Hollywood To Make Sequel To Edison's 1894 film "The Sneeze"

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Hollywood To Make Sequel To Thomas Edison's 1894 film "The Sneeze"

Though the film lasts but a mere five seconds and is virtually plot-less, Hollywood producers are considering finally producing a sequel to Thomas Edison's, 1894 film, The Sneeze. The move, seen as a thumbing of the nose to the WGA and the current writers strike, will follow, more or less, the plot of the original film.

"It's all there on the screen," said TS2 producer, Jane Edith. "Tommy Edison gave us everything we need to do this right." Asked how the film will differ in order to qualify it as a “true” sequel, Edith responded, “The changes will be minimal but significant. In the original, Mr. Ott sneezed into the air. Well, these are different times and considering what we know about the spread of germs, something like that can be seen as irresponsible. Plus our film will be a bit longer, maybe by three or four seconds.” Asked if she could elaborate on the changes, Edith said only “it will be different enough that no one will be allowed in the cinema during the last two seconds of the film.”

**SPOILER ALERT** The film, starring Fred Ott, concerns a man (Mr. Ott) who take a bit of snuff and then sneezes.

Producers were originally hoping to secure a brief cameo from the films original star, but were discouraged to learn that he had died 71 years ago. “Were we discouraged?” asked Edith. “Yes.” Jane leaned forward in her chair. “But were we crestfallen? Ab-sol-utely not!”

The original Edison production was produced in the early morning hours of January 9, 1894, though due to contractual problems the film did not see release until later that evening. The producers of TS2 see no such obstacles.

Through surviving member s of the Ott family, the producers of TS2 were able to secure Fred Ott’s moustache, seen in all five seconds of the original film. “That was a miracle,” said Jane Edith. “The moustache was lovingly preserved by the family in hopes that it might live on in a new movie. We all cried when it was presented to us.” The moustache, kept in a mayonnaise jar since Ott’s death in 1936, was being kept at an undisclosed location at their small studio. “The Ott family was so supportive. We could really feel the prescience of Mr. Ott in the room with us. At least, we hope it was him.” Jane nervously looked around her small studio office. “Let’s put it this way,” she confided, “it was somebody, and if it is not Mr. Ott, then we should really try to find out who it is, because frankly, he is starting to spook the crew.”

While the producers have not found the right actor to fill Mr. Ott’s shoes, they have a long list of A-list actors and actors who have shown interest in taking over the roll. (See below)

Asked if Jane Edith had any plans on doing a sequel to Edison’s 17 second follow up film, The Kiss, she responded, “I have not seen it yet, so please do not tell me what happens. I want to be surprised!”

According to Art Feldman, the current director of the Edison Museum in Melo Park, Mr. Ott went on to star in the controversial film, The Kiss, which all but sealed the fate of the young actor/assistant. “First the film took over four years to produce at a cost of over a 17 dollars (roughly equivalent to one million dollars in to-days economy) And these were Victorian times,” said Feldman. “People were not ready to see two people engaging in that kind of misbehavior on the screen. Ironically, if you watch the film, the lady talks all the way through the kiss, so it was not even a proper kiss to begin with, but my guess is this lady did not a whole lot of experience in this field anyway. Nevertheless, you must remember, this was 1899. Many people had no idea about the concept of kissing outside of what he had learned from the Eskimos. I am sure it was quite natural to carry on a conversation whilst kissing.”

TS2 will be in theaters March 15.

To read the full article, click here



Who will star in TS2?

Will it be Sharon Stone?

Jennifer Garner was asked, but she seems hesitant!

Maybe an unknown!

Perhaps, you?



To see Thomas Edison's original production of The Sneeze, click here

"The Kiss" circa 1896 and circa 1976

To see Fred Ott's filmography, click here

To see Fred Ott's moustache (as worn by TS2 producer Jane Edith) click here