Significance of films

Although not as prolific as many of his contemporaries, James Williamson played a huge role in shaping film history. Williamson's experience as a magic lanternist and showman saw him introduce the idea of showing a programme of films under a unifying theme. Furthermore, he developed the technique of interspersing title slides throughout his films and invented the technology to make this possible. Williamson's influence was huge, both in terms of technique and manufacturing technology.

Narrative Techniques

James Williamson was a chief pioneer of film narrative and in Attack on a China Mission (1901) he became the first director to cut from one shot to another for dramatic effect. This, essentially, was the origin of video editing and is further demonstrated in Fire! (1901) in which narrative action is moved along in sequence by cutting between various shots. Likewise, in Stop Thief (1901) Williamson invented the film chase over more than one shot.

Realism

As Martin Sopocy asserts, James Williamson laid the foundation for film realism. In 1902 and 1903 he made a trio of films about the hardship war creates for the dependents of soldiers: The Soldiers Return (1902), A Reservist Before and After the War (1902) and Wait Till Jack Comes Home (1903). In A Reservist Before and After the War the pleasant pre-war scene is powerfully juxtaposed with a post-war scene of sickness, poverty and unemployment. This stark social realism became a central theme of British cinema.

Trick Films

Catalogue for Williamson Kinematograph Company, MF000319

James Williamson worked closely with George Albert Smith and both filmmakers hugely influenced the development of trick photography. Trick films used editing techniques to create special effects and optical illusions. In The Puzzled Bather and his Animated Clothes (1902) Williamson utilised reversing to make it appear that a man undressing kept being thwarted by his clothes redressing him. Reversing is essentially playing a portion of film backwards.

Other techniques employed by Williamson include manipulation of negatives, double exposure and interruptions or variation in cranking speed. In The Little Match Seller (1903) Williamson used superimposition to create the impression of a transparent angel.

Actors and Setting

Williamson's approach to the use of actors and film sets was simple in form yet radical for its time. Williamson would act in many of his films himself and would often recruit friends and family to appear alongside him. This reflects the stylistic shift within film from pictorialism to naturalism as the approach to acting was much more restrained. Furthermore, Williamson would often use celebrities and well-known figures in his films. For instance, the professional comedian Sam Dalton appeared in a number of films including the The Big Swallow, Are You There? and The Magic Extinguisher (all 1901).

Williamson's attitude to setting was also highly original. His film Fire! (1903) was made on location with real fire brigade staff and apparatus. Likewise, Soldiers Return (1902) was partly filmed at the actual Brighton workhouse.