Fire!
Encyclopedia
Fire! is a 1901] British short silent
drama film
, directed by James Williamson
, showing the occupants of a house in Hove being rescued by the local fire service. This five tableaux film, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "was one of the very first films to make use of multiple shots edited together to create a chronological sequence propelling a coherent narrative along. Williamson also creates suspense by showing the audience the extent of the fire in the first shot, which heightens the sense of urgency as the fire crew (who lack this privileged information) leave the station and rush to put it out." It was released along with Stop Thief!
(1901), "indicating the direction Williamson would take over the next few years, as he refined this new film grammar to tell stories of unprecedented narrative and emotional sophistication." "Brooke also states that it was, "a major influence on a pioneering American film, Edwin S. Porter
's Life of an American Fireman
(1903), which borrowed Williamson's narrative model and developed it further by introducing close-ups."
(1900).
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
, directed by James Williamson
James Williamson (film pioneer)
James Williamson was an early film developer and film director.-Biography:...
, showing the occupants of a house in Hove being rescued by the local fire service. This five tableaux film, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "was one of the very first films to make use of multiple shots edited together to create a chronological sequence propelling a coherent narrative along. Williamson also creates suspense by showing the audience the extent of the fire in the first shot, which heightens the sense of urgency as the fire crew (who lack this privileged information) leave the station and rush to put it out." It was released along with Stop Thief!
Stop Thief!
Stop Thief! is a 1901 British short silent drama film, directed by James Williamson, showing tramp getting his come-uppance after stealing some meat from a butcher and his dogs. "One of the first true 'chase' films made not just in Britain but anywhere else", according to Michael Brooke of BFI...
(1901), "indicating the direction Williamson would take over the next few years, as he refined this new film grammar to tell stories of unprecedented narrative and emotional sophistication." "Brooke also states that it was, "a major influence on a pioneering American film, Edwin S. Porter
Edwin S. Porter
Edwin Stanton Porter was an American early film pioneer, most famous as a director with Thomas Edison's company...
's Life of an American Fireman
Life of an American Fireman
Life of an American Fireman is a short, silent film Edwin S. Porter made for the Edison Manufacturing Company. It was shot late in 1902 and distributed early in 1903...
(1903), which borrowed Williamson's narrative model and developed it further by introducing close-ups."
Production
The director made the film at a derelict house called Ivy Lodge in Hove, where he had previously shot Attack on a China MissionAttack on a China Mission
Attack on a China Mission is a 1900 British short silent drama film, directed by James Williamson, showing some sailors coming to the rescue of the wife of a missionary killed by Boxers...
(1900).