Anna Held

An Edison film created for a stage show, showcasing impressive special effects!

Stage star Anna Held (1872-1918) riffs on her once-famous scene from the comedy Papa's Wife (1899-1901) featuring a naif getting tipsy on her first champagne, in this "photographic interview", filmed in 68mm by Frederick S. Armitage. AM&B's Picture Catalogue of 1902 pitched it as "A stunning picture of the well-known actress in the drinking scene which made such a hit in Papa's Wife. The figure is shown in bust view, making the head very large and giving a clear view of the facial expressions of the beautiful artiste." The company said that both "make hits either in the Biograph [35mm projection service] or Mutoscope" [hand-cranked peep-show viewer].

Mademoiselle Gobette, a pretty young actress, visits the offices of the Minister of Justice, Cyprienne Gaudet. Simultaneously, Madame Galipaux arrives to speak to the Minister on behalf of her husband. Gaudet mistakes Madame Galipaux for the new cleaning woman, and Mademoiselle Gobette for Madame Galipaux, leading to farcical complications when Monsieur Galipaux arrives.