One of the things you notice about these early Mitchell & Kenyon sporting event films -- besides the fact that everyone but the actual rugby players seems to wear a hat or at least a cap and that everyone is interested in the movie camera, like the little boys at the end who jump up and down and make faces to get into the shot -- is the casual way that the cameraman pans the camera. Sometimes he pans it to get every one in the crowd of an estimated 5,000 attendees into the frame. I guess the accepted wisdom was that people would pay for a movie ticket to go spot themselves on screen.
But more than that, look at the way the cameraman moves the camera to keep the action in the match in frame. Movie cameras were big bulky monsters in this era and a panorama shot -- the full phrase was later cut down to 'pan' -- was a difficult thing to arrange. Those cameramen must have been strong men.
But more than that, look at the way the cameraman moves the camera to keep the action in the match in frame. Movie cameras were big bulky monsters in this era and a panorama shot -- the full phrase was later cut down to 'pan' -- was a difficult thing to arrange. Those cameramen must have been strong men.
