William Friese-Greene

The 19th and 20th centuries were the heyday of the lone inventor. Greats like Baird (T.V.), Watson-Watt (Radar), Shaw (Cat's Eyes), Whittle (Jet Engine), Swan (incandescent lamp) set about their work with awesome determination and brilliance and made enormous contributions to making the modern world. Their work, marvellous inventions and discoveries still have an enormous impact upon our everyday lives and their endeavours still inspire. But the quiet brilliance of one man fails to make it into the pantheon of science and invention even though his contribution to this field is no less significant.

Modest and unassuming in a typically British way, Friese-Greene has been largely forgotten and has a controversial reputation. His pioneering work with photography and moving images paved the way for the multi-billion pound global movie industry. Before the 20th century had even begun he envisioned, colour film and 3d movies which with the likes of modern movies such as 'The Lord of The Rings', 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Avatar' have become a global phenomenon. His motion picture camera (1889) was a breath-taking advancement in photography. Never before had an invention brought more wonderment, fantasy, romance and entertainment.

The book also explores the work of his son, Claude Friese-Greene who was a pioneer film maker and cinematographer. Continuing to develop the Bio-colour system, invented by his father, Claude went onto produced more than 60 films. His most enduring being 'The Open Road', where he toured the United Kingdom and captured a long since lost world.

Using extensive material, including that from the William Friese-Greene Collection held at the world renowned National Media Museum, the author has re-assessed the contribution made by Friese-Greene to, not only cinematography, but also optics, chemistry, photography, explosives, toys and airships… William Friese-Greene is a part of a long tradition of British lone inventors who blaze a trail which we can only gaze at and admire.