Blacksmith Scene
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| Blacksmith Scene | |
|---|---|
 Frame from Blacksmith Scene (1893) |
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| Directed by | William Dickson |
| Starring | John Ott Charles Kayser |
| Cinematography | William Heise |
| Release date(s) | 1893 |
| Running time | 34 secs |
| Language | silent |
| IMDb profile | |
Blacksmith Scene is an early example of the Kinetoscope process, shot in Thomas Edison's Black Maria studio. It is historically significant as the first Kinetoscope film shown in public exhibition (May 9, 1893) and remains the earliest surviving complete motion picture. This silent black and white film shows three blacksmiths (portrayed by Edison employees) crafting a tool and later partaking in a cool drink. It was directed by William K. L. Dickson. As made available by the Edison National Historic Site, under the administration of the National Park Service, the film runs 34 seconds—presently a mystery, as at the time it was made, the Edison-Dickson Kinetograph camera with which it was shot could supposedly take films no longer than 20 seconds in length, even running at its slowest speed.
In the early days of cinema, directors typically recorded everyday events such as the arrival of ships or workers leaving a factory. These short films were called "actualities." Later, with the advent of better equipment (which could record for longer), directors began to introduce more complicated narratives into film.
Blacksmith Scene is one of the earliest extant films, and has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. It is the earliest-made film to receive the honor.
