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This startling 'phantom tram ride' through the streets of Norwich vividly
captures moments of the city's daily life at the very beginning of the 20th
Century. The most exciting element of this film is how filled with activity it
is, brimming with fascinating detail in every shot. We see a world before
motorcars dominated the road, where horses and trams pass easily down the
street. The roads have been scarred by the wheels of carts and carriages, with
uneven grooves gouged alongside the tram tracks. Pedestrians in Edwardian
clothing hurry along the pavement, busy with their daily routine, oblivious to
the fact that their every move is being recorded and that their images will
survive a century and more later.
The mistiness of the print works to the film's advantage, infusing it with a
captivating ghostly quality. Watching a city of long-dead people come alive is
both an eerie and exhilarating experience.
Christian Hayes
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Complete film (3:11)
