Cinderella

Cinderella 1899

6.20

A fairy godmother magically turns Cinderella's rags to a beautiful dress, and a pumpkin into a coach. Cinderella goes to the ball, where she meets the Prince - but will she remember to leave before the magic runs out? Méliès based the art direction on engravings by Gustave Doré. First known example of a fairy-tale adapted to film, and the first film to use dissolves to go from one scene to another.

1899

The Conjurer

The Conjurer 1899

6.30

A film from Méliès has him playing a magician who does a few tricks including making a woman disappear.

1899

The Kiss in the Tunnel

The Kiss in the Tunnel 1899

5.85

Produced and directed by George Albert Smith, the film shows a couple sharing a brief kiss as their train passes through a tunnel. The Kiss in the Tunnel is said to mark the beginnings of narrative editing. It is in fact, two films in one, hence the 2 min length. Firstly, the G.A. Smith film here for the central cheeky scene in the carriage. The train view footage however is Cecil Hepworth's work, entitled 'View From An Engine Front - Shilla Mill Tunnel', edited into two halves in order to provide a visual narrative of the train entering the tunnel before the kiss and then leaving afterwards. More information about the filming of the phantom train ride can be found searching for the Hepworth film separately.

1899

The Devil in a Convent

The Devil in a Convent 1899

6.30

A priest is officiating at a convent, when suddenly he is transformed into the devil, who frightens away the nuns and turns the place into pandemonium.

1899

The Little Girl and Her Cat

The Little Girl and Her Cat 1899

5.75

A little girl sits at a table, holding a container of what appears to be some sort of food. Suddenly there's a flash of movement: a tortoiseshell cat, with long hair and a very furry tail, has leapt onto the table.

1899

The Dreyfus Affair

The Dreyfus Affair 1899

5.80

The first movie ever censored for political reasons. The title refers to the then contemporaneous Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish military officer was falsely convicted of treason, and it was alleged that he was framed due to anti-semitism.

1899

The Pillar of Fire

The Pillar of Fire 1899

5.89

A devil wearing bat-like wings and brandishing a trident dances around a giant pot, conjuring forth flame from his trident to lit a fire beneath the pot. After the devil works the fire with bellows, an angelic woman emerges from the pot. The devil and the pot vanish as the woman performs a dance, waving about her diaphanous sleeves until she conjures forth another fire, then she rises amongst the smoke into the air.

1899

Dreyfus Court Martial - Arrest Of Dreyfus

Dreyfus Court Martial - Arrest Of Dreyfus 1899

4.70

Du Paty de Clam requests Captain Dreyfus to write as he dictates for the purpose of ascertaining whether his handwriting conforms to that of the Bordereau. He notices the nervousness of Dreyfus, and accuses him of being the author of the Bordereau. Paty de Clam offers Dreyfus a revolver, with advice to commit suicide. The revolver is scornfully rejected, Dreyfus stating that he had no need for such cowardly methods, proclaiming his innocence. His arrest is immediately ordered by M. Cochefort.

1899

King John

King John 1899

4.90

Based on Shakespeare's play, Act V, Scene vii: King John is in torment, and his supporters fear that his end is near. As he writhes in agony, he is attended by Prince Henry, the Earl of Pembroke, and Robert Bigot. Prince Henry tries repeatedly to comfort his delirious father, but to no avail - John's pain is too great.

1899

The Fight of Reporters

The Fight of Reporters 1899

5.40

During an interval in the proceedings of the court martial, the journalists enter into an animated discussion, resulting in a dispute between Arthur Meyer of the 'Gaulois', and Mme. Severine of the 'Fronde', resulting in a fight between Dreyfusards and Anti-Dreyfusards, in which canes and chairs are brought down upon the heads of many. The room is finally cleared by the gendarmes.

1899

Défilé de voitures de bébés à la pouponnière de Paris

Défilé de voitures de bébés à la pouponnière de Paris 1899

5.60

A long line of nurses pushing carts with their babies enter from the far right, cross a garden in front of the large nursery home, and leave by the close left to the camera. A few toddlers also follow in the same orderly line, along their nurses.

1899

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon 1899

5.10

A section of the port Haliquen (Quiberon) Bretagne, at night where Dreyfus was landed by French marines, and officers after his transport from Devil's Island. He is received by the French authorities, officers, and gendarmes, and conducted to the station for his departure to Rennes. This little scene was enacted on a dark rainy night, which is clearly shown in the film. The effects are further heightened by vivid flashes of lightning which are certainly new in cinematography.

1899

Admiral Dewey Leading Land Parade

Admiral Dewey Leading Land Parade 1899

2.70

George Dewey was an admiral in the U.S. Navy who is best remembered for his victory at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, which he won without the death of a single person in the battle. Needless to say since he was a big hero in this country Edison decided to film him at various stages and release them to make some money.

1899

Opium Den

Opium Den 1899

5.70

A century-old film depicting opium smokers in French Indochina (Vietnam).

1899

U.S. Cruiser 'Olympia' Leading Naval Parade

U.S. Cruiser 'Olympia' Leading Naval Parade 1899

4.00

This picture ... centers about some guard ropes moving about, perhaps in the wind, perhaps as the platform the movie is taken from rolls about, while in the background, a procession of ships goes by.

1899