Uncle Tom's Cabin - Slave Auction - 1903 Edison Version

From Uncle Tom's Cabin Reconsidered - http://www.uncletomscabindvd.com

In contrast to George Aiken's 1852 stage adaptation of Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, the 1903 silent film version by the Thomas A. Edison Company shows a number of the ill effects visited on the play and its characters in the intervening 50 years. For example, in this version of the slave auction, as we wait for the auction to begin we see some slaves gambling on one side of the screen, while others dance and clap along to music on the other. By 1903 it seems, being a slave at auction was no reason for worry or sorrow. Even as the auction commences, the comic foil Marks keeps the mood from getting too dark. Only in the closing seconds do we see just a bit of Emmeline and Uncle Tom's despair at being purchased by the cruel plantation owner Simon Legree.

The complete 1903 Edison film version of Uncle Tom's Cabin is included on the DVD in the Uncle Tom's Cabin Reconsidered program - http://www.uncletomscabindvd.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Uncle Tom
• Slavery
• Racism
• Uncle Tom's Cabin
• Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Simon Legree
• Slavery in America
• American Drama
• American Literature
• Slave Auction
• Thomas A. Edison
• 1903
• Film
• Film History
• Edison Film
• Black Stereotypes

[Kansasman4Jesus]

We hold these truths to be self evident, ALL men are created equal and are endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights: life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. ...O Lord forgive us for being so blind as to think we could deprive any one of Your creation of liberty. Help us awake from our diabolical slumber that causes us to now deprive many of life: older, unborn, disabled. Also instead of the pursuit of happiness, we want to again enslave men in the State plantation of welfare. Forgive us.

[willypdyer]

Thank You