It's a split-reel comedy from Eclipse in which director-star Ernest Servaès is wandering around the streets of Paris, annoying people by playing his clarinet -- the possibilities for a musical accompanist are obvious -- until a crew of piano-hoisters react by dropping a piano on his head, so that the clarinet is stuck with the bell coming out of his mouth and the mouthpiece out of the back of his empty skull.Servaès wanders around in a dazed effort to have the clarinet removed. It's funny in a brutal slapstick way and I enjoyed it. One of the reviewers on the IMDb referred to it as "surreal". Because that particular High Art movement would not be launched for another two or three years, I see no more reason to apply it here than calling this "Neo-Noir" or "Nouvelle Vague". Silly is the word for it.

This film was included in the three DVD set "Saved From the Flames"--a collection of mostly ephemeral movies that have managed to avoid turning to powder, catching fire or melting--something that usually happened with the nitrate film stock used up through the 1950s.According to the program notes, "Artheme Swallows His Clarinet" was made by the Eclipse Company in France. It was pieced together recently from two prints in relatively poor condition and digitally reconstructed. It's still not in great shape but considering everything, it's still quite watchable.The film begins with Artheme going about the streets of town playing his clarinet. It's pretty magical, as when he plays quickly, people speed up dramatically! However, there is an accident and (ugghh!) an almost sickening sight gag is employed that will make you sit up and notice!!! I won't say more, but thought you should prepare yourself before viewing! All in all, a rather funny and very surreal comedy that is impossible to see without taking notice. Well done...and a little sick...and I like that!

This little previously forgotten gem has been rediscovered by the wonderful Serge Bromberg. Probably directed by comedian Ernest Srevaès and without any doubt acted by him, this funny short rests on a pretty basic situation, perfectly summed up by its title "Arthème avale sa clarinette" (Arthème swallows his clarinet). We just see Arthème playing his clarinet in the parks and in the streets. At a time, a piano being hauled by careless movers falls down on him and he finds himself with his instrument stuck in his head. Poor Arthème helplessly tries to get rid of the instrument but to no avail. Several passers-by give him a hand but unsuccessfully as well, until a group of blacksmith carriers finally do the job.This is not much in terms of plot, but what really matters is the excellent special effect used in this 1912 film. The illusion is perfect: the viewer is persuaded the clarinet truly protrudes from Arthème's skull. And seeing this man going on playing the lower half of his clarinet while the other end sticks out of his head gives this modest slapstick comedy a fascinating surrealistic tone, all the more as it is set against a strictly realistic context. For it is equally fascinating to wander with Arthème through the parks, the streets, the seafront of pre-First World War Marseilles, to wait for the streetcar with him and to see the real people of that time at work or idly walking. Neo-realism was not born in post-war Italy, it was an integral part of the very first films, often filmed in the streets, thus constituting an unintended but precious historical testimony.Fresh, well-made and funny, "Arthème avale sa clarinette" exemplifies all the talent of Ernest Servaès. Thank you Serge Bromberg for saving it from the Flames and putting it on "Retour de Flammes N° 6"