Lewin Fitzhamon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 June 1869 |
| Died | 10 October 1961(1961-10-10) (aged 92) |
Lewin "Fitz" Fitzhamon (5 June 1869 – 10 October 1961) was a British filmmaker, who worked asCecil Hepworth's principal director in the early decades of the twentieth century. His best-known film isRescued by Rover (1905). Other directing credits includeAn Englishman Trip to Paris from London (1904),That Fatal Sneeze (1907),The Man and his Bottle (1908) andA New Hat for Nothing (1910). In total, he directed around 400 films.[1][2]
Lewis Henry Dell Fitzhamon was born on 5 June 1869, the son of the Rector of Aldingham.[1][2] He received his early education atRossall School but was forced to receive home tuition when, having contracted diphtheria and rheumatic fever, he was unable to return to school.[1][2]
Fitzhamon began his career as amusic hall performer. He became involved in filmmaking in 1900, working with film pioneerRobert W. Paul. He gained experience in both directing and acting, with credits in films such asBriton vs. Boer (1900).[3]
Cecil Hepworth recruited Fitzhamon as astage manager in 1904, to replacePercy Stow, who had left to establish his own film company,Clarendon. One of the first film he directed in 1904 wasAn Englishman Trip to Paris from London, a precursor of travel films, where the main actor was filmed on location in London and Paris. Fitzhamon continued working with Hepworth until 1912, gaining writing, acting and directing credits. One of his most popular films wasRescued by Rover (1905). Fitzhamon loved animals, producing many other films with an animal in a heroic role, such asDog Outwits the Kidnappers andDumb Sagacity.[3]
He directedPrehistoric Peeps (1905), the first depiction of onscreendinosaurs in film history, portrayed by actors insidepantomime models.[4]
Fitzhamon, like Hepworth, had an interest inspecial effects, producing many "trick films", includingSister Mary Jane's Top Note (1907) andThe Man and his Bottle (1908). Luke McKernan has described how many of his films had "no concern except to get the central trick effect or plot idea across, but their very lack of pretension makes for pleasurable viewing now".[3] He had a wide and varied output, covering westerns, fantasy films, comedies, chase films and melodramas.[3]
In 1912, Fitzhamon established his own film company, Fitz Films. He also worked as a freelance director, for various producers. He published two novels:The Rival Millionaires (1904) andThe Vixen (1915).[3]
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