Top 20 films of 1894
A list of the twenty best films of 1894.
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- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam Heise"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison CatalogFilmed by W.K.L. Dickson and William Heise for Edison Studios, this a short film of an acted-out fire rescue. This film is important in that it was one of the first scenes presented on film, which till then had always shown performers doing a routine or a documentary of sorts. Not much happens besides the firemen bringing one child down the ladder and a bunch of smoke billowing around.
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudPre-cinematograph colour animation of a woman and man at the beach.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsWilliam K.L. DicksonThe earliest extant sound film. William K.L. Dickson stands in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder. As he plays a violin, two men dance in the foreground. This film was made to demonstrate a new Thomas Edison machine, the Kinetophone. These machines were Kinetoscope peepshow viewers mated with Thomas Edison wax cylinder phonographs. But the Kinetophone never caught on and this film was never released. The film still exists, but the phonograph soundtrack has been lost.Innovator W.K.L. Dickson plays the violin for this interesting film. The fact that sound is synced with the film is amazing considering it would be another 30 years before sound was attached to film in the same way.
- DirectorAlexander BlackStarsBlanche BaylissWilliam CourtenayChauncey DepewThe adventures of a female reporter in the 1890s.A innovative film that used still photos to recreate reality. Presupposes Chris Marker's classic by over 65 years. Shot by Alexander Black.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsPhil DoretoRobettaThe pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJack CushingMike LeonardIn the background, five fans lean on the ropes looking into the ring. The referee is to the left; like the fans, he hardly moves as two fighters swing roundhouse blows at each other. Mike Leonard, in white trunks, is the aggressor; in black, Jack Cushing stands near the edge of the ring, warily pawing the air as Leonard comes at him. A couple of punches land, but the fighters maintain their upright postures.
- DirectorÉmile Reynaud
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonShowing 34 Persons in Costume. The largest number ever shown as one subject in the Kinetoscope.The staging of dramatic or comedic scenes was just coming into being for films. However, one way to present such scenes was to film a wholesale act of a play or variety show. This filming of the very popular play "Milk White Flag" was an example of it.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJoe RastusDenny TolliverWalter WilkinsA scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.Three performers dance for Dickson and William Heise's camera.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsJames J. CorbettPeter CourtneyJames J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.A quick staged rematch of the two boxer’s previous fight.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsHadj CheriffHadj Cheriff, a performer known for a variety of unusual abilities, demonstrates part of his act in the Edison studio.One of the more entertaining short films from 1894 due to Cheriff's energy. His acrobatics are not especially difficult looking but the zeal with which he does them is infectious.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsFrancis E. ButlerAnnie OakleyAnnie Oakley, the 'Little Miss Sure Shot' of the 'Wild West' gives an exhibition of rifle shooting at glass balls and clay pigeons in a film from the Edison Catalog.A short film displaying some of Annie Oakley's shooting skills.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsThe Glenroy BrothersThomas GlenroyWilliam GlrenroyThe Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete".The Glenroy Brothers perform a short portion of their vaudeville act. Of course audiences of that era were more easily amused because the brothers are nothing special, at least judging from the small sample in this film.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsHenry WeltonTwo gamecocks are fighting inside a wire cage, while two spectators look on in the background. The two men agree to make a bet on the outcome. One of them shows his money to the other, who is commenting on the fight.Two men reveal with delight in the fighting of two roosters. Nothing else happens, just men's casual brutality caught on film.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsAnnabelle MooreAnnabelle Moore performs her Sun Dance.Just a short film of dancer Annabelle Moore doing her thing. Shot by Edison's crew.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson
- DirectorWilliam K.L. Dickson"Showing the wind-up of a political discussion. Dramatis personae: A Democrat, a Republican, a Bar Maid, and a Policeman."
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsBuffalo Bill Cody"The famous army scout in an exhibition of rifle shooting. A fine picture of the principal, and beautiful smoke effects."
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsEugene HornbackerMurphyA referee and five fans (including a waiter in his apron) look on as two young men box. The dark-haired, slightly taller boxer throws a right and the light-haired smaller one goes down; but he's up before the referee starts counting. After the knockdown, the boxers mostly hit each other's gloves. The fans, at least one of whom is sitting inside the ring, show no animation. They're all men, dressed in a range of late 19th-century garb.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsFrank HammittLee MartinSunfishA fine exhibition of horsemanship by Lee Martin, a genuine cowboy. This particular broncho is an unusually wicked one. (from Edison Films)A relatively long short for the time.