The Zealous Batman

The Zealous Batman
Russian: Усердный денщик
Directed byNikolay Filippov
Written byNikolay Filippov
Produced byAlexander Drankov
Starring
  • Vasily Garlin
  • Nikolay Filippov
CinematographyAlexander Drankov
Distributed byA. Drankov & Co.
Release date
  • December 1, 1908 (1908-12-01)[1]
Running time
3 min.
CountryRussian Empire
LanguageRussian (intertitles)

The Zealous Batman (Russian: Усердный денщикъ, romanizedUserdny denshchik) is a 1908 Russian short feature silent black-and-white slapstick comedy film. It was the first Russian comedy film. It was partially preserved, without intertitles.[2][3]

The film also pioneered the new form of advertisement: the cinematographer printed cards with film stills.[4]

Plot

An old general brings sheets of flypaper to the kitchen as an excuse to woo his kitchen maid and she places it everywhere. When the general goes away, an equally amorous, but also gluttonous batman gets into the trouble with the sticky paper, followed by a chain of other hapless accidents with hot food, tableware, sewing needle, etc.[5]

Crew

The film was staged and played by actors of St. Petersburg theatres.[5]

  • Vasily Garlin (Василий Гарлин)[6] as the general
  • Nikolay Filippov (Н. Я. Филиппов) as the batman

References

  1. ^ УСЕРДНЫЙ ДЕНЩИК (1908), kino-teatr.ru
  2. ^ Иванова В., Мыльникова В. et al., Великий Кинемо: Каталог сохранившихся игровых фильмов России (1908-1919) Moscow, Новое литературное обозрение, 2002. p. 25, ISBN 5-86793-155-2
  3. ^ «УСЕРДНЫЙ ДЕНЩИК», АТЕЛЬЕ А.ДРАНКОВА, 1908, ч/б.
  4. ^ Дранков А. О.
  5. ^ a b c Вестник кинематографов в Санкт-Петербурге magazine, 1908, no. 2, pp. 7—8, as cited in: Геннадий Седов, Билет в синема, 2020, pp.73, 74
  6. ^ ВАСИЛИЙ ГАРЛИН