The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra
Encyclopedia
The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra (1928
) is a American short silent
experimental film
.
, and directed by Florey and Slavko Vorkapich. It was photographed by Gregg Toland
, later famed for his cinematography
on films such as Citizen Kane
(1941) and Grapes of Wrath
(1939). The film stars Voya George, Adriane Marsh, and Jules Raucourt.
In 1997, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
by the Library of Congress
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film has been restored and released on two DVD collections Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant Garde Film 1894-1941
and Avant-Garde: Experimental Cinema of the 1920's and 1930's
.
The film was shown in Leeds Film Festival in November 2008, as part of Back to the Electric Palace, with live music by Larry Goves
, performed in partnership with Opera North
.
This low cost was possible due to the use of set made using toys and cardboard buildings. Most of the filming was indoors.
The actors Jules Raucort and Voya George did not get immediate payment for their work. They were supposed to be compensated with benefits which might accrue later. The role of heroine was played by Adrian March an 'extra girl'.
1928 in film
-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) is a American short silent
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
experimental film
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
.
Plot
The film tells the story of a man who comes to Hollywood to become a star, only to fail and be dehumanized. He is identified by the number 9413 written on his forehead, after which he dies and goes to Heaven, where the number is removed.Production background
The film was written by Robert FloreyRobert Florey
Robert Florey was a French screenwriter, director of short films, and actor who moved to Hollywood in 1921. In 1950, Florey was made a knight in the French Légion d'honneur....
, and directed by Florey and Slavko Vorkapich. It was photographed by Gregg Toland
Gregg Toland
Gregg Toland, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer noted for his innovative use of lighting and techniques such as deep focus, an example of which can be found in his work on Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.-Career:...
, later famed for his cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
on films such as Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
(1941) and Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath (film)
The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 drama film directed by John Ford. It was based on John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson and the executive producer was Darryl F...
(1939). The film stars Voya George, Adriane Marsh, and Jules Raucourt.
In 1997, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film has been restored and released on two DVD collections Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant Garde Film 1894-1941
Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant Garde Film 1894-1941
Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant Garde Film 1894-1941 is a 7-disc and 19-hour DVD retrospective released by Image Entertainment in October 2005, and which includes some of the earliest American experimental film. It includes the work of:...
and Avant-Garde: Experimental Cinema of the 1920's and 1930's
Avant-garde (dvd collection)
Avant-Garde is a DVD-series with experimental films released by Kino International.-Experimental Cinema of the 1920s and 1930s:Avant-Garde: Experimental Cinema of the 1920s and 1930s is a 2-disc, 6-hour DVD collection, released in August 2005 by Kino International which includes the following...
.
The film was shown in Leeds Film Festival in November 2008, as part of Back to the Electric Palace, with live music by Larry Goves
Larry Goves
Larry Goves is a British composer.A Phd student at the University of Southampton, his tutor is Michael Finnissy. In addition to Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, he has studied privately with Richard Barrett and Simon Holt...
, performed in partnership with Opera North
Opera North
Opera North is an English opera company based in Leeds. The company's home theatre is the Leeds Grand Theatre, but it also presents regular seasons in several other cities, at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays and the Theatre Royal, Newcastle...
.
Low expenditure
According to Florey. the total expenditure made for the production was $97 as follows:- Negative ... $25.00
- Store Props ... $3.00
- Development and Printing ...$55.00
- Transportation, etc. ... $14.00
This low cost was possible due to the use of set made using toys and cardboard buildings. Most of the filming was indoors.
The actors Jules Raucort and Voya George did not get immediate payment for their work. They were supposed to be compensated with benefits which might accrue later. The role of heroine was played by Adrian March an 'extra girl'.