The only movies that matter (to 1912)
Here's a list of films I will be writing about. I'm publishing it so that I can play around with it on IMDb's Advanced Title Search.
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- DirectorLouis Aimé Augustin Le PrinceStarsAdolphe Le PrinceA very brief film of a man playing the accordion.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsJeanne MareylaA man attempts to sit on a stool, only to find a woman has magically appear to steal his place. This happens again and again. Soon, more amazing transformations occur.
- DirectorWilliam HeiseA commercial. Four men sit in animated conversation in front of a billboard for Admiral Cigarettes. The billboard fills the entire background. Beside them is a large box, also marked Admiral. The men are a social cross section: one wears a feathered headdress, another a military outfit, a third striped pants like Uncle Sam, and the fourth (with pork-chop whiskers) is in a suit, vest, tie, and hat. Suddenly, the box pops open and a man emerges in Napoleonic admiralty garb: he hands out cigarettes, then tosses dozens of them on the ground as the men light up and unfurl a banner saying, "We all smoke." Smiling, everyone points to the billboard.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsEdna FosterDonald CrispJoseph GraybillBilly witnesses two tramps accidentally kill someone during a robbery. The tramps lock him up and decide that he must be killed, too.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithG.W. BitzerStarsArthur V. JohnsonLinda ArvidsonGladys EganOn a warm and sunny summer's day, a mother and father take their young daughter Dollie on a riverside outing. A gypsy basket peddler happens along, and is angered when the mother refuses to buy his wares. He attacks mother and daughter but is driven off by the father. Later the gypsy sneaks back and kidnaps the girl. A rescue party is organized but the gypsy conceals the child in a 30 gallon barrel which he precariously places on the tail of the wagon. He and his gypsy-wife make their getaway by fording the river with the wagon. The barrel, with Dollie still inside, breaks free, tumbling into into the river; it starts floating toward the peril of a nearby waterfall . . .
- DirectorGeorges MélièsAtop a wonderful central pedestal, a happy clown puts the finishing touches on a William Tell's incomplete model, assembling the mannequin limb by limb with the intention of shooting a target off of its head with a potent crossbow.
- StarsM. CodyMr. Cody arrives by carriage, walks to a barn, and slides open the doors to reveal a large biplane. He pulls it out of the hanger. One man checks the engine while another starts the propeller. Four men push the plane into position for taxi and take-off. Cody takes his seat and puts on heavy leather gloves. Then, the long take-off begins as Cody steers the plane through a relatively flat, grassy field. It lifts for a brief flight and then falls to earth. One man walks Cody back toward the barn while the plane's builders inspect the extensive damage.
- DirectorFrank PowellStarsBilly QuirkMack SennettFlorence BarkerTwo eccentric Frenchmen argue for the hand of an eligible American girl, who finally discouraged both of them by introducing her betrothed.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsJeanne BradyJehanne d'AlcyThe first film to ever show a nudity scene on screen is a simple presentation of a servant preparing a bath for another woman.
- DirectorAlbert CapellaniStarsGeorges VinterPaul CapellaniLiane de PougyThe legend of Aladdin and his magic lamp: Aladdin finds a magic lamp which brings him wealth, luxury, and marriage to a princess. But his rival, an evil magician, steals the lamp for himself. Aladdin must regain the lamp or lose everything.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsJehanne d'AlcyGeorges MélièsA prince is in need of a fiancee, so he visits a well-known sorcerer and asks for help. However, the prince does not exactly get what he bargained for.
- DirectorAlice GuyHarry SchenckEdward WarrenStarsBilly QuirkMary FoyAlgie Allmore has one year to prove he's a man in order to wed Harry Lyons' daughter.
- DirectorSegundo de ChomónThe legend of Ali Baba and the forty thieves: Ali Baba discovers a hidden cave where a band of thieves have stored their enormous treasure. Cassim also learns about the cave, but he is caught by the thieves and put to death. Knowing that their secret has been found out, the thieves devise a trick in an attempt to kill Ali Baba and anyone else who might know about their hiding place.
- DirectorCecil M. HepworthPercy StowStarsMay ClarkCecil M. HepworthBlairThis is the first movie version of the famous story. Alice dozes in a garden, awakened by a dithering white rabbit in waistcoat with pocket watch. She follows him down a hole and finds herself in a hall of many doors.
- DirectorGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonStarsAugustus CarneyHarry ToddMargaret JoslinBoth "Alkali" and "Mustang" Pete loved Betty Brown, and the lady had her hands full in keeping the lovers from shooting each other. One day "Alkali" called on Betty with a pair of handsome saddle horses and asked her to go riding with him. She agreed, but the resourceful "Mustang," driving up with a handsome horse and carriage, carried off the lady. "Alkali" goes to the village inn, inclined to drink himself to death, but finally trades for an old junk automobile his two horses, and clambering in the seat, starts in pursuit of his rival and the lady. Overtaking them, he has no difficulty in persuading Betty to ride with him. But the auto breaks down and "Alkali," endeavoring to fix it, turns on the juice and the rattle-trap car starts down the trail at lightning speed, leaving "Alkali" behind. After a thrilling and exciting ride the car is ditched and poor Betty is thrown headlong into the road.
