Post by **MichaelB** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:18 pm

Chaney was only 15 in 1898 - granted, that doesn't preclude him from appearing in a film, but the acting bug is generally thought to have bit him when he was nearer 18/19.

#4 Post by **Jeff** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:30 am

I've changed the year of release in the thread title. I can't find any source listing a year other than 1913.

lady wakasa · #5 Post by **lady wakasa** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:07 pm

Thanks for the info; 1913 does make more sense than 1898.

But... has anyone actually seen it? And does anyone know the story behind the clip's discovery?

Mysterypez · #6 Post by **Mysterypez** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:11 pm

According to the 2006 Pordenone catalog, the clips sources from Lobster Films. The catalog does not say where Lobster acquired the clip.