The reverse-angle shot was invented in 1900 to heighten tension during a rescue scene
In 1900, filmmaker James Williamson invented the reverse-angle shot during a rescue scene, creating spatial tension by showing both the attackers and the approaching saviors.
The cinematic technique of cutting between two different perspectives of the same event was born in James Williamson's 1900 film 'Attack on a China Mission'. During a dramatic sequence, Williamson cut from a view of rebels attacking a house to a reverse-angle shot of sailors arriving to save the family. This was the first time a filmmaker used multiple camera positions to build suspense within a single narrative moment.
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