Smith, shortly after he first acquired a camera," and is also, "one of the earliest films to show a clear awareness of its visual impact when projected."

[1] It was filmed in a single shot on 24 July 1897 in front of Race Hill Mill on the South Downs, north of Brighton Racecourse, and then re-filmed on 24 September - it is probably this latter version that has survived.

[3] More generally, comedic violence between working-class stereotypes was also a feature of Victorian music hall productions, which would become important in early film comedy.

[3] The film also provides an early example of an on-screen chase, of the type that would become particularly popular from 1903 onwards, in a trend prompted by British productions such as A Daring Daylight Burglary and Desperate Poaching Affray.

[10] A clip from this film is featured in Paul Merton's interactive guide to early British silent comedy How They Laughed.