I noticed that another reviewer scored this one a 10. Well, I choose not to rate it at all. That's because the film is only about 50 seconds long and there just isn't enough to rate--which is true of most films from the 1890s and very, very early 1900s. Most films during this time were about a minute or two and only give you a small glimpse into the time.
In this case, Charlie Grapewin does a silent monologue as the character Chimmie Hicks. Interestingly, the stage is bare and black and Grapewin acts as if he's at the race track--and he is quite convincing in such a minimalist setting. The only other performer is his bookie who is only briefly in the film. Through the course of the quick film, you see Chimmie at the heights of excitement and depths of despair--depending on how his horse is doing in a particular race. The acting is pretty exciting to watch and this is a nice historical clip to remember Grapewin's vaudeville act (he later was a supporting actor in films).
