The Kiss (film)
"The Kiss" is a short silent film, approximately forty-two feet in length, that captures a scene from the Broadway play "The Widow Jones." The film features the popular performers May Irwin and John C. Rice in a romantic moment, specifically depicting a kiss. Despite its brief and discreet nature, the film stirred significant controversy upon its release in New York City. Various morality and religious groups perceived the scene as an act of public indecency, leading to public outcry. Their advocacy prompted city officials to ban the film, reflecting the societal tensions around public expressions of affection during that era. This incident highlights the evolving attitudes towards sexuality in media and the impact of cultural norms on artistic expression. "The Kiss" serves as a historical artifact illustrating the intersection of theater, cinema, and societal values at the turn of the 20th century.
The Kiss (film)
Type of work: Film
Released: 1896
Director: Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
Subject matter: A man and woman discreetly embrace and kiss
Significance: One of the first motion pictures seen by public audiences, this short film was also one of the first to raise cries for censorship
Filmed from a scene of the play The Widow Jones, this forty-two-foot-long film runs for less than a minute on screen. It simply depicts a middle-aged couple, May Irwin and John C. Rice, together in a romantic scene taken from the popular Broadway play in which they were then performing. Although the scene of the couple kissing was discreet and brief, members of various morality and religious groups in New York City were horrified by what they regarded as an act of public indecency. Under their relentless urging, city public officials banned the film out of concern that its flagrant display of sexuality might incite people to act similarly in public.
