Dranem Performs The True Jiu-Jitsu

About This Movie

This 1905 film is quite the curiosity in the realm of early cinema. Armand Dranem's performance of 'The True Jiu-Jitsu' showcases the innovative spirit of its time, blending music and visual elements in a way that feels remarkably ahead of its era. The film's atmosphere is one of playful engagement, with Dranem lip-syncing to a phonograph recording while being captured on camera. The practicality of the effects is fascinating—it's all so straightforward yet charming. What stands out is the way Alice Guy plays with the lip-syncing concept, which gives it a distinctive flair that you don't often see in later works. It's a nice snapshot of early 20th-century performance art, really.

The film is relatively scarce, being one of those phonoscenes that often slips under the radar of mainstream collectors. Its historical significance as an early example of the music video format adds to its appeal. There’s a niche interest among collectors who appreciate the interplay of sound and vision in cinema’s infancy. Formats vary, but finding a clean copy is becoming increasingly difficult as time goes on.