Life of an American Fireman

19031903
Not RatedNot Rated
6m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

Short Action

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)

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Photos11

Thomas A. Edison in Uncle Josh's Nightmare (1900)

Top cast

Edit

Edwin S. Porter

Policeman
(uncredited)

Vivian Vaughan

The Girl
(uncredited)

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

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

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