The Boston Tea Party (1908 film)

The Boston Tea Party
Directed by	Edwin S. Porter and; J. Searle Dawley
Written by	James Cogan
Starring	Herbert Prior; Charles Ogle
Cinematography	Frederick S. Armitage; J. Searle Dawley
Production; company	Edison Manufacturing Company
Distributed by	Edison Manufacturing Company
Release date	15 July 1908;
Running time	Approximately 6 minutes (550 feet)
Country	United States
Language	Silent

The Boston Tea Party is a 1908 silent film directed by Edwin S. Porter, and produced and distributed by Edison Studios. The film is a fictionalized depiction of the events of the Boston Tea Party.[1] It was the film debut of actor Charles Stanton Ogle.[2]

Plot

Described by Edison Films as an "unrivalled historical production of colonial times", the synopsis of scenes was:[3]

BEFORE THE STORM. — Epoch-making days — Liberty stirs the blood of the Colonists — Grave issues discussed — "Sons of Liberty" take action.

THE MAN AND THE HOUR. — "Market Day" — Eager for news — Arrival of hero at tavern — Posted call for mass meeting — Informer (rival of heroine) off to sell information — Heroine welcomes hero.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS. — Informer reports — Leads soldiers — Off to capture hero — Posting £1,000 reward — Searching house.

HEROINE OUTWITS THE ENEMY. — Secreting hero — Informer baffled — Fruitless chase — Heroine throws off disguise — Escape of hero.

THE RENDEZVOUS. — Tea Tax arouses populace — "Sons of Liberty" disguise as Indians — Off to the harbor.

ATTACK ON THE SHIP. — A dark, silent night — Unexpected attack — Crew overpowered — Piling the tea on deck.

HEROINE'S WARNING. — A fast ride — Tea party warned in time — Soldiers get warm reception — Soldiers and crew Imprisoned.

THE RATTLESNAKE FLAG. — Throwing the tea overboard — Home thrust at tyranny — Rattlesnake Flag unfurled — Informer attacks hero — He follows the tea overboard.
TABLEAU. — Great Historic Picture of "The Tea Party in Boston Harbor."

Production

The film was one of the first two films at Edison Studios made using a two production-unit system, by J. Searle Dawley and Frederick S. Armitage under the supervision of Edwin S. Porter.[4]

Reception

The film received both positive and negative reviews. It was criticized for a lack of coherent narrative, and described as "marred by the obscurity of the opening scenes."[4] Newspapers reportedly described it as "an exciting historical film"[5] and "an exceptionally interesting reproduction of that historic event."[6]

References

Langman, Larry; Borg, Ed (1989). "American Revolution". Encyclopedia of American War Films. Garland Reference Library of the Humanities. Garland Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8240-7540-8. Edison presented a one-reel depiction of the tea-dumping as early as 1908 titled 'The Boston Tea Party.'
Holmes, Dr. John R. (1 June 2009). Remembering Steubenville: From Frontier Fort to Steel Valley. History Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-62584-247-3. Edison Studios in New York led the pack, and in 1908, Charles Stanton Ogle, son of Steubenville preacher Joseph C. Ogle, appeared in the Edison feature The Boston Tea Party. Alt URL
Chalmers, J.P., ed. (11 July 1908). "Film Review". The Moving Picture World. 3 (2). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. pp. 10, 18 – via Internet Archive.
Musser, Charles (1991). Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company. University of California Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-520-06986-2.
Chalmers, J.P., ed. (8 August 1908). "Newspaper Comments on Film Subjects". The Moving Picture World. 3 (6). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. p. 6 – via Internet Archive.
Chalmers, J.P., ed. (29 August 1908). "Newspaper Comments on Film Subjects". The Moving Picture World. 3 (2). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. p. 6 – via Internet Archive.

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[LangmanBorg1989-1] Langman, Larry; Borg, Ed (1989). "American Revolution". Encyclopedia of American War Films. Garland Reference Library of the Humanities. Garland Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8240-7540-8. Edison presented a one-reel depiction of the tea-dumping as early as 1908 titled 'The Boston Tea Party.'

[Holmes2009-2] Holmes, Dr. John R. (1 June 2009). Remembering Steubenville: From Frontier Fort to Steel Valley. History Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-62584-247-3. Edison Studios in New York led the pack, and in 1908, Charles Stanton Ogle, son of Steubenville preacher Joseph C. Ogle, appeared in the Edison feature The Boston Tea Party. Alt URL

[3] Chalmers, J.P., ed. (11 July 1908). "Film Review". The Moving Picture World. 3 (2). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. pp. 10, 18 – via Internet Archive.

[Musser1991-4] Musser, Charles (1991). Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company. University of California Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-520-06986-2.

[5] Chalmers, J.P., ed. (8 August 1908). "Newspaper Comments on Film Subjects". The Moving Picture World. 3 (6). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. p. 6 – via Internet Archive.

[6] Chalmers, J.P., ed. (29 August 1908). "Newspaper Comments on Film Subjects". The Moving Picture World. 3 (2). New York: The World Photographic Publishing Company. p. 6 – via Internet Archive.