Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze

Plot

In this pioneering short film, Fred Ott, an assistant at Thomas Edison's laboratory, is shown standing before the camera. He takes a pinch of snuff from a small box and brings it to his nose. After a moment of preparation, Ott lets out a dramatic, exaggerated sneeze that is captured in its entirety by the camera. The entire sequence lasts approximately five seconds and documents a single, continuous action from start to finish. This simple yet historic moment represents one of the earliest examples of capturing human motion on film for public exhibition.

Historical Background

This film was produced during the pioneering era of motion picture technology, just months after the Edison company had successfully demonstrated their Kinetoscope system. The early 1890s marked the birth of commercial cinema, with Edison's laboratory competing with inventors like the Lumière brothers in France and others to develop viable motion picture technology. The United States was experiencing rapid industrialization and technological innovation, with Edison himself being one of the era's most celebrated inventors. The film was created before the advent of projected cinema, when motion pictures could only be viewed individually through peep-show devices. This period also saw the rise of vaudeville and other forms of popular entertainment that would eventually be supplemented and sometimes replaced by motion pictures.

Making Of

The film was created during the early days of motion picture development at Thomas Edison's laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey. William Heise, Edison's principal cameraman, operated the camera using Edison's Kinetograph camera. The Black Maria studio, where it was filmed, was a cramped, tar-paper covered building that could rotate on tracks to follow the sun's movement throughout the day. Fred Ott, who worked as Edison's assistant, was chosen for the role because of his distinctive appearance and willingness to perform for the camera. The production was part of Edison's strategy to create content for his Kinetoscope viewing machines, which were being installed in penny arcades across major cities. The entire process was experimental, with Edison and his team still determining what kinds of short films would appeal to early audiences.

Visual Style

The cinematography represents the most basic techniques of early motion picture photography. The camera was stationary, positioned at eye level to capture Fred Ott from the waist up. The lighting was entirely natural, coming through the open roof of the Black Maria studio. The composition is simple and centered, with Ott positioned squarely in the frame. The camera operated at approximately 16 frames per second, which was standard for early Edison films. The black and white imagery shows the limitations of early film stock, with high contrast and limited detail. Despite these technical constraints, the framing successfully captures the entire sneeze action clearly and effectively.

Innovations

This film represents several important technical achievements in early cinema. It was produced using Edison's Kinetograph camera, one of the first practical motion picture cameras. The film was shot on 35mm celluloid film, which became the industry standard for decades. The successful capture of a rapid, spontaneous action like a sneeze demonstrated the camera's ability to record movement with sufficient clarity. The film's existence as a copyrighted work established legal precedents for motion picture protection. The production process at the Black Maria studio, with its rotating design to maximize natural light, was an innovative solution to the technical challenges of early filmmaking. The film also demonstrated the viability of creating brief, self-contained entertainment pieces for the new medium.

Memorable Scenes

• The entire five-second sequence showing Fred Ott taking snuff and sneezing dramatically, captured in a single continuous take that represents one of cinema's first documented human actions.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of the film is difficult to trace, as film criticism as we know it did not exist in 1894. However, newspaper reports from the period indicate that Edison's Kinetoscope films, including the sneeze picture, were received with wonder and curiosity by the public. Modern film historians and critics universally recognize the film as a landmark achievement in cinema history. It is frequently cited in scholarly works about early cinema and is regarded as essential viewing for anyone studying the origins of motion pictures. Critics today appreciate its simplicity and historical importance, viewing it not as entertainment but as a crucial document of film's birth.

What Audiences Thought

Early audiences who viewed the film through Kinetoscope machines reportedly found it fascinating and novel. The ability to see a recorded human action, no matter how simple, was considered miraculous in 1894. The sneeze, with its sudden and dramatic nature, was particularly effective at demonstrating the power of the new medium. Audiences paid approximately 25 cents to view a series of short films, including this one, through individual viewing machines. The film's brief length and clear action made it ideal for repeat viewing, which was common as patrons often watched the same films multiple times to fully appreciate the technology.

You Might Also Like