Attack on a China Mission

Attack on a China Mission is a 1900 British short silent drama film, directed by James Williamson, showing some sailors coming to the rescue of the wife of a missionary killed by Boxers. The fourshot film, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, was innovative in content and technique. It incorporated a reverseangle cut and at least two dozen performers, whereas most dramatic films of the era consisted of singlefigure casts and very few shots. Film historian John Barnes claims Attack on a China Mission had the most fully developed narrative of any English film up to that time.

The film was premiered at Hove Town Hall on November17,190019001117 , where, according to Michael Brooke, it, was such a success that the audience fruitlessly demanded a repeat screening there and then.Just under half of the original 230 feet of footage survives, but, according to Michael Brooke, it includes material from all four shots, and, despite some obvious trims the initial forcing of the gate is missing, and the wifes appeal on the balcony to the sailors must surely have lasted more than one second, enough remains to give a good account of what the original audience must have seen. ........

Source: Wikipedia