The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight

N.p. Veriscope, 1897.

(Item #1608) The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight. Enoch J. Rector, James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, director, subjects.

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight

N.p. Veriscope, 1897. Vintage fragment from a 63mm film print of the 1897 boxing match between "Gentleman" Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons. The fragment consists of six frames depicting the fighters in a clinch. At over 100 minutes, the film is the first feature film release in world history, and, with an aspect ratio of 1.65:1, the first widescreen film ever produced. Though fragments such as this survive, the film in its entirety is considered lost.

A five frame fragment is held the National Media Museum in the UK, and approximately 19 minutes are available for viewing, OCLC locates no fragments in institutions.

The heavy weight title bout took place on March 17, 1897 in Carson City, Nevada, which legalized boxing specifically to host this fight, beginning the long and storied relationship between the Silver State and the sweet science. Boxing was already a popular subject for filmmakers, however, these were short films generally of single rounds. Using the new Latham loop technology, which he claimed to have invented, director Rector shot the Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight continuously using three adjacent ringside cameras, with each camera capable of shooting six minutes of footage before reloading. In total approximately 11,000 feet of film where shot over all 14 rounds of the contest. In addition to length, the film distinguished itself from the boxing films of the time by presenting an introduction to the fight (by former champion John L. Sullivan and his manager), the fighters entering the ring in their robes, the fighters resting between rounds, and, in later releases, the immediate aftermath of the fight, all of which are standards of boxing broadcasts to this day.

On release, the film became a sensation and gained wide and lasting popularity, proving the financial viability of feature length films, as well increasing the public's interest in both motion pictures and boxing, becoming a landmark in the history of film and sports.

Also included is a flyer for a showing of the film on September 21, 1897 at the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, PA, including a brief synopsis of the action.

Film print 2.5 x 7.25 inches (6 x 18 cm). Very Good, with chips to some of the sprocket holes on the right edge and to the upper right corner of one frame, with a vertical scratch running through the left edge of each frame.

Flyer 4.25 x 7.25 (11 x 18 cm). Near Fine. Light horizontal and vertical creasing from being folded, light edgewear.

National Film Registry.
(Item #1608)

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight