John Seal
Men haven't changed much since Edison shot 'Blacksmith Scene' in 1893 (interestingly featuring the title card 'Blacksmith Scene #1' on the first volume of the Treasures From American Film Archives series--does this mean there was a sequel?). Here we get to enjoy thirty seconds of men pounding things: a glowing hot piece of metal on an anvil, an ice cold bottle of beer, and...well, you don't actually see them pounding anything else, but these are some pretty macho looking dudes and you can imagine what they enjoy doing on the weekend. It's not exactly the most exciting plot, but as this was the first dramatic film ever made, it only seems fair to cut it some slack. Too bad its double bill partner, a similar short focusing on horseshoes, doesn't seem to have survived.
MrCritical1
Thomas Edison and William K.L. Dickson's "Blacksmith Scene," was the first film shown publicly in 1893.This short is a brief look at 3 workers as they go about their daily ritual. Great piece of work for its time.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.10* (10* Rating System)
boblipton
Of course, it's easy to be the best, when you're the only one, and this picture, as the first film released commercially by the Edison company -- there are a couple of test films that date from 1891 -- qualifies. Considering the standards of the time, it's also pretty good, demonstrating motion and composition in a decent fashion.
dfarmbrough
The two men hammering away at nondescript pieces of metal is a remarkable way of demonstrating the then new art of cinematography. The prints we see today have suffered from indifferent duplication, years of neglect, and lackadaisical 'restoration' and must be viewed in this context. There is an unwillingness to adjust the speed of these films in video transfers which beggars belief, so the speed will also appear unreasonably slow. Nevertheless this is a good way of demonstrating how tonal contrast, the fluidity of movement of the human body, and the interaction of two men with one another can be captured by a mechanical device. If anyone can tell me what the man on the left is making, I should be most grateful
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