Living Wigan

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Living Wigan
LivingWigan.jpg
Screenshot from the film
Directed by James Kenyon
Sagar Mitchell
Produced byJames Kenyon
Sagar Mitchell
CinematographyJames Kenyon
Sagar Mitchell
Production
company
Release date
  • 1902 (1902)
Running time
2 minute
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language Silent

Living Wigan is a 1902 short silent documentary film directed by James Kenyon and Sagar Mitchell, showing street life and a steam tram in Wigan town centre in August 1902. The film, which premiered in Wigan Town Hall before the Coronation celebrations of King Edward VII in 1902. It formed part of the two-hour film show Live in Wigan. [1] The tram featured in the film was run by Wigan Corporation Tramways. [2]

"This film buzzes with the energy and vibrancy of street life in the city," according to the BFI, and the filmmakers, "are seen introducing a comic moment into a possibly more formal opening event," and "actively encouraged the audience to respond to the camera with play acting, comic moments - with the crowd not quite knowing if to respond to the camera or concentrating on the curious event behind them," with, "a farcical moment of a guy splashing water at the crowds with a hosepipe." [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "The Mitchell and Kenyon films". BFI Education. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  2. "Living Wigan (1902)". British Film Institute . Retrieved 14 November 2020.