The Seven Ages

Seven Ages, The (1905)

*** (out of 4)

Cute little love story that shows a couple over seven ages in their lives from babies to old folks. There's not too much story here other than the two's love for one another but this comes off quite nicely.

Coney Island at Night (1905)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

The title says it all here but those interesting in seeing Coney Island back in 1905 should find this entertaining.

Little Train Robbery, The (1905)

*** (out of 4)

Porter remakes his own The Great Train Robbery but this time kids are playing the leads in a childish tale of acting out a robbery. While this certainly isn't as good as the film its based on it remains cute throughout with some nice stunts and scenery.

White Caps, The (1905)

*** (out of 4)

Historically interesting film that deals with the vigilante group known as "The White Caps" who were known throughout Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Like the KKK, this group wore white pillows over their faces but instead of attacking race this group went after those who broke moral issues like beating their wives, harming children and other crimes that make for a bad community. This film shows them going after a man who has just beaten his wife.

This is a cute short from Edwin S. Porter that brings to life Shakespeare's "Seven Ages of Man" monologue from his play "As You Like It". Presented are seven different scenes of romance, starting with two toddlers kissing to an elderly couple together. Oddly, a homely spinster and her cat are thrown in at the end, following the title card "What Age?".

It is charming to watch the young children and elderly couples interact. Some believe that the film is of one couple throughout their lifetimes. I think that it is seven different couples put together, if only because of the randomness of the lonely lady thrown in at the end. She seems to be there for comedic effect because she pets her cat with a wistful smile without a hint of bitterness.

Overall I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

This is quite a simple feature, but it is good-natured enough to be worth seeing, and perhaps even to allow you to share a little bit in the feelings of the characters. Its one strength lies in presenting its main characters in a simple, unaffected light, and thus presenting them as a positive and useful example.

The idea is a simple one, showing a couple and their relationship in "Seven Ages" of their lives. Most of the sequences are bland and unremarkable in themselves, but they are given some life by the portrayal of genuine affection on the part of the performers. As simple as that is, it is noticeable in an era when most film-makers were still learning by trial-and-error how to communicate their characters' feelings, given the limitations of the filming techniques then commonly in use.