MovieChat Forums > Electrocuting an Elephant (1903) Discussion > I was horrified by this film

I was horrified by this film

posted 19 years ago by Localfreak
23 replies | jump to latest

Not because I'm easily squeamish, not because I was completely naive to the fact that in the time this film was made animals were killed quite calmly and, to quote my mother, the victorians and those that came shortly after could be quite bloodthirsty in their pursuits of 'fair game'. But this literally shocked me to the pit of my stomach because It was FILMED- which is rather sickening that this footage could then be used for entertainment purposes (as all film, even documentary has entertainment purposes).

I was shown this in a media lecture as an example of 'two-shot film' with no warning beforehand that what we would see was distressing: which rather made it seem all the more heartless. From the modern day analysts view you can see why it provokes such strong reaction, the camera is perfectly placed for the most disturbing shots and it creates the feeling that the camera is the audience's eye, it makes you feel like you're standing there witnessing such an event and unmoving, it gives consequently, rather a cold and brutal impression not just of Edison but of the society as a whole.

It's made all the worse when you know beforehand the year in which it is shot- because you know that it is real. If you watched animal cruelty in later films, which are all in colour, it mayn't produce such a strong reaction because you know that it's not real- it's all just pretend-like theatre.

[–] JoshRogan 19 years ago

i dispute that this film is ever, or was ever, shown to entertain.

It was shot as a demonstration, it was shown to you as an example of film-making process and it is now seen as a curiosity - but i'm not sure anyone watches this to be entertained. If I am wrong, and they do then i would hope the numbers would be small enough for you not to be shocked about

[–] tronx-1 18 years ago

it was shot for entertainment. edison took the film across the country to make more money off of killing the creature.

it was all part of his smear campaign against alternating current (AC). look it up.

[–] garrett4987 17 years ago

It was NOT entertainment, it was propaganda. It was not meant to entertain, it was meant to scare.

[–] AbsoluteDann 19 years ago

Rather than documentary, I'd say it was used for advertising purposes.

[–] Peerce 18 years ago

After reading this I thought I would be horified. I felt nothing, absolutly nothing. Despite the fact that I could bearly see anything, what I did see is a little smoke and an elephant fall over. Big deal.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] imakefights 18 years ago

Probably nothing....

[–] Peerce 18 years ago

imakefights's right, there would be so much electricity going through the brain that it would not be able to send signals telling the elephant it was in pain. In other words, it was a rather humane way of disposing of the elephant's life.

[–] brideofbasil 18 years ago

According to one article, the animal was fed carrots containing potassium cyanide before the electrocution---to speed up its death, I suppose. We can hope the elephant felt nothing in the end...still, the idea that a public spectacle was made of the animal's death isn't a pretty one.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] bretalalvaro 18 years ago

"They should have just thrown the damn thing in the Hudson River during winter or shot it. It's stupid really."

That "damn thing" was a living beign, and had emotions, and had a life. Maybe you know it but just can't understand it. Maybe you think that only we, the amazing and perfect human race, have feelings and love other beings. The only thing that I can say is that I feel very sad for people who think like you, and when I read things like that I truly believe that this world will NEVER be a nice place to live. And things like this, I don't say every day.

[–] BlondeVixen 17 years ago

<I truly believe that this world will NEVER be a nice place to live.>

It hasn't been since the Garden of Eden.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] rooprect 18 years ago

We can hope the elephant felt nothing in the end

Vain hopes, my friend. I once got zapped by a frayed wire, and I screamed bloody murder for hours (and that was only 120V 15A). But don't take my word for it; check out Faces of Death I where they show an electric chair execution. I'd rather be hung, drawn and quartered.

And in response to an earlier post, this film was definitely for someone's entertainment. Edison's. Check out that big jolly grin on his face. This is better than Disney World for him.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dr_butcher_md 17 years ago

That human electrocution in Faces of Death was fake, by the way (as was most of the human carnage, with the exception of the autopsy and some "real death" file footage).

[–] brideofbasil 17 years ago

I've been "zapped" a couple of times myself, but only some slight shocks. And
yep, they didn't exactly tickle.

I've heard about those "Faces of Death" films, and NO thank you. Just seeing
"The Green Mile" will do it for me.

[–] vidville-69614 9 years ago

If that really happened you would know that you wouldn't scream for hours. It's over very quickly. I've had many electric shocks they're not that bad.

[–] The_Great_Gabbo 16 years ago

there would be so much electricity going through the brain that it would not be able to send signals telling the elephant it was in pain. In other words, it was a rather humane way of disposing of the elephant's life.

Oh, I see! You've been in that sort of situation. Perhaps we should strap you down with electrodes, then you could enlighten us with your indelible experience.
I could care less if that elephant killed 3 people--good for her! That is the comeupponce for capturing wild animals--especially when they are ABUSED, which Topsy was. In fact, I'd rather have an animal kill me than a filthy, disgusting human. I'm so sick of pr!cks like you who have no regard for an animal's feelings. Elephants cry too, ya know.

<*))))))><

[–] garrett4987 17 years ago

Had this video been shot today, I would have been among the outspoken, but there is nothing that can be done now. I've seen the video; it never felt a thing. I honestly found it fascinating, along with somewhat sickening, as I too am an animal person. The one that brother's me more though is the one where they have to kill one in the street with small arms fire after it killed it's keeper and escaped. Unfortunate but necessary.

What bothers me most is that this video is why people consider Edison a bad person. Not the fact the he refused to pay the money he had promised to someone (Tesla) who did him a great service, or the fact that he took credit for others works. No, it's not even the fact that he put his moral aside to make a profit by advocating the use of AC current as a means of execution. People consider him a bad (evil?) man because he suggested and filmed the death of a rouge elephant by the means of AC current electrocution. It's another example of people putting animals before Humans, their own kind, and the main reason I can't stand organizations like PETA.

Also, let's not forget that when an elephant goes rouge, it's mentality changes and it is much harder to handle, as it is much more willing to kill again. I'm not sure what Human/Elephant relations were in Africa at that time, but today the two are forced so close together that they are at constant odds over food. Letting a rouge elephant go back into the wild would be putting the local people at risk for an eventual, and lethal, showdown. It's just not practical.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cusca 15 years ago

You Americans apply death penalty for HUMANS and are worried about a poor mad Elephant execution 100 years ago, you bunch of hypocrites.