This film is part of Free
The Puzzled Bather and His Animated Clothes
An entertaining early film 'trick'
Overview
The more ambitious early filmmakers were quick to test out the new medium's capacity for what we now call 'special effects'. In this 'trick' film by James Williamson, clever editing and film reversal combine to continually frustrate the bather's efforts to bathe. Williamson, one of the group of pioneering filmmakers to operate in and around Brighton at the turn of the century, included this film in his Kinematograph Catalogue of 1902, promising, among other things, "one of the funniest effects of reversing."
The filmmaking landscape of the time was full of trick films like this, testament to the public appetite for effects unachievable in any other visual medium. This example is one of many that demonstrate the wit of early film experiments.
Related
As Seen through a Telescope As Seen through a Telescope
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
A peeping Tom gets a shocking glimpse of stocking in this early take on film voyeurism.
Countryman and the Cinematograph Countryman and the Cinematograph
Comedy 1901 0 mins Silent
A country yokel gets a shock in an early example of a 'film within a film'.
Fire! Fire!
Drama 1901 5 mins Silent
A dramatic rescue from a burning building by heroic firemen is one of our most important films
Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller
Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent
Entertaining example of early 'special effects'
Grandma's Reading Glass Grandma's Reading Glass
Trick film 1900 1 mins Silent
A boy examines things through his Grandmother’s magnifying glass, and early film takes a huge step forward.
The Big Swallow The Big Swallow
Comedy 1901 1 mins Silent
A classic early film gag - and a big leap forward for a fast-evolving new art
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.