JoeytheBrit This early Hepworth film is fairly humorous but it carries on for far too long and drags in the middle because of the repetitious nature of its scenes. An old man plays a trick on a youngster with pepper causing the boy to sneeze uncontrollably. The boy, who, it has to be said, appears ever so slightly effeminate (and might have been played by a girl), gets his own back by peppering the old man's hairbrush, handkerchief, hat, etc while he sleeps. In the morning the old man's sneezes are so powerful that things in their path collapse and fall apart or fall off walls, etc. The sneezes keep on building until they create an earthquake and then cause the old boy to explode.The last minute or so of the film is probably the most effective. Where a filmmaker today would use a shaking motion of the camera to transmit an earthquake, the cameraman here rocks the camera back and forth, eventually slowing down to signify the passing of the quake while the old boy hangs on to a lamppost. It's still quite an effective little trick. Overall though, the film went on far too long for what is essentially a one-shot joke.

stormin_player Since the beginning of motion picture, by the Lumière brothers in 1985, for the next decade forward films where made which where there to attract an audience, like theatre. Theses films did not have anything in the way of acting or composition but where simply there to show an artistic view to the motion picture. Almost like Photography.But this film in 1907 was one of many such as 'The Impossible Voyage' in 1904 and 'king lea' in 1910, to show a narrative which was not like theatre but more on the way of we are intruding into someone Else's life. This was the beginning of how films are seen today.Due to this films quirky camera shots and over flamboyant acting, i give this a smashing 9 out of ten. A true film from the beginning of movie making.

MartinHafer Aside from LE VOYAGE DANS LE LUNE and a few other films by Georges Méliès, this is about the most entertaining and funny films I have seen from the very early days of cinema. In fact, I think it's a lot funnier than most of Chaplin's early shorts--it's that good.A jerk pours sneezing powder all over an unsuspecting old guys things while he's sleeping. The old guy later wakes up and pretty soon he starts to sneeze uncontrollably. The sight gags, for 1907, are great--as beds and walls and EVERYTHING get blown about by his sneezes. He even later causes earthquakes with the sneezes. This builds and builds until ultimately he just explodes!!! This is such a cool movie--one kids should especially enjoy!

reptilicus Early special effects film that borrows a lot from Georges Melies and uses gags that comedians like the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy were still finding worthwhile 30 years later. At dinner an elderly man laces the food of a young boy with pepper, unleashing a barrage of sneezes which the old fellow finds quite funny. That night the boy enters the old man's room and puts a large supply of pepper on his handkerchief, in his hat, and other places and just waits for morning. (I sure hope this pair is just uncle and nephew. I would hate to think father and son played such pranks on each other. Then again maybe I should repeat to myself "It's just a show, you should really just relax.") The next day the man discovers he is plagued with uncontrollable sneezes which turn out to be very destructive! One good "ah-choo" destroys a storefront, another blows a woman's hair off, another causes a mild earthquake (accomplished by rocking the camera back and forth) and so on. It is not long before an angry crowd of merchants and passers-by are chasing the man. Meanwhile the boy follows closely waving the pepper shaker and having the time of his life. How does it end? Take the title literally! If you want to see other comics milking sneeze gags just watch the Marx Brothers in AT THE CIRCUS (1939) when Harpo's sneeze demolishes the inside of a caravan. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy explored the dangers of uncontrolled sneezes in some of their 2-reelers as well. This is a great example of early special effects and comedy and almost a century later it is still hilarious.