Tearing Down the Spanish Flag

Nothing to really say about this considering this is just one still shot scene but I do think it is interesting in context since even back then; with such limited technology, a film like this was able to produce such a strong message about American imperialism that was much more palpable to audiences back then without any need to sugar coat it the way more contemporary films had to do. The concept of being "anti-war" just had no resonance, so full on patriotism was unabashedly embraced.

From the humble beginnings of Vitagraph, one of the very first things from Blackton's newly founded studio. With Edison pumping out a mix of actualities and dramatizations thereof on the war with Spain, it was time to be timely and scramble to do the same. As only a few seconds of a small flag changing before a cheap backdrop, this is practically just a bit of decorative filler to toss in along with those sorts of things.