Zapatas Bande

There has been a gang of bandits in the mountains of Italy. A German film company decides to make a movie about it and sends a crew. They check in at the hotel, and hire an interpreter. They give the interpreter money to rent a carriage and hire extras. He runs off with the money. When a carriage shows up, they think it's the rig they hired, so they rob it, except for the young lady, whom star Asta Nielsen gallantly lets go, and who, thinking Miss Nielsen is a handsome young man, falls instantly in love. Now the town thinks they are Zapata's bandits and drive them off, reducing them to stealing chickens.

First, let's set the record straight. The IMDb lists this as 20 minutes. The copy restored by Murnau Stiftung runs 42 minutes. This movie was released in February, eleven months before Tillie's Punctured Romance. Say hello to the oldest comedy feature film. At least for now.

Miss Nielsen is not well known for comedies, of course. The only other I can recall seeing is DAS ESKIMOBABY. Here's she's showing why she should have made more. She's having a lot of fun, waving a sword around and generally big but believable gestures and expressions. The rest of the company seems to be having fun too.

Asta's in tomboy mode leaping about, climbing walls and entering windows wearing boots, one leg bare and a pirate's hat. The print on YouTube doesn't have English subtitles, but the plot is so confusing it doesn't make any difference.