Cupid and Psyche
Also known as [Cupid and Psyche Dance]
(1897) United States of America
B&W : 50 feet
Directed by James H. White
Cast: The Leander Sisters [themselves]
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Frederick Blechynden. / © 25 October 1897 by Thomas A. Edison. Released October 1897. / [?] Kinetoscope 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format or Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format? / The production was shot 22 August 1897 at the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, California.
Documentary: Performance: Dance.
Synopsis: Two sisters perform a dance for a crowd in a public swimming facility in San Francisco. // [Catalogue, F.Z. Maguire & Company, (March 1898), page 40] An original dance by the Leander Sisters, performed at the Suthro [sic] Baths, San Francisco, Cal. One is dressed as Cupid, with the accompanying wings, bow and arrow; the other represents Psyche. The dance is full of grace and action, and the figures show life size and very clear. The costumes are white, and show up in beautiful contrast to the dark background, which is composed of bathers in bathing costume and two tiers of spectators. The film is in every way an attractive subject.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 29 March 2010.
References: Film viewing : Magliozzi-Treasures n. 3672; Musser-Edison p. 332 : Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
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