| Mary Jane's Mishap | |
|---|---|
Screenshot from the film |
|
| Directed by | George Albert Smith |
| Produced by | George Albert Smith |
| Starring | Laura Bayley |
| Cinematography | George Albert Smith |
| Studio | G.A. Smith |
| Distributed by | Warwick Trading Company |
| Release date(s) | February 1903 |
| Running time | 4 mins 8 secs |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | Silent |
Mary Jane's Mishap; or, Don't Fool with the Paraffin is a 1903 British short silent comedy film, directed by George Albert Smith, depicting Disaster follows when housemaid Mary Jane uses paraffin to light the kitchen stove. The trick film, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "is an example of Smith's interest in cinematic effects - including, here, the use of superimposition to suggest ghosts," which, "is notable for its then sophisticated mix of wide establishing shots and medium close-ups," and, "also contains two wipes to denote a change of scene."[1][2]
A housemaid (played by Mrs. Smith) starts a fire in the kitchen stove by putting paraffin on it. It causes an explosion that sends her up the chimney. She emerges out of the chimney pot on top of the house and her scattered remains fall to the ground. Later, Mary Jane's ghost rises from her grave to find her paraffin can and once she finds it, she goes to her final resting place.