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MEN BOXING

(Edison Manufacturing Company, © USA, 1891)

Produced by: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise

Runtime: 0:27 min.

Rated: U.

Illo Tempore Film Awards history

Edison Manufacturing Company (William K.L. Dickson, William Heise) - Nominee, Best Picture

William K.L. Dickson - Nominee, Best Cinematographer

William K.L. Dickson - Winner, Best Breakthrough (producer, cinematographer)


Review by Aaron Time

    Boxing has represented a popular form of entertainment during the last decades of the 19th century, and in an era when there was an opportunity to watch it without having to push in in order to get a better view, the film producers were quick to supply that gap in the market.

    Men Boxing is innovative in its own way. First of all is the first action film to be produced, and thus was supposed to have the quality to attract the viewers towards this genre. Unfortunately it is more disappointing then many would expect, even from a film made as early as 1891. The two men are fully dressed and are just giving the illusion of fighting. During the entire film there is no kick recorded, which comes to confirm the resentfulness to fight of both actors. 

    The match looks as if it was carefully rehearsed, which may well be the case considering that Dickson and Heise were still experimenting their new invention. Sudden movements were unnecessary. What the two film-makers wanted to see was constancy, and they obtained that in Men Boxing. The slow motion, and the illusion of the adrenaline in the bodies of the two fighters, intertwined to create a simple expression of emotion in a half minute film.

    The short was nominated for 3 Illo Tempore Film Awards, including Best Picture.

    The choice of dark background, as with most of the films of 1891, gave it an interesting touch. There was a need to erupt, to get light. The passiveness of the two boxers reveals that light is tougher to achieve, but probably it is not fighting which is going to bring it at the end. Men Boxing can be emblematic if one wants to consider it as such, especially since it carries all over WKLD's signature.

    William K.L. Dickson received his only individual award for his novel contribution to film through Men Boxing. His role as a producer and cinematographer of one of the first film in a popular genre ensured that the Best Breakthrough Award would be picked up by the No.1 in America's and world's movie history.

    The short remains an interesting piece of work to come across to. It teaches what to do and what not to do in an action film. 

★☆☆☆☆

 


Copyright © Illo Tempore Film Awards 2003. The copyrights of the pictures are kept with the authors.

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