- DirectorWilliam HeiseStarsAmy MullerVaudeville dancer Amy Muller performs a portion of her stage routine, which features dancing on her toes. She dances on one toe for part of the performance. Later, she also twirls and does cartwheels.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsThree marauders are plotting to raid a little family, and eventually they are seen lurking around the house. The young daughter is alone and they pounce upon her, binding and gagging her securely. Then they seize the family savings, which are concealed in a kettle, and are about to leave, when the servant enters, but he is quickly disposed of as are also both parents and the villains, who are residents of the village, make off, first, however, throwing in the girl's eyes a concoction which blinds her. At this juncture the girl's sweetheart enters, and for a moment stands aghast at the scene which confronts him. Not knowing just what to do, he picks up one of the bloody knives, and as he is gazing at it the police dash into the house and he is immediately seized and carried off, protesting his innocence. Meanwhile the girl is led out of the house, where a kindly old gentleman, seeing her plight, administers a drug to her which restores her eyesight immediately. The innocent man, however, is brought before the judge to defend himself. Furious villagers point accusing fingers at him, and among them are the three thieves who committed the crime and who think it wiser to attend the trial with the rest of their neighbors. But while matters are going strongly against the young man the girl is brought in, her eyesight restored. The identity of the culprit is left to her, and she, gazing around the courtroom for a moment, promptly points out the guilty ones. To strengthen the case, the mother also identifies the thieves, and they are roughly handled by the gendarmes, while the vindicated lover embraces his sweetheart and her mother.
- DirectorMaurice MaîtreStarsM. SorochtinaM. TrojanovNikolai VasilyevCountess Anna Karenina is torn between her lover Vronsky, and her husband, Count Karenin. Anna's love to Vronsky causes her much pain and social pressure. Her passion to Vronsky drives Anna to leave her husband, but Vronsky goes to war, leaving her helpless. Anna feels so meaningless and lonely, that she becomes suicidal and throws herself under a train.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsAnnabelle MooreAnnabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsAnnabelle MooreAnnabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dance routines. She uses her dance steps and her long, flowing skirts to create a variety of visual patterns.
- 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.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsAlone in his room at an inn, a lustful old man is haunted by spirits.
- DirectorAlexandre PromioA stationary camera looks across a busy corner toward a store front marked "The Divan." The words "des fees" are beneath. A cortege of Arabs, about 20 persons in the party, walk past; the dignitaries are in front, attended by men with horns and drums. Coming in the other direction are local Swiss, who pay little attention, and a group of native-garbed Africans. The dozen or so well-dressed denizens of Geneva who are sitting on the steps of the Divan take it all in.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsMary PickfordMack SennettGeorge NicholsA young girl looking for work, is hired by a farmer's wife to work as a maid. A smooth talking peddler comes by the farm, and flirts with the young maid. He gives the naive girl an engagement ring and promises to marry her. When the peddler runs up some gambling debts, he visits the maid again and tells her they cannot marry until he has enough money to pay off his debt. While the farmer and his wife are asleep, the maid foolishly steals their money. The peddler takes the money and leaves on a train to get out of town. Overcome with guilt, the young maid runs away from the farm. Meanwhile the peddler gets into a fight and is thrown off the train. The maid stumbles upon him by the railroad tracks. She finds the money on the peddler and returns it to the farm couple before they even knew it was missing.
- DirectorÉmile ReynaudPre-cinematograph colour animation of a woman and man at the beach.
- DirectorAuguste LumièreLouis LumièreStarsMadeleine KoehlerMarcel KoehlerMrs. Auguste LumiereA train arrives at La Ciotat station.
- DirectorThomas H. InceStarsMary PickfordOwen MooreCharles ArlingNavy officer Owen Moore is sent to Cuba. This saddens girlfriend Mary Pickford, until her uncle invites her to a party in Havana. After a grand time, when Moore's ship is docking, she confuses him by pretending to be a Cuban girl.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsGeorge NicholsGladys EganMary PickfordA widowed father devotes his life to his daughter, who swears to stay with him forever. Then a handsome young man shows up and sweeps her off her feet.
