- Sam Dalton, English comedian, began in the music halls from the 1890s. Performer of many pioneering short comedy, drama and trick films under the direction of James Williamson at the Williamson Film Company in 1901-02, he will be best remembered in 1901's trick/comedy film 'The Big Swallow' its perhaps one of the most important early films in that it was one of the first to deliberately exploit the contrast between the eye of the camera and of the audience watching the film, it featured a man played by Sam Dalton irritated by the presence of a photographer, who solves his dilemma by swallowing him and his camera whole, the film lasted for only 1 minute and 8 seconds, and also he will be remembered for 'Stop Thief!' a 1901 drama/chase short, showing a tramp getting his come-uppance after stealing some meat from a butcher and his dogs, this film is one of the first true chase film made in the world, Sam's last film 'Sambo' a short 1902 comedy, showing a blackface comedian smoking a cigar, Sam was never seen on screen again.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Paul Rothwell-Smith
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