Cheese Mites

Plot

A gentleman is shown enjoying a modest lunch of bread and cheese while occasionally glancing at his morning newspaper through a reading glass. As he prepares to take another bite, he notices something unusual about the cheese and decides to examine it more closely with his magnifying glass. To his shock and disgust, he discovers that the cheese is teeming with countless tiny mites that resemble miniature crabs, all scurrying frantically in different directions. Horrified by this revelation, the gentleman abruptly pushes his meal away and leaves the table in revulsion. The film then provides a microscopic view of the mites, offering audiences a glimpse into a microscopic world they had never before witnessed on screen.

Historical Background

This film was created during the early days of cinema, when filmmakers were still exploring the medium's possibilities beyond simple entertainment. The year 1903 was significant in film history, with the emergence of narrative films like Edwin S. Porter's 'The Great Train Robbery.' The Edwardian era in Britain was characterized by scientific curiosity and a growing interest in education and public enlightenment. The film emerged during a period when microscopy was becoming more accessible to the general public, and there was widespread fascination with the invisible worlds revealed by scientific instruments. The Charles Urban Trading Company was at the forefront of using film for educational purposes, reflecting the era's belief in progress through science and technology.

Making Of

The production of 'Cheese Mites' required innovative techniques for the time. F. Martin Duncan and his team had to develop specialized microscopic cinematography equipment to capture the tiny mites. They built a custom rig that allowed a microscope to be attached to a film camera, a significant technical achievement in 1903. The filming of the mites presented unique challenges as the creatures needed to be kept alive and active during shooting while remaining within the camera's field of view. The team experimented with different types of cheese and environmental conditions to encourage mite activity. The staged scene with Duncan as the gentleman was filmed separately and carefully edited to create the narrative flow. The production team at Charles Urban Trading Company was particularly proud of this film as it demonstrated the educational potential of motion pictures beyond mere entertainment.

Visual Style

The cinematography in 'Cheese Mites' was revolutionary for its time, employing microscopic photography techniques that were cutting-edge in 1903. The film required custom-built equipment to attach a microscope to a motion picture camera, a significant technical achievement. The microscopic shots required careful lighting to illuminate the tiny subjects without overheating them or affecting their natural behavior. The camera work had to be extremely steady to maintain focus on the microscopic subjects, challenging given the equipment limitations of the era. The contrast between the normal-scale footage of the gentleman and the extreme close-ups of the mites created a dramatic visual effect that emphasized the revelation of the microscopic world. The film's visual language helped establish techniques that would later become standard in nature and science documentaries.

Innovations

The primary technical achievement of 'Cheese Mites' was the successful integration of microscopy with motion picture photography, creating what was likely the first microscopic film footage for public exhibition. The production team had to overcome numerous technical challenges including maintaining focus at extreme magnification, providing adequate lighting for microscopic subjects, and keeping the tiny creatures alive and active during filming. The film demonstrated innovative editing techniques by combining staged narrative footage with scientific microscopic images. The equipment developed for this film paved the way for future scientific and nature documentaries. The ability to capture and project microscopic images on a large screen was a significant breakthrough in both cinema and science communication, allowing audiences to experience worlds previously visible only to scientists with access to microscopes.

Music

As a silent film from 1903, 'Cheese Mites' had no synchronized soundtrack. During its original exhibition, it would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small orchestra in the music hall or cinema venue. The musical accompaniment would have been chosen to enhance the film's dramatic moments, likely becoming more frantic during the microscopic mite sequences and more subdued during the gentleman's meal. Some venues might have used a narrator to explain the scientific aspects of what was being shown, though this was not standard practice for all showings. The lack of recorded sound was typical of the era, with the visual spectacle carrying the entire narrative and educational weight.

Memorable Scenes

• The dramatic reveal when the gentleman looks through his magnifying glass and discovers the cheese is alive with mites, followed by the microscopic footage showing the creatures in detail

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'Cheese Mites' for its innovative approach and educational value. The trade journal 'The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger' hailed it as 'a marvel of microscopic photography' and 'a triumph of scientific cinematography.' Modern film historians recognize it as a groundbreaking work that expanded the boundaries of what cinema could achieve. Critics today appreciate its historical significance and the technical ingenuity required to produce such a film in 1903. The film is often cited in academic discussions about the origins of documentary cinema and the relationship between science and film. While some modern viewers might find the horror element quaint, the film's core achievement in revealing the microscopic world continues to be celebrated.

What Audiences Thought

Early 20th century audiences were reportedly both fascinated and repulsed by 'Cheese Mites.' The film became a popular attraction in music halls and early cinema venues, with viewers marveling at the unprecedented glimpse into the microscopic world. Many audience members were shocked to discover the creatures living in their food, leading to increased public awareness about food hygiene. The film's blend of education and mild horror proved to be an effective combination for attracting viewers. Contemporary reports suggest that the film generated considerable discussion and even some controversy regarding food safety practices. Its popularity led to it being shown extensively in Britain and internationally, helping to establish the commercial viability of educational films.

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