The first-ever Western movie was actually shot in Blackburn

Ellen Manning
Screengrab from the movie ''Kidnapping by Indians'' filmed in Blackburn in 1899. Astonishing new research has revealed the first ever Western film was not shot in the United States - but BLACKBURN in Lancashire. See SWNS story SWLEwestern. The movie ''Kidnapping by Indians'' was filmed in 1899 - four years before The Great Train Robbery which until now was widely seen as the genre's first film. Shot in Lancashire countryside, the two minute movie is about a pair of cowboys who rescue a white woman from native American kidnappers. It was made by Blackburn film company Mitchell & Kenyon which was a pioneer of early commercial motion pictures at the start of the 20th century. Mitchell & Kenyon's cache of movies have become much-loved since they were discovered in barrels underneath their old headquarters in 1994. But the first proper study of the film has revealed it was made in 1899 - and predates what was previously held as the first ever Western. Many of the films, including Kidnapping By Indians, are now kept by the British Film Institute (BFI), which has revealed the remarkable revelation.
The first ever Western film was filmed in Blackburn, not America, research has revealed (Picture: SWNS)

When it comes to Westerns, you’d be forgiven for thinking they must all have been filmed in America.

But new research has revealed that the first ever Western was actually filmed in England - Blackburn in Lancashire to be precise.

'Kidnapping By Indians' is about a pair of cowboys who rescue a white woman from native American kidnappers.

Rather than being shot in the United States, the two-minute movie was shot in Lancashire countryside in 1899 - four years before The Great Train Robbery which until now was widely seen as the genre's first film.

Made by Blackburn film company Mitchell & Kenyon, which was a pioneer of early commercial motion pictures at the start of the 20th century.

Screengrab from the movie ''Kidnapping by Indians'' filmed in Blackburn in 1899. Astonishing new research has revealed the first ever Western film was not shot in the United States - but BLACKBURN in Lancashire. See SWNS story SWLEwestern. The movie ''Kidnapping by Indians'' was filmed in 1899 - four years before The Great Train Robbery which until now was widely seen as the genre's first film. Shot in Lancashire countryside, the two minute movie is about a pair of cowboys who rescue a white woman from native American kidnappers. It was made by Blackburn film company Mitchell & Kenyon which was a pioneer of early commercial motion pictures at the start of the 20th century. Mitchell & Kenyon's cache of movies have become much-loved since they were discovered in barrels underneath their old headquarters in 1994. But the first proper study of the film has revealed it was made in 1899 - and predates what was previously held as the first ever Western. Many of the films, including Kidnapping By Indians, are now kept by the British Film Institute (BFI), which has revealed the remarkable revelation.
The two-minute movie was shot in the Lancashire countryside (Picture: SWNS)

Mitchell & Kenyon's films were found in barrels underneath their old headquarters in 1994.

Many are now kept by the British Film Institute (BFI), which revealed that the first proper study of Kidnapping By Indians has shown it was made in 1899 and predates what was previously held as the first ever Western.

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BFI silent film curator Bryony Dixon said: "It's remarkable and an absolute joy to think the first Western was shot in Blackburn.

"The debate about what a Western actually is can be argued until the cows come home but Kidnapping By Indians definitely qualifies as on in my opinion. There are cowboys and Indians in the film and it really does encapsulate the idea of a western frontier-type story."

'Kidnapping by Indians'' was filmed in 1899 - four years before The Great Train Robbery which until now was widely seen as the genre's first film, research has revealed (Picture: SWNS)
'Kidnapping by Indians'' was filmed in 1899 - four years before The Great Train Robbery which until now was widely seen as the genre's first film, research has revealed (Picture: SWNS)

Kidnapping By Indians was shot in fields close to Blackburn and the producers used local actors, including some made up as native Americans.

The story line involves a white woman being saved from the clutches of native Americans by white cowboys, which was a common theme in early Western cinema.

The initial link between Kidnapping By Indians and the Western genre was made by Blackburn artist and film-lover Jamie Holman, who found the film while researching links between the cotton industry and film history in the Lancashire town.

Mr Holman said the film was "hiding in plain sight", adding that he just "put it into context".

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