|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Like her Diamond Jubilee four years earlier, Queen Victoria's funeral
provided the kind of national event which helped the fledgling film industry
find its feet. Such ‘event’ films which, as distinct from
other actualities which concentrate on more everyday scenes, contain the
roots of newsreel film. The momentous solemnity of the occasion was covered
by several film companies. They did so for reasons of patriotism, and
indeed for posterity, capturing the end of an era. But they were also
businessmen, and as the industry was developing, a topical event of global
importance such as this was as close to a guaranteed money-maker as could
be imagined. The potential audiences were huge. This was one of a number
of films taken of the funeral procession by Hepworth and Co. Its leader,
Cecil Hepworth committed all of the small resources at his disposal to
cover the route at various points, and the resulting sales secured the
future of his company – a major player in the industry for many
years thereafter. The company worked 24 hour shifts for several days to
process all the orders that came in for film of the funeral from around
the world. |
|
