Theatre of the Animals

Calling Man Ray

William Wegman, USA 1974, 1 min

The Weimaraner Man Ray has to decide between two people.

Cockfight, No. 2

W. K. L. Dickson & William Heise, USA 1894, 1 min, [Piano]; Production Edison Manufacturing Co.

Probably the first portrayal of this still popular betting game on film.

The Acrobatic Fly

Percy Smith, UK 1910, 3 min [Piano]

Percy Smith’s films of various insects seen juggling tiny objects caused an absolute furore when they were first shown to the public in 1908. This was unlike anything cinemagoers had seen [...] The filmmaker was forced to justify his methods in the press, guaranteeing that there was no trickery involved and certainly no cruelty. (Jenny Hammerton, BFI)

Circus Sarrasani in the World War: the Execution of Arno the Elephant after He Runs Amok

DE 1914-18, 3min [Piano]

The circus elephant Arno is formally executed. Two other elephants lead the chained delinquent to the execution site. He tries to limp away despite his chains and is shot dead. The two accompanying elephants drag the cadaver to a slaughterhouse. The “elephant hunters” simulate the fatal shot and accept congratulations.

Gus Visser and his singing Duck

Theodore Case & Earl Sponable, USA 1925, 3 min

A stage performance by Gus Vissers with his “singing” duck.

Spelling Lesson

William Wegman, USA 1973, 1 min

William Wegman goes through the homework of his Weimaraner Man Ray with the dog.

Queerosities – Diving Horses

Major Film Laboratories Inc, USA , 1 min

A newsreel absurdity: horses jump with their riders from a platform into a swimming pool.

Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 3, No. 2): Doggy Crowd gets ringside-seat at Pussy-weight Battle

The Jam Handy Organization, USA 1937, 2 min (excerpt)

In the 1930s, the car manufacturer published a kind of advertising newsreel in which Chevrolets were mostly to be seen in some shape or form. This one features a staged boxing match between two cats. To protect the animals, their front paws were wrapped in “boxing gloves”.

Theatre of Animals

N. Agapowa, UdSSR 1950, 35mm, 38 min; Archiv Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv

A documentary film about a famous animal theatre in Moscow. Both training and performances are shown.

Smoking

William Wegman, USA 1977, 1 min

William Wegman tries to teach his Weimaraner to smoke: “How do you know if you don’t try it? It might be good. Give it a try. Please, for me.”

Second Nature – Fox and Crow

Guy Ben-Ner, UK/IL 2008, 11 min

A film crew that includes two animal trainers, a fox and a crow is shooting a video version of Esop’s fable The Fox and the Crow, during which the distinction between the trainer and the trainee collapses, as well as the border-line between the fable and real life.