Behind the Lines

Starring: Elsie Janis, William Kernell
Directed by: N/A
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Musical
Length: 8 minutes
1926

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Singer Elsie Janis performs for troops from the back of a truck.

Review:

Tim: I thought Behind the Lines was an interesting short film. First off, the first 90 seconds of the film are lost. So, you hear the audio and just watch a still photo. This creates an interesting experience, when the film actually starts and the still photo comes to life. It puts you back into this time period and captures a little of the magic of audiences getting to see moving pictures. You obviously wish the beginning wasn't lost, but it does create a memorable start for this film.

The rest of the film gives us an opportunity to watch Elsie Janie perform for soldiers. I actually really enjoyed this. I'd never heard of Janis before this film. She lived an interesting life and this film captures just a few minutes of that. She got her start in vaudeville and was a singer, actress, and was apparently a tireless supporter of the armed forces. That's what we get to see here- her performing for troops from the back of a pickup truck. It was fascinating to see her on the battlefront. From this short film, it's undeniable that she was incredibly talented and she had real stage presence. It wasn't a surprise when I read that she'd been performing since childhood. Here, she looks like a woman completely comfortable on the stage, even when the "stage" is in an unlikely environment.

I do wish the film was a bit longer, but it was entertaining. Just to see Janis perform, to see the troops around her, it all feels like a unique viewing experience. I've seen a lot of early short films and Behind the Lines is one of the more memorable ones I've seen.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: San Pietro, 45 Minutes from Hollywood, Beyond the Line of Duty