Review of Men Boxing

read the overwrought film notes for this short on disc 1 of the 4-disc set, THE INVENTION OF MOVIES, from Kino Co. (2005). The so-called expert contends that the "boxers" featured here are "disciplined, toned athletes," but to my eye these jokers in white shirts and dress pants obviously are "fleshy tinkers." All their punches are pulled, and they are grinning like jackals at the thought that ANYONE in the rough and tumble times of the 1890s COULD mistake them for "athletes." Since this was a camera test for Edison Manufacturing Company, it's clearly an "inside joke" met only for the girls in the New York City red-light districts where these guys spent their nights wilding (one look at this 12.13-second piece proves these guys were unlikely to have merited wives OR girlfriends!). Close observers will notice that this already brief film IS THE SAME THING SHOWN FOUR TIMES, but guys never can get enough of looking at themselves pretending to be sports heroes. Note that the rope behind the "boxers" meant to suggest a boxing ring is one of the first uses of art direction in the movies.