The Lost World of Mitchell & Kenyon

James Kenyon and Sagar Mitchell are obscure and relatively historically unimportant filmmakers compared to fellow pioneers like Cecil Hepworth, R.W. Paul, G.A. Smith and James Williamson. But, I'm interested in seeing any films this old--as early as the beginning of the twentieth century. Many filmmakers took to making local programs like these in the beginning, most of which are now lost and forgotten, and some of which continue at small festivals, but this is special--this program and its follow-up "Electric Edwardians" broadcast nationally and released on DVD to a wide audience.

The films are largely short actualities like those made by the Lumière brothers (including workers leaving factories), in addition to a few meager early attempts at story films. Fashions, sports, working conditions and other sociological aspects of the times are covered in the series through the films. They are interesting as a record of bygone days, and they are interesting relics in themselves. There isn't, however, very much one can say about them--and this series becomes repetitive, at times, elongating the program into three parts. The tracking down of descendants of people who happened to appear in the films is somewhat interesting at first, but becomes tiresome. Likewise, the story of the discovery of the nitrate and the restoration and preservation of it is also interesting, and one has an opportunity in each episode to hear it. Nevertheless, it's a good program, offering a variety of subjects for various viewer interests, as the presenters examine nearly every angle of these first films.