A melodrama parody, it features ford sterling in top form as the mustachetwirling villain who vies for mabel normands affections. Our collection on barney oldfield blog the henry ford. Virtuous mabel rejects the improper advances of a villainous cad. Mack sennett courts bashfully mabel normand in barney oldfields race for a life 19. View a list of all the feature films sorted by popularity. Barney oldfield s race for a life 19 one of sennetts most triumphant early hits, barney oldfield s race for a life mixes an absurdly overthetop parody of victorian melodramas with modern pop culture for cartoonish effect. His movie career included the silent film barney oldfields race for a life 19, where he raced against a train to rescue a heroine tied to the train tracks. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Real life star automobile racer oldfield assists in the rescue. Chaplin shorts face on the barroom floor 1915 the immigrant 1917, and easy street 1917 sklar, the birth of a mass medium, nickel madness, edisons trust and how it got busted p.
Oldfield starred as himself for ten weeks in the broadway musical the vanderbilt cup 1906. How does the film reflect or attack the sociocultural context out of which it emerged. What might be surprising and worthy of note here is that famous serials like the perils of pauline, also shot in 1914, didnt have such scenes. Gasnier 1875 1963 a frenchborn american director, producer and screenwriter who shepherded the early. Barney oldfields race for a life is a silent comedy short, directed and produced by mack sennett and starring sennett, mabel normand, and barney oldfield as himself. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 virtuous mabel rejects the improper advances of a villainous cad. Mabel normand in barney oldfields race for a life 19 mabel normand and ford sterling in barney oldfields race. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 mack sennett, mabel normand, ford sterling duration. The film that established the parodic idea, and which is often used to illustrate it, is keystones barney oldfields race for a life 19, featuring real life motor racer barney oldfield, ford sterling as. Barney oldfields race for a life list of deaths wiki. The academy celebrates the year 19 and its developmental contributions to motion pictures with a program of selected films in a century ago.
Now available on dvd, this boxset contains an assorted collection of films by. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 the film detective. Film historians say this 19 onereel comedy is among the first moving pictures to feature a woman tied to the railroad tracks, a gimmick borrowed from. This listing is from the progressive silent film list by carl bennett. Barney oldfield s race for a life 19 a man ties a woman mabel normand to railroad tracks. Keystone cops comedy, a parody on the railroad melodramas of the time, including the famous railway chase with the heroine tied to the railway lines. When mabel normand romantically rejects a villain, he ties her to the railroad tracks, leaving her nice suitor to appeal to racecar driver barney oldfield for help. Released in the summer of 19, the keystone comedy barney oldfields race for a life has become one of the most iconic films of this sort. Barney oldfield, american automobileracing driver whose name was synonymous with speed in the first two decades of the 20th century. He began to hobnob with the rich and famous and also starred in several movies, including a 19 mack sennett silent film, barney oldfield s race for a life. Sep 12, 2015 the great barney oldfield roars across the silver screen in this silent comedy short from 19, barney oldfields race for a life. He appeared in a film about himself and also had ideas of breaking the landspeed record in a special 3000 bhp car to be built by harry miller, but this remained a dream.
Mabel normand is rescued from the train tracks in barney. Parody films complete narrative, not quick jokes parody latest staple movies melodramatic stories w last minute rescues griffith parody barney oldfield s race for a life 19 charlie. Film we use our own and thirdparty cookies to personalize your experience and the promotions you see. In 1903 he accomplished the first mile a minute performance in an automobile, and in 1910 he set a world speed record of 1. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. It is considered one of the earliest to include the plot of a villain tying a young damsel to the tracks of an oncoming locomotive. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 with film print.
Barney oldfields race for a life movie watch on kodi. Barney oldfield s race for a life keystonemutual 1 reel, rel. Oct 19, 2016 that was his last attempt at racing in his life. In the early silent era, when movies were untested and to some extent disreputable, actors often appeared uncredited. Fourth of twelve movies that starred the keystone kops. It is a minute comedy produced and directed by mack sennett, who also stars as the boy. The furious villain and his henchmen then seize mabel and chain her to a railroad track. He also appeared in movies, including the silent film barney oldfield s race for a life 19, where he raced against a train to rescue a heroine tied to the train tracks. Barney oldfield s race for a life is a short comedy directed by mack sennett. In its 1914 edition, track racing legend and barnstormer barney oldfield entered the same stutz racer he had piloted to fifth place in that year s indianapolis 500. While the scene from barney oldfield s race for life looks like it was done with skillful especially for 19 use of double exposure, this similar bit from teddy at the throttle 1917 with gloria swanson was all real. This is a good film, though, a much more narratively coherent and interesting film than the previous ones ive watched from sennett.
