The Coronation of Edward VII
Encyclopedia
The Coronation of Edward VII is a 1902 short film of George Méliès and Charles Urban
which reenacts the coronation ceremony of Edward VII of the United Kingdom
. Méliès signed a contract with the Warwick Trading Company
to produce the film and was required to have it ready by 26 June, the scheduled date of the coronation. Méliès and Urban visited Westminster Abbey
in order to ensure accurate measurements. The sets were then built at Méliès' studios in Montreuil
in France. Urban, the financing partner, insisted that his own camera be used during filming. The filming was completed on time, but the coronation was postponed until 9 August. The film was delayed as well, premiering as the headliner act at the Alhambra music hall in London, then beginning a long tour of the rest of the UK and the world. As a means of focusing on the solemnity of the occasion, the cast was chosen for their similarity to the figures they portrayed.
Charles Urban
Charles Urban was an Anglo-American film producer and distributor, and one of the most significant figures in British cinema before the First World War...
which reenacts the coronation ceremony of Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. Méliès signed a contract with the Warwick Trading Company
Warwick Trading Company
The Warwick Trading Company was formed in 1898 out of the British branch of the American firm Maguire and Baucus. It was the leading film producer in Britain at the turn of the century, specialising in actuality, travel and reportage. The managing director was Charles Urban. He left the company in...
to produce the film and was required to have it ready by 26 June, the scheduled date of the coronation. Méliès and Urban visited Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in order to ensure accurate measurements. The sets were then built at Méliès' studios in Montreuil
Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis
Montreuil is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is the third most populous suburb of Paris...
in France. Urban, the financing partner, insisted that his own camera be used during filming. The filming was completed on time, but the coronation was postponed until 9 August. The film was delayed as well, premiering as the headliner act at the Alhambra music hall in London, then beginning a long tour of the rest of the UK and the world. As a means of focusing on the solemnity of the occasion, the cast was chosen for their similarity to the figures they portrayed.
External links
- The Coronation of Edward VII on Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...