First British Film Epic?
by A.J. George, 81 Washbrook Rd, Rushden, Northants.

[this article, an early typescript, found in 2024, was originally written by Arthur, for publication in 'Biocam' magazine.]

The mention of the 1913 film, "THE BATTLE of WARTERLOO" in Biocam's "Self Portrait in Sound" brought back memories of my schooldays. [perhaps the magazine where this was first reproduced?]

At the age of 6, I saw this film being made at Irthlingborough (pop5000) in Northamptonshire, on what is now the A6 between Bedford and Kettering.

My Father was Station Master and wagon loads of Theatrical Props came by Rail, lots of wooden cannon etc and particularly Napoleon's Coach which stood for at least a day outside our home.

Of course, I climbed aboard and sat in the Seats of the Mighty. The Coach was burned in the Film and the dismal fire stained chassis was returned when it was all over.

The enclosed Photocopy [not with this copy] of the 14 page Souvenir of The Battle of Waterloo was made from an original, also the announcement of the Trade Review at the PALLADIUM 8th July 1913. These were loaned to me by Mr Francis Burdette (ex Cinema Operator and keen Amateur Photographer) who tells me he helped stuff the hay into haystack shapes made of Chicken Wire net, which you see burning on page 11.

Note: no photocopy was with these notes. Irthlingborough Historical Society had found pieces of the film in 2002, and this eventually led them to reproduce a short piece of film, and a reproduction of the Souvenir of the filming in 2013. A copy has been kindly given to add here.

The 'Iron' Duke	The Emperor Napoleon

Eve of the Battle	At Close Quarters

Napoleon's H.Q. were in a Farm near my school and one day I was in trouble for being late as filming was in progress at the entrance.

Napoleon's HQ at La Belle Alliance	Wellington's messenger escapes
Charge of the 92nd Lancers	A Perilous Fall
A Fight for a Gun	Burning the Haystacks
Meeting of Wellington and Bulcher	Napoleon & staff reviewing the battle
All Over	What will France think?

Real Horse Soldiers, Lancers or Hussars came from Weedon Barracks, 200 unemployed were sent from Northampton and slept on the floor of a Working Men’s club. Boot & Shoe Workers from local Factories were dressed in Uniforms and took part in the Battle scenes.

When shown in local towns, Rushden & Wellingborough, the film was a huge joke when "dead" men were recognised puffing a surreptitious Woodbine (5 a Penny in a paper packet) and one turned his head and laughed.

We kids were soon playing War Games with wooden swords and crude triangular newspaper hats ... English worn fore and aft .... French worn cross ways, ear to ear, like "Old Nap".

The Farm mentioned once accommodated a "GAF", a Travelling Theatre with wooden walls and Canvas roof and Oil footlights. A few years later a Cinema was built, The Picturedrome (locally known as the Red Barn). The first film shown there was "Beau Brocade" by Baroness Orkzy? - this Cinema is now the Civic Hall. Recently a Fire Station has also been erected where films were made.

About 6 films were made at Irthlingborough. One had an Eastern theme, Turbans and flowing robes etc. Another had a scene of two men fighting on the parapet of the Ancient Bridge with a Camera Man turning away in the meadow as they fell into the River Nene. On another occasion a girl swam the river to escape the "baddies". Can Biocam Identify these productions? [the magazine this article was sent to]

The last film "Called to the Colours" was made during the Kaisers War. An Officer met a Nurse off a train at our Station. I was kept in, or might have been a troublesome extra.

The absence of Actors names is noticeable, in those early days they preferred to remain unknown, Stage Managers might have refused to employ them. There was much the same attitude at the start of Radio Broadcasting.

The Director or Producer was a man named WESTON, said to have become Stunt man later... in America.

But for the 1914-18 war, Irthlingborough might have equalled Elstree.

'I never saw these' films, being too young to walk 4 miles each way, or ride a cycle. This was before a bus service and one would not see more than 6 different cars in a day. There was a local Gas Works but no Electric Mains.

How I would like to show a 16mm copy of The Battle in Artleburgh (Domesday Book name) and round about. But alas, no trace of it is known to exist. Scrap Cinema film used to be made into Celluloid Bicycle Pumps at Leicester.

A J George