Synopsis
This short experimental film tells the story of a man who comes to Hollywood to become a star, only to fail and be dehumanized. He is identified by the number 9413 written on his forehead.
The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra
1928 Directed by Robert Florey, Slavko Vorkapich
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Alternative Titles
Hollywood Rhapsody, A Hollywood Extra, Suicide of a Hollywood Extra
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If you watch a lot of movies, particularly old Hollywood movies, your conception of the past can begin to be shaped by them, so that eras before you were born start to seem encased by the Studios' big bubble (or as Mark Cousins would say, booble). This feels like a crack in that bubble, although from which side I couldn't tell you.
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With an imagery inspired by German Expressonism impactful enough to intimidate any aspiring actor to ever step into the Hollywood industry, this interesting and nearly budget-less experimental short film by Robert Florey makes a strong negative commentary against how the system does not recognize any identity of its actors (and therefore assigning a random number like any good dystopian novela would understand), sucking all possible life out of people.
I have always said it and I'll gladly repeat it: Lack of budget pushes filmmakers to replace lack of means with creativity and/or vision. This is no exception. In general, that's a law found in silent experimental cinema. Unfortunately for the sake of the film, the lack of budget is TOO…
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Those sharp, shadowy teutonic angles are synonymous with nightmares, the tilted and cast in flickering lights suggesting that this particular dream is going to be cold, full of dread, rather than a blast of intense terror. The story told in this atmosphere is a vicious jab at Hollywood's promises of fame, fortune, and fun, taking an empathetic, working class view of the life of an extra and juxtaposing it with stardom (in a fairly blunt metaphor that is all the funnier for it). It's an exaggerated, tumultuous climb through dreams (both aspirational and oneiric) that is both tragic and amusing.
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do you ever wake up and immediately put on a very sad experimental short from 1928 just to feel something? lol
in all seriousness though, in addition to being a beautiful showcase of the american response to german expressionism and of gregg toland’s cinematography, it really captures the ways in which stardom seemed attainable to audiences during this time as a result of marketing in movie magazines that posited that all the people who were famous onscreen came from nothing and got lucky. watching this extra’s hopes rise and fall so intensely is so deeply sad, but the ending is strangely hopeful.
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Quite possibly the cheapest film ever made (that I've heard of) which holds real value in the industry. For under $100, a slice of excellence is released...those days are gone.
In Hollywood, you're just another number and people live and die by those numbers. Well, that's what this experimental picture is all about. The progression of the story shows the world through eager eyes, only to suffer. The good news is, one day your mistakes and faceless shell will be wiped away in paradise. I was pleased to see that pioneer cinematographer, Gregg Toland, played a vital part in this little project that is now so highly praised. A cautionary tale and one for the ages. -
A fully-formed critique of the dehumanization of the Hollywood system from the same decade it really came into existence. Amazing the Metropolis-esque visuals produced here on a budget of only $1600 in today's money.
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Stunning start to finish. The art style is where this shines. It's like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari mixed with The Adventures of Prince Achmed. The theme and especially the ending feel like it had a heavy influence on Brazil. I won't spoil what it's about since it's a short, but this is a hell of a ride and a must watch.
Added to Important Silent Films
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In this stunning and expressive short, Vorkapich and avant-garde French-American co-director (that's a lotta hyphens!) Robert Florey depict that hardships of an aspiring actor. It's a well-worn story trope in film, but this rendition from 1928 distills it into a haunting and creative series of images that reminds of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as well as Dreyer's Vampyr which would release a few years later. Accompanied by a contemporary jazz score (clearly inspired by Badalamenti, a great choice for the style and subject matter) this silent short pops off the screen and shows just how much can be accomplished in a movie, even with miniscule means.
Watch it here.
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An early experimental short used to show the harsh realities of show business. The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra expertly and minimally crafted with creative wit and experimental prowess. A mixture of live actors and paper cut out sets gave the film a unique style while being fiscally responsible and telling their story to its fullest potential.
Wannabe actors reduced to extras and removed of their name (replaced by number). The dehumanizing factors of the competitive dog eat dog world of Hollywood. Either you make it or you don't and most of the time its the latter. Hollywood as symbolized in the film is where dreams go to die and it is only in death that can…
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Wonderful silent short with Gregg Toland behind the camera. It has a definite Caligari edge, and in the end, I guess you have to die to get a good role.
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The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra is a short film (and I mean really short, just under 14 minutes in length) about a man wanting to show up in Hollywood and become a star, but after having the number 9413 branded to his forehead he is unable to find any work in the industry.
The clearly limited budget of the film actually did it a favor, as I felt a lot of the charm of its brief running time came with the obviously cheaply made props. It is admirable how well this film came together, an experimental work unlike anything else I have seen come out of that era. Overall, it reminded me a lot of something a young filmmaker would make today, a film that showcases a lot of talent and promise but ultimately falls short of being anything memorable enough to leave an impression on me going forward.