James Williamson was better known for his drama films like "Fire!" and "Stop Thief!" and also his comedic "The Big Swallow" which is probably his best-known film. So this drama is not a typical film from him. It's a retelling of the fable by Hans Christian Anderson "The Little Match Girl." You know, the one where the girl freezes in the snow? Yeah, that one.
The film is a holiday movie, as the various sights the girls makes with her matchsticks are all related to Christmas. The film is told all in one scene which is quite common for 1902, though compared to Williamson's other multi-scene dramas this one is a step back. The effects are very good though. The sequence where the angel comes and takes the girls' soul to Heaven is particularly well done. However outside of all this "The Little Match Seller" isn't overly special, just a rather well-done, beautiful and sad little feature that is worth-seeing, especially around Christmas.
The film is a holiday movie, as the various sights the girls makes with her matchsticks are all related to Christmas. The film is told all in one scene which is quite common for 1902, though compared to Williamson's other multi-scene dramas this one is a step back. The effects are very good though. The sequence where the angel comes and takes the girls' soul to Heaven is particularly well done. However outside of all this "The Little Match Seller" isn't overly special, just a rather well-done, beautiful and sad little feature that is worth-seeing, especially around Christmas.