Puppets

A lot of potent talent was invested in this humble two-reel fantasy drama. The star was Broadway legend DeWolfe Hopper and the director was the ever-fascinating Tod Browning. Filmed on-location in Venice, CA, Puppets was based on the ages-old pantomime +Pierrot et Colombine. In a bold move, the director dressed all of the actors in traditional puppet costumes, and had them manipulate their bodies as if supported by strings. As such familiar figures as Pierrot (Jack Brammall), Colombine (Pauline Starke), and Scaramouche (Max Davidson) went through their customary paces before a stark black-and-white backdrop, the bombastic Pantaloon (Hopper) and a croneish widow (Kate Toncray) grostequely parodied the main story. A dazzling cinematic experiment, Puppets proved that director Browning had lost none of his verve while recuperating from his recent, near-fatal auto accident.