Framed shots provide style. Split-screen shots depict concurrent scenes. It's especially brilliant, and seems like an advanced film-making technique for 1913, to stage the camera on a moving vehicle and center a sideview mirror in the shot as to show what follows a character.
From a technical standpoint, 'Suspense' is impressive for its time. At the same time, fine performances from its cast, and strict attention to rising action, work wonders to build a mesmerizing sense of suspense. Plenty of modern films, with all availability technology and years of cinema to reflect on, fail to be half as riveting as this is. The attached score excels in that aim as well - lively, dramatic piano chords that do much to lend atmosphere.
At only ten minutes, 'Suspense' is easy to find online, and well worth it. It's remarkable for its craft, and even in its unembellished simplicity, captivating for the story told. To revisit silent films of many years past, it's hard not to feel that contemporary film-makers could learn a great deal by similarly looking back, and 'Suspense' is a fantastic example of that.
From a technical standpoint, 'Suspense' is impressive for its time. At the same time, fine performances from its cast, and strict attention to rising action, work wonders to build a mesmerizing sense of suspense. Plenty of modern films, with all availability technology and years of cinema to reflect on, fail to be half as riveting as this is. The attached score excels in that aim as well - lively, dramatic piano chords that do much to lend atmosphere.
At only ten minutes, 'Suspense' is easy to find online, and well worth it. It's remarkable for its craft, and even in its unembellished simplicity, captivating for the story told. To revisit silent films of many years past, it's hard not to feel that contemporary film-makers could learn a great deal by similarly looking back, and 'Suspense' is a fantastic example of that.