The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra (1928)

Directors:

Robert Florey
Slavko Vorkapich

Writers:

Robert Florey (concept) &
Slavko Vorkapich (concept)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

This short experimental film tells the story of a man who comes to Hollywood to become a star, only...

Plot Keywords:

Avant Garde | Number In Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jules Raucourt	...	9413 (as Raucourt)
George Voya	...	The Star (as Voya)

Also Known As:

A Hollywood Extra
Hollywood Rhapsody
Suicide of a Hollywood Extra

Runtime:

11 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Movie Connections:

Remade as Hollywood Boulevard (1936)

Surrealism on a shoestring

The ultra-low budget of this film clearly shows in the extreme close-ups of faces, searchlights and office space (avoiding the need for background sets!) and stylised landscape model work: but it forms a surreal style all of its own, as extra 9413 learns to mouth 'blah blah blah' instead of talking and don bland masks instead of his own face... none of which does him any good in a world where the 'Casting today' signs always slide out further to reveal their true nature: "NO casting today". His female counterpart, dancing puppet-like to the director's tune (and perhaps his casting couch?) does rather better.

In this film, Hollywood is Hell and bliss is to become a free man and not a number. Sardonic social commentary without a single word.