Corbett-Fitzsimmons Title Fight (1897)
In the National Film Registry
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19m
1897 boxing bout filmed live, considered 1st feature film despite missing footage.
While audiences today are accustomed to feature-length films, the Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight (1897) was a revelation for its time in film history. Capturing the entirety of a heavyweight boxing championship, this silent documentary stretched past the one-minute limitations of existing technology.
This innovation came from filmmaker Enoch J. Rector, who employed a new wide-gauge film format and a three-camera system. This was experimental in every sense, pushing the boundaries of what film could achieve.
The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight wasn't just long, it was also a technical marvel. Shot with a widescreen aspect ratio, it offered a more immersive viewing experience than earlier peephole machines. This experimentation with format foreshadowed future advancements in film technology.
Though only fragments of the original film remain, the Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit of early cinema. It dared to be different, paving the way for the narrative and technical possibilities that came to define the art form.
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