"We believe that "The Poachers" (as the film was known by the Haggar family and in the USA)"was the first chase film" ("World's Fair", August 1914). US Film historians have commented that "The Poachers helped to set the pattern for subsequent chase films in the USA". The film sold 470 copies - more than any other film on record. It was made with a tame rabbit and a coconut-shy net,on the hills above the Rhondda Valley, according to Walter Haggar,who took part in it as one of the gamekeepers. Gaumont-British marketed in for over a year: it is in their catalogues from June 1903 to July 1904.For more details, see my book, "William Haggar, fairground film-maker", to be published by Accent Press Ltd. in May 2007, and visit www.williamhaggar.co.uk
"Planktonrules'" comment of September 2006, it seems to me, is made with the benefit of far too much hindsight. William Haggar was quite isolated in South Wales, and may never have heard of Melies at the time when he made "Desperate Poaching Affray", which was, in any case, one of the longest British films when it was produced. This film was made principally for William's own fairground audience: he knew what they liked, and supplied it. "Anything good was marketed" commented his son Walter, and "The Poachers" (as it was renamed for selling in the USA) was so good that it sold 480 copies worldwide, more than any other recorded film.
"Planktonrules'" comment of September 2006, it seems to me, is made with the benefit of far too much hindsight. William Haggar was quite isolated in South Wales, and may never have heard of Melies at the time when he made "Desperate Poaching Affray", which was, in any case, one of the longest British films when it was produced. This film was made principally for William's own fairground audience: he knew what they liked, and supplied it. "Anything good was marketed" commented his son Walter, and "The Poachers" (as it was renamed for selling in the USA) was so good that it sold 480 copies worldwide, more than any other recorded film.