Film star and daredevil anita king receives a trophy alongside racing hero barney oldfield in white shirt at ascot speedway in 1917. He took part in over onethousand race meets between 1902 and 1918. Since none of the charcters have actual given names other than barney oldfield, ill be using their actors names. Easily the best movie keystone had made up to the date of its release despite mack sennetts clunky performance and reallife racing driver oldfields complete. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 century film project. Oldfield also starred in several movies, including a 19 silent film called barney oldfield s race for a life, in which he races a train in order to save heroine mabel normand, who has been tied to the tracks by the villain played by rod sterling. Barney oldfield, helen holmes, william hauber finished. Behind them is oldfield s streamlined race car, the miller golden submarine. Nolan berna eli oldfield barney was americas most flamboyant race driver. Jun 02, 20 today marks the anniversary of the release of the hilarious keystone comedy barney oldfields race for a life. Oldfields legacy lives on for scholarship recipients. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 is a silent comedy short, directed and produced by mack sennett and starring sennett, mabel normand, and barney.
Barney oldfields race for a life 19 internet archive. The film is included in our program to illustrate the contributions of our star helen holmes. Barney oldfield was born in a farmhouse on the outskirts of wauseon, ohio. In the film s dramatic climax, oldfield races a train to save heroine mable normand, who has been tied to the tracks by. Made ill by what he has done, frankenstein is comforted by his fiancee. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 barney oldfield.
In the film he chases an engine to rescue a girl chained to. Barney oldfields race for a life keystonemutual 1 reel, rel. How is the film similar to, and different from, other films made by the same director or studio. A screaming heroine is dragged to the railway by a cackling, blackclad villain complete with top hat and waxed mustache and then tied to the. A 19 silent keystone studios comedy, directed by mack sennet, who also stars in the film as a bashful suitor, alongside mabel normand as mabel sweet and lovely, ford sterling as a villainous rival, and barney oldfield as himself. He began to hobnob with the rich and famous and also starred in several movies, including a 19 mack sennett silent film, barney oldfields race for a life. Villainous ford sterling literally ties mabel normand to the railroad tracks, but our hero mack sennett himself enlists the aid of racecar driver barney oldfield. The great barney oldfield roars across the silver screen in this silent comedy short from 19, barney oldfields race for a life. Oct 02, 2018 another film remembered as an example of the damsel in distress, that is contemporaneous with sennetts barney oldfields race for a life, is the enormously successful serial the perils of pauline 1914 directed by louis j. Feature films, shorts, silent films and trailers are available for viewing and downloading. Barney oldfield was at the time the most famous race car driver alive according to the intro title card.
Actrices et acteurs barney oldfield s race for a life 19 barney oldfield s race for a life, casting du film. Barney oldfields, race for life 8mm blackhawk films. Directed by mack sennett produced by keystone film company starring mack sennett, mabel normand, ford sterling, barney oldfield, helen holmes cinematography lee bartholomew, walter wright distributed by mutual film corporation release date june 3, 19 running time min. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 movie moviefone. Barney oldfields race to save a life american treasure tour. Overview of barney oldfield s race for a life, 19, directed by mack sennett, with raymond hatton, rube miller, helen holmes, at turner classic movies. With mabel normand, mack sennett, ford sterling, barney oldfield. Mack sennett comedies 19 barney oldfield s race for a life super 8mm blackhawk. The heroine is mabel normand, her lover is played by sennett himself and the villain is ford sterling, the resident comical baddie of the studio. Its one of the most famous keystone comedy shorts, it features barney oldfield a famous car racer before prohibition.
In 1889, when he was 11 years old, he moved with his family to toledo. Dec 11, 2015 barney oldfields race for a life 19 by popegrutch one of the thinnest plotlines in history seems to have introduced one of the most lasting impressions about silent film. May 30, 2011 mabel normand made barney oldfields race for a life in the early summer of 19. Nov 23, 2010 ford sterling with the sledgehammer and mabel normand tied in the rails in barney oldfields race for a life 19, from. Revised and expanded, this is the only book ever devoted to barney oldfield, the man who got his start at the turn of the century racing ford s 999 and winning the manufacturers challenge cup. Barney oldfield was created on january 29, 1878 in wauseon, ohio, usa while berna eli oldfield. Barney oldfields race for a life, a 19 short from mack sennetts mad band of comedians. Barney oldfield s race for a life is a silent comedy short, directed and produced by mack sennett and starring sennett, mabel normand, and barney oldfield as himself. The film that established the parodic idea, and which is often used to illustrate it, is keystones barney oldfields race for a life 19, featuring reallife motor racer barney oldfield, ford sterling as. The two celebrities acted in some of the same movies and made publicity appearances together.
