THE CONGRESS OF NATIONS (1900)
Article 5191 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 6-24-2016
Directed by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith
Featuring Albert E. Smith
Country: USA
Company: Patriotic magic act

A magician pulls out flags from a hoop and then causes representatives of their nations to appear behind them.

It’s a basic variation on the Melies-style magic shorts, only with a patriotic theme; the final flag to appear is the Stars and Stripes, with a tableau of the representatives of other nations appearing with Uncle Sam. The fact that it has a specific theme is the most striking thing about this one; the fact that it’s not done particularly well and engages in some stereotyping (when the Chinese flag shows up) are its biggest problems. The short is mildly interesting but far from great.