Story: Aratus (Phillips Smalley) has been working on a new experiment, one that could allow him to petrify any living object. He concocts a viable serum and adds it to a small water pool in his home, then dips a rabbit into the mixture. His experiment proves to be a success and soon, he becomes obsessed with the petrification process. As his personal life starts to wane, his wife (Lois Weber) starts to feel neglected and Aratus shows no signs of turning his attention toward her. But when an accident occurs that puts his wife in jeopardy, can Aratus use his science to save her?

Entertainment Value: This film runs about fourteen minutes, but tells a solid story, especially for the brief time allowed. The end result isn’t going to bowl anyone over, though I quite liked From Death to Life and it certainly has historical value. After all, director Lois Weber was making motion pictures before she had the right vote, which is impressive, to say the least. The costumes here are good and the story is fine, as far as fourteen minute narratives are concerned. There’s no wasted time whatsoever and both Weber and Phillips Smalley are good performers. I’d recommend this to anyone who appreciates early cinema, as it is brisk and well crafted.

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