Barney oldfields race for a life 19 silent film video. Mack sennett plays the bashful suitor in this comedy which features a wild stunt race between a car and a. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 by popegrutch one of the thinnest plotlines in history seems to have introduced one of the most lasting impressions about silent film. Mack sennett established himself as the king of comedy during his lifetime in large part because of the slapstick comedies that came out of his his. The way ford sterling overplays the role of the villain makes one think that the film was conceived as a parody of contemporary melodramas. He is known for his work on blonde comet 1941, young oldfield 1924 and too many cops 19. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The film is included in our program to illustrate the contributions of helen holmes, a star of silent hall of fame. In the films dramatic climax, oldfield races a train to save heroine mable normand, who has been tied to the tracks by the blackhatted villain played by ford sterling. The furious villain and his henchmen then seize mabel and chain her to a. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 a man ties a woman mabel normand to railroad tracks. Barney oldfield s race for a life is an early example of a sports celebrity trying to use his fame in motion pictures. Barney oldfield s life story read like the screenplay for a classic success story. Barney oldfields 1910 land speed record first super speedway. Barney oldfields race to save a life 19 is the film running on the seeburg r photoplayer played for guests at the american treasure tour. The life and times of america s legendary speed king william f. Arthur barney oldfield was born in tecumseh on dec.
Oldfield comes off as a rather bland, goodnatured fellow surrounded by lunatics. Barney oldfields race for a life is a short comedy directed by mack sennett. Barney oldfield the life and times of americas legendary speed king by william f. Hes known for his focus on youthful oldfield 1924, barney oldfields competition for a existence 19 and way too many cops 19. Mack sennett, mabel normand, ford sterling, barney oldfield. The jealous villain is the main antagonist in the 19 silent comedy short film barney oldfield s race for a life. Silent era home page psfl barney oldfields race for a life 19 a growing source of silent era film information. Mack sennett plays the bashful suitor in this comedy which features a wild stunt race between a car and a train. Mabels anxious boyfriend turns for help to the great barney oldfield, who jumps in his racing car and speeds to the rescue. What does the film seem to be saying about such issues as race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, andor ability. He starred in the broadway musical the vanderbilt cup 1906 for ten weeks. Ford sterling with the sledgehammer and mabel normand tied in the rails in barney oldfields race for a life 19, from. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 with mabel normand and mack sennett.
Keystone shorts barney oldfields race for a life sennett, 19,and a movie star hibbard, 1916. In the film he chases an engine to rescue a girl chained to the tracks by an evil unsuccessful suitor. Preserved from materials on loan from archive film agency. Its one of the earliest recorded instances of the trope with a damsel in distress being tied to a train tracks by a mustached villain only to be saved just in time. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 directed by mack sennett. Our hero barney oldfield is the only one who underplays. Accompanied by music by robert israel, performed by a small orchestra. Of course, oldfield saves the day due to his ability to drive his automobile with such great speed. For a 19 effect, it was frighteningly realistic, and it still looks quite good today. He also appeared in movies, including the silent film barney oldfields race for a life 19, where he raced against a train to rescue a heroine tied to the train tracks. Mabel normand, mack sennett, ford sterling, barney oldfield, raymond hatton, william hauber, helen holmes, rube miller et carmen phillips. Barney oldfield was the fastest auto racer in his time. Barney oldfields race for a life 19 directed by mack. Celebrity race car driver barney oldfield must save mabel normand who is chained to railroad tracks.
Read this faq about determining if something is pd. Ford sterling, mack sennett, mabel normand, barney oldfield, helen holmes, william hauber finished. The film features a damsel in distress, a mustachioed villain, a chase on the railroad tracks that were elements of victorian melodrama imported from his mentor d. Watch barney oldfield s race for a life 19 silent film silent films on dailymotion. Its the way that a photograph or a film transforms what it films or photographs, and transforms it in a way that.
Feb 16, 2014 this film is famous for a variety of reasons. The ban had little effect on oldfields popularity, and in 19 he starred in a silent film called barney oldfields race for life. He was also featured in the first auto 1927 as an early pioneer of the automotive history. Aug 27, 2012 barney oldfields race for a life keystonemutual 1 reel, rel. Barney oldfield and mabel normand in the 19 movie barney oldfields race for a life. Barney oldfield s race for a life barney oldfield 19. Our collection on barney oldfield october 1, 2014 archive insight you know me, barney oldfield, was the classic catchphrase of one of america s earliest celebrity sports figures, and during the nascent period of the automobile, most every american knew berna eli oldfield. Mabel normand alice terry betty blythe by creamofcardstv. Jun 01, 2018 barney oldfield was born on january 29, 1878 in wauseon, ohio, usa as berna eli oldfield. By 1904, oldfield was america s most famous race car driver, owning the most track wins and virtually all the world s track speed records. Barney oldfield medal offered for sale vanderbilt cup races. It was a single reel but it is considered a daring adventure, with dare devil oldfield racing a train to save mabel, tied to a railroad tracks. Melodrama spoof complete with heroine tied to railroad tracks.