Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Life of an American Fireman

  • 19031903
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 6m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Life of an American Fireman (1903)
ShortAction
A fireman rushes into a carriage to rescue a woman from a house fire. He breaks the windowpanes and carries the woman to safety; after dangerous and uncertain moments he also saves the woman... Read allA fireman rushes into a carriage to rescue a woman from a house fire. He breaks the windowpanes and carries the woman to safety; after dangerous and uncertain moments he also saves the woman's son.A fireman rushes into a carriage to rescue a woman from a house fire. He breaks the windowpanes and carries the woman to safety; after dangerous and uncertain moments he also saves the woman's son.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
    • George S. Fleming(uncredited)
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
    • Vivian Vaughan(uncredited)
    • Arthur White(uncredited)
    • George S. Fleming(uncredited)
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
    • Vivian Vaughan(uncredited)
    • Arthur White(uncredited)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos11

    Thomas A. Edison in Uncle Josh's Nightmare (1900)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edwin S. Porter
    Edwin S. Porter
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Vivian Vaughan
    • The Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur White
    Arthur White
    • The Fireman
    • (uncredited)
    James H. White
    • Fire Chief
    • (uncredited)
      • George S. Fleming(uncredited)
      • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
      • Edwin S. Porter(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    A Corner in Wheat
    6.6
    A Corner in Wheat
    The Great Train Robbery
    7.3
    The Great Train Robbery
    L'homme à la tête en caoutchouc
    7.1
    L'homme à la tête en caoutchouc
    The One-Man Band
    7.0
    The One-Man Band
    The Waterer Watered
    7.1
    The Waterer Watered
    Leaving the Factory
    6.9
    Leaving the Factory
    Dream of a Rarebit Fiend
    6.7
    Dream of a Rarebit Fiend
    The Arrival of a Train
    7.4
    The Arrival of a Train
    A Kiss in the Tunnel
    6.1
    A Kiss in the Tunnel
    Suspense
    7.4
    Suspense
    A Photographic Contortion
    6.9
    A Photographic Contortion
    The Black Imp
    7.0
    The Black Imp

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There are actually two versions of this film. One version (the re-edit) was shown to the public as a demonstration of the earliest use of editing. It was later discovered that somebody re-edited this film in the 1930s or 1940s based on the real footage that had been salvaged. In the original version of the film, the interior point of view is shown first and completed. Then the exact same action repeating itself is shown again from the exterior.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood (1980)

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Works Well in Creating Some Excitement & Suspense
    This short feature creates a pretty good sense of excitement and suspense. It seems to have been well-crafted, although the print is not always very clear now. It could almost be called a big-budget picture for its time, due to all the vehicles and equipment that they used in it.

    The first part of the film might be the most impressive, as the line of horse-drawn fire engines with all of their equipment race to the scene of the fire. The vantage point for the camera is well-chosen, and it does well in conveying the urgency of the situation. As it goes on to show the fire-fighters battling the blaze, the settings are believable, and they also seem rather detailed, although much of the detail is now obscured by the physical deterioration of the film.

    This was an ambitious effort for 1903. It still works well, and it is also an interesting look at the past.
    helpful•9
    2
    • Snow Leopard
    • Aug 26, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1903 (United States)
      • United States
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • East Orange, New Jersey, USA
    • Production company
      • Edison Manufacturing Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 6 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Silent

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Life of an American Fireman (1903)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Life of an American Fireman (1903)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.