Living Wigan (1902)

Directed by

Sagar Mitchell

Genre

documentary film, silent film

Country

United Kingdom

Runtime

2 min

Rating

5.6 of 10 from 5 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This short silent film shows street life in a town center in 1902. It captures people and a steam tram, with some people playing to the camera. There is a comic moment when someone sprays water at the crowd with a hose.

livelyplayfulhistoriceverydaymood-lightobservationalunscriptedbrief

What happens

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. The tram featured in the film was run by Wigan Corporation Tramways. "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." (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• Arrival of the Troops (1902)
• Indian Review: Arrival of the Royal Parties (1902)
• March Past of the Troops (1902)
• The Donkey Derby (1902)
• Three Cheers for the King (1902)
• Royal Procession Leaving the Horse Guards (1902)
• Procession on London Bridge (1902)
• Review of the Guards (1902)