Quartile rating: 5/10 · 1 rating
While his aide continuously turns the handle of the bellows, keeping hot a small furnace in front of him, a blacksmith is pounding a piece of metal on an anvil, then plunges the shaft into a tub of water, causing a cloud of vapor in the process.
An 1895 short actuality film capturing a blacksmith at work — there is essentially no plot to speak of, just a documentary record of a craft. Acting is minimal and naturalistic by necessity. The cinematography is historically notable as an early example of the medium capturing motion and practical work, earning a slight edge for its time. Novelty reflects its place as an early cinematic document, though it is one of many similar actuality films of the era. The ending is abrupt and unremarkable, as expected for the format.