This film is part of Free
Snowballs (1901)
Young scamps launch a snowball attack on a hapless bobby.
Overview
One of the rare fiction titles in the BFI's Mitchell and Kenyon collection, this is a comic sketch which takes place in a snowy exterior against a stage backdrop. Some boys make mischief by ambushing passers-by with snowballs. It's not clear whether the snow is real, but it's certainly convincingly powdery as the fight gets increasingly boisterous. The policeman doesn't come off well.
This film has been labelled as from Glasgow, but we have no clues as to who commissioned it, who the players were or where the filming might have taken place. Mitchell and Kenyon had made some fiction films on a stage attached to their photographic shop in Blackburn and had an arrangement to borrow costumes from E.H. Page, proprietor of the town's Lyceum Theatre. It's likely that the stage scenery came from the same source. At this early date it wasn't possible to film in the low lighting conditions of a theatre, so this would have had to be shot outdoors.
Related
Arrest of Goudie (1901) Arrest of Goudie (1901)
Crime 1901 6 mins Silent Location: Berry St, Liverpool
Crimewatch Mitchell and Kenyon style, in the first ever film to recreate a true crime.
Black Diamonds - the Collier's Daily Life (1904) Black Diamonds - the Collier's Daily Life (1904)
Non-Fiction 1904 3 mins Silent
The only two surviving scenes from an amazing Edwardian film about the work of Britain's coalminers.
Lizars, Edinburgh Lizars, Edinburgh
Comedy 1904 2 mins Silent Location: Edinburgh
Mitchell and Kenyon capture comedian Tom E. Murray at Lizars Theatre in Edinburgh on 12 December 1904.
Mr Moon (1901) Mr Moon (1901)
Advert 1901 3 mins Silent
Rare production footage of an early 'trick' film with a famous music hall performer.
Sporting Colliers and the Bobby (c.1901) Sporting Colliers and the Bobby (c.1901)
Comedy 1901 2 mins Silent
A policeman breaks up a gambling den, but is caught pocketing the proceeds.
Glasgow Student Rag Glasgow Student Rag
Amateur film 1968 6 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
Get your freak on with the students at Glasgow’s RAG Weeks in the 1960s.
Our Public Parks Our Public Parks
1947 20 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
A tour of Glasgow's green spaces
Glasgow Territorials Glasgow Territorials
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
It's a wet and gloomy day in Glasgow and the locals are out in force for the annual Territorials' Church Parade.
Night Mail Night Mail
Documentary 1936 24 mins Location: Euston Sta
The flagship of the GPO Film Unit's output and a cornerstone of British documentary, featuring music by Benjamin Britten and the verse of W.H. Auden.
Heavy Industries Heavy Industries
School programme and Educational film 1936 7 mins Location: Glasgow
Splendour and grace - steel and ships made in Glasgow
Tank Bank's Tour through Scotland Tank Bank's Tour through Scotland
Non-Fiction 1918 15 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
The 'Tank Bank' tours through Scotland, selling War Bonds, raising money for the war effort and boosting morale
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.