director: Robert Kerr
year: 1923
country: USA
history notes: Unidentified Film No. 082

This film has been identified thanks to contributions from members of the Lost FIlms community.

Fragment of an American slapstick film that parodies "Drei Weisen aus dem Morgenlande" (Three Wise Men). - Behind a stage. An extra of African-American origin with an oil lamp sits in a big, five-pointed star. - On stage. A sign on the left hand side says: "Three wise men. Act I, The Star of Hope." - Oriental scene, big starry sky. Close-up: An Arab calls out to the sky. IT: „O, Du mein holder Morgenstern...“ ("Oh, my graceful morning star...") [frame scan 1] – The stage [frame scan 2]. In the background, the big star is hoisted. - Some Arabs (in medium close-up) discover the big star. - Behind the stage, the African-American man sets the star on fire [frame scan 3]. - The audience laughs! Horror-stricken, the man escapes via the stage! - Behind the stage: a stage-hand stoops down and pricks his buttock on the sword of a Roman soldier. - Stage. In the background, behind the half-raised scenery a stage-hand carries a cloud through the image. Another worker, clearly visible, hits his head with a hammer. - The audience jeers. - An Arab (in medium close-up) [frame scan 4], IT: „Schwere Niederschläge scheinen bevorzustehen...“ ("Heavy knockouts seem to be imminent...") - Behind the stage: A Roman soldier and a stage-hand argue. At the same time, the stage-hand lets go of the ropes and the scenery comes crashing down as a result!

Length: 33m
Format: 35mm, 1.33:1
Picture/Sound: coloured, silent
Notes: Yellow and redish tints; 'Lignose 2601' & 'Lignose 507' edgecodes; German version

Source notes
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen

This is the Jack White produced Mermaid comedy EXIT CAESAR (12/9/1923). I've uploaded a scan of the synopsis page from the Educational Pictures press sheet. The part that pertains to the scene in the scans says:

"The night of the big show arrived. It opened with the great Sahara scene that would make a camel homesick. "Moonlight," the dusky porter of the opera house, set fire to the star of the East and the Wise Men's beards, and almost caused a heavenly scandal between Jupiter and Venus."

The black porter in the scans is Spencer Bell, and the wise man is Mark Jones.

The info for the film is:

EXIT CAESAR (12/9/1923) Produced by Jack White Comedies, Distributed by Educational Pictures. Directed by Robert Kerr. Two reels. Cast: Otto Fries, Mark Jones, Jack Lloyd, Ford West, Andrew Arbuckle, Gilbert Holmes, Gloria Gilmore, Peg O'Neill, Spencer Bell.