Movie spotlight
The Kiss in the Tunnel
Produced and directed by George Albert Smith, the film shows a couple sharing a brief kiss as their train passes through a tunnel. The Kiss in the Tunnel is said to mark the beginnings of narrative editing. It is in fact, two films in one, hence the 2 min length. Firstly, the G.A. Smith film here for the central cheeky scene in the carriage. The train view footage however is Cecil Hepworth's work, entitled 'View From An Engine Front - Shilla Mill Tunnel', edited into two halves in order to provide a visual narrative of the train entering the tunnel before the kiss and then leaving afterwards. More information about the filming of the phantom train ride can be found searching for the Hepworth film separately.
Insights
Plot Summary
This silent short film depicts a couple stealing a passionate kiss on a train journey. However, their romantic moment is interrupted when the train enters a dark tunnel, and then abruptly resumes as they emerge back into daylight, seemingly unnoticed by other passengers.
Critical Reception
As one of the earliest examples of narrative filmmaking, 'The Kiss in the Tunnel' is historically significant for its simple storytelling and use of editing to create a sense of continuity and narrative. It was a novelty that delighted early cinema audiences.
What Reviewers Say
A foundational piece of early cinema history.
Notable for its use of narrative structure and editing.
A charming and simple glimpse into early filmmaking techniques.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this film is not available due to its age.
Fun Fact
This film is often cited as one of the first films to use the trick of "intercutting" or "cross-cutting" to show simultaneous events, in this case, the kiss inside the tunnel and the outside world continuing unaware.
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