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Director's Spotlight
Senior Film Conservator
Director's Spotlight: United States
A Deep Dive into the 1920 Vision of Gilbert Pratt
Witnessing the stylistic transformation of Comedy through A Close Shave reveals the provocative questions that Gilbert Pratt poses to the United States audience. Exploring the nuances of the human condition with Comedy flair, it showcases the power of Comedy as a tool for social commentary.
In A Close Shave, Gilbert Pratt pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative. The film's unique approach to its subject matter has sparked endless debates and interpretations among cinephiles and critics alike.
| Cinematography | Static |
| Soundtrack | Experimental |
| Editing | Invisible |
| Art Direction | Kitsch |
Visualizing the convergence of Gilbert Pratt's style and the core Comedy narrative.
Percie and Ferdie answer an ad for barbers, and to be sure of the job they get there in the middle of the night, sleeping on the steps of the shop. They get the jobs, and the balance of the reel is a burlesque of the daily happenings in a barber shop. It's all good stuff, with a succession of new bits of business. The second reel find the boys preparing to attend Miss Millionbucks' ball. They go attired in stolen uniforms, passing as two friends of the young lady's father. Of course the rightful two arrive and show the boys up. At the moment they are about to be shot for impersonating officers, they wake up - still in front of the barber shop, and the jobs taken.
Decades after its release, A Close Shave remains a vital piece of the cinematic puzzle. Its influence can be seen in countless modern works, solidifying Gilbert Pratt's status as a master of the craft in United States and beyond.