James Williamson

Known for directing · Born 8 November 1855 · Died 18 August 1933 · aged 77 · Kirkaldy, Scotland, UK

31 credits

James A. Williamson (8 November 1855 – 18 August 1933) was a Scottish photographer and a key member of the loose association of early film pioneers dubbed the Brighton School by French film historian Georges Sadoul. He is best known for The Big Swallow (1901), a trick film with innovative use of extreme close-up, as well as Fire! and Stop Thief! (both 1901), dramas with continuity established across multiple shots.

Known for

The Big Swallow

1901

Fire!

1901

Stop Thief!

1901

An Interesting Story

1904

The Little Match Seller

1902

Attack on a China Mission

1900

Our New Errand Boy

1905

Flying the Foam and Some Fancy Diving

1906

Are You There?

1901

Lady Cyclists

1899

Magic Extinguisher

1901

Early Fashions on Brighton Pier

1898

Acting (1)

1905Our New Errand BoygrocerFilm

Directing (27)

2023Early British Films from the Filmoteca de Catalunya 1897-1909DirectorFilm

1910The History of a Butterfly: A Romance of Insect LifeDirectorFilm

1908£100 RewardDirectorFilm

1907The Village Fire BrigadeDirectorFilm

1906Flying the Foam and Some Fancy DivingDirectorFilm

1906The Miner's DaughterDirectorFilm

1905Our New Errand BoyDirectorFilm

1905The Polite LunaticDirectorFilm

1904An Interesting StoryDirectorFilm

1904An Affair of HonourDirectorFilm

1904Gabriel Grub the Surly SextonDirectorFilm

1904The Old ChoristerDirectorFilm

1902The Little Match SellerDirectorFilm

1902A Reservist Before and After the WarDirectorFilm

1901The Big SwallowDirector, Director of PhotographyFilm

1901Fire!DirectorFilm

1901Stop Thief!DirectorFilm

1901Are You There?DirectorFilm

1901Magic ExtinguisherDirectorFilm

1901The Puzzled Bather and His Animated ClothesDirectorFilm

1899Lady CyclistsDirectorFilm

1898Early Fashions on Brighton PierDirectorFilm

1898Two Naughty Boys Teasing the CobblerDirectorFilm

1898Washing the SweepDirector, WriterFilm

1898The Clown BarberDirector, Producer, CinematographyFilm

1898Gymnasts on Parallel BarsDirectorFilm

1898Sloper's Visit to BrightonDirector, WriterFilm

Production (3)

1909The Boy and the ConvictExecutive ProducerFilm

1900Attack on a China MissionProducer, Director, Writer, Director of PhotographyFilm

1896Devil's Dyke Fun FairProducer, Cinematography, DirectorFilm