Fights of Nations

Fights of Nations Also shot on 19, 23 and 28 Jan 1907 Vignettes or vaudeville acts conveying the idea of the United States as a melting-pot through national methods of fighting. TITLE: “Mexico and Spain”: Against painted backdrop, a Spanish couple in traditional costume are attacked by a Mexican bandit. The two men fight with knifes. 02.02.19 TITLE: “ Our Hebrew Friends”: A Jewish necktie vendor argues and fights with various other Jewish men, until a policeman tries to arrest them. One of the Jewish men bribes him the policeman with money, the Jewish men are let off and perform a merry dance. 02.03.33 TITLE: “Hoot Moon! A Scottish Combat”: Scotsmen in traditional costume with kilt and metal shields sword fight. 02.04.25 TITLE: ‘Sunny Africa”: In a bar, a white couple, a black couple and a mixed race couple dance to the tune of a piano. They sit and drink between dance numbers. One of the white men performs a solo dance while the others clap. The black couples perform a cake walk, a fist fight breaks out with knives involved. TITLE: “Sons of the Ould Sod”: A woman hangs laundry on the top floor of a two story house. She drops a garment on a man’s head as he reads the newspaper. The man sprays the woman’s husband with dark liquid (Irish stout?) from a hose, the housewife comes out and hits the man with a barrel. The husband comes out into the street and they fist fight. The woman serves them pints of beer or stout (Guinness) and they cheer and laugh. 02.09.11 TITLE: “ America, The Land of the Free”: An entrance staircase draped with flags from different countries, star-spangled banners on each side. Elegant couples come out, the men in army uniform or national costume, they greet each other; these include an Englishman, an American Indian in head dress, Uncle Sam.