Stillman's Firefighting Demonstrations (2007)
1h 56min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
This 2 DVD set consists of official instruction material used in the early part of the last century to inform and train professional firefighters, and the enormous responsibility of the job is evinced throughout. Apart from rigorous training to prepare the candidate for extremely hazardous working conditions, mastering some specialized medical rescue and resuscitation techniques is part of the job profile. It?s obviously a lonely existence, limited to a small world consisting of the fire station, residential dormitories and the actual conflagration site.
In this definitive compilation from the famous Stillman Collection, this lifestyle is highlighted by default and gives one a better appreciation of the rigors of the job. Long hours, smoke inhalation and burn hazards apart, firefighters from the ?20 through ?40s were restricted by relatively unsophisticated equipment and poor working conditions. It is evident, however, that there could be no compromise on dedication and unusual bravery on the job.
In comparison to the cutting-edge quality of today?s firefighting scenario, these films of over half a century ago convey a definite sense of unreality. However, the know-how given in them is still currently in use, albeit under much-improved circumstances. The demonstrations are precise and oriented towards actual teaching of the necessary techniques, and it is interesting for a layman to watch how professionals get the necessary skills drilled into them. The public relations angle is evident at some times, while a hardcore ?boot camp? aura presides at others.
It is always an inspiration to witness how professionals get trained. Despite the incredible hardship and danger involved, the profession of firefighting commands unusual glamour. Stillman's Firefighting Demonstrations is special because it clears the fog of misunderstanding and reveals, in historical context, what goes into the making of some of the often unsung heroes of our times.- Studio:
- A2ZCDS.COM
- Genres:
- Documentary