- DirectorAndré CalmettesCharles Le BargyStarsCharles Le BargyAlbert LambertGabrielle RobinneFrance, at the end of the sixteenth century. Henry III decided to eliminate his rival, the Duke of Guise, and, therefore, calls him in the castle of Blois. The mistress of the duke, warned of the King's intentions, informs him, but the noble, sure of his own authority, went there anyway. In Cabinet-Vieux castle Duke is stabbed by guards of the King, while he attends the murder hidden behind the curtains. Eventually, Henry III does burn the duke body to discard.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsMarion LeonardCharles InsleeBarry O'MooreAt the Italian boarding house the male boarders were all smitten with the charms of Minnie, the landlady's pretty daughter, but she was of a poetic turn of mind and her soul soared above plebeianism and her aspirations were romantic. Most persistent among her suitors was Grigo, a coarse Sicilian, whose advances were odiously repulsive. The arrival at the boarding house from the old country of Giuseppe Cassella, the violinist, filled the void in her yearning heart. Romantic, poetic and a talented musician, Giuseppe was indeed a desirable husband for Minnie. All this, of course, filled Grigo with bitter hatred and he vows vengeance, which you may be sure he will work with extreme subtlety. All preparations are made for the wedding, and when the day arrives Grigo is ready for it. He has contrived an infernal machine with a pistol so arranged that its explosion means death to anyone standing in front of it. The little church is decorated in honor of the affair and Grigo, with subterfuge, gets the sexton out, leaving the place to himself. Sawing a hole in front of the altar step, he places his weapon in such a position that one step forward by the priest would mean death to the bride kneeling in front. Grigo rushes hack to his room, arriving just as the wedding party is leaving for the church. Here he becomes a victim of the frenzy of his mind, and appreciating the fact that the awful deed will he laid to him and his apprehension will be inevitable, he writes a gloating note and then takes poison. His fall is heard by the housemaid, who, discovering the note, gives it to a policeman, who rushes madly to the church. Fate, however, seems to conspire, and the officer falls, breaking his ankle, just outside the church. A newsboy, seeing his plight, runs up, and the policeman directs him hurriedly to the church, where he arrives just in time to save the couple, who start back at his yell, for the priest had just made the step which fires the gun, but with no harm done. The priest gives thanks to God for their deliverance and proceeds with the wedding.
- DirectorWallace McCutcheon Jr.StarsLinda ArvidsonFlorence AuerEdward DillonThe daughter of a staid New England minister is brought up in absolute ignorance of the ways of the outside world, and, when she gets the slightest inkling of its glamour, it makes a decided impression. Into her hands have fallen several theatrical newspapers, and she and her girl chum eagerly digest their contents, recounting in glowing terms what seems to be a golden existence. So wrought up were they that they immediately give vent to their ebullient spirits by indulging in a quasi-dramatic performance. This is a scene of broad burlesque, and, during its enaction, the minister enters and is greatly shocked, not to say incensed. A stormy scene occurs between him and his daughter, which ends with her leaving home. She applies for a position in the chorus of a New York opera company. What a contrast she makes at the trial of voices, but with determination she pulls through the ordeal and is accepted. Owing to her sweet face and manners, together with a beautiful voice, her rise in the profession is rapid. Still, she has found that all is not gold that glitters, and while her artistic success is most agreeable, life for her is empty, cold and cheerless, made more odious by the appearance of the inevitable vile, flattering tempter. Numerous letters has she written to her dear old father, but no response, for he has torn them into shreds before he even broke the seal. "Oh, God, if I could only go back. If this all would prove but a dream." But, no, there is the dark fathomless future before her. The tempter would have her go with him, and there seems to be no alternative. She is now surely at the crossroads of life. She makes a final appeal to her father in a telegram begging him to come to see her performance on the night following, which he does. Down the aisle of the theater comes the old minister in bewilderment, so unaccustomed is he to the surroundings, as through the peekhole in the curtain drops the girl views the scene in ecstasy. After the performance the old man makes his way to the back of the stage, where he once more folds his daughter to his heart, while her would-be lover views the scene with unconcealed chagrin. The story is a most touching one.
- DirectorThomas H. InceStarsKing BaggotDavid MilesAnita HendrieThe scene opens at the termination of a dance where the Duke of Chatmoss is supported by his nephew and his daughter to the throne, the daughter occupying the place of honor by his side. One of the court maids approaches and the Duke's nephew, Edward, falls in love with her instantly, and his love is reciprocated. The aged Duke notes the beautiful maiden and is also smitten by her charms. In his infatuation he sends his hunch-backed serf to her apartment commanding her immediate appearance before him. The cunning hunchback discovers that his master has been forestalled by the nephew, who is the accepted lover of Irma, the maid. His master, the Duke, is apprised of this fact, and when the girl appears before the Duke the old gallant immediately overwhelms her with his attentions, but she, in her righteous indignation, repulses him. The Duke is wrathy, and in his rage vows to win the frightened girl. She runs immediately to Edward and tells him of the occurrence. Edward is indignant and strides into the presence of his uncle, the Duke, demanding an explanation. There is a war of words, the nephew and the Duke growing excited, the hunchback fearing harm to himself stands aside with a drawn sword. The Duke coolly tells Edward he must renounce all hope of winning the maid. Angered to desperation, Edward draws his sword to attack the Duke, but is prevented by the hunchback. The Duke summons the guard and commends them to disarm his nephew and take him to the dungeon and torture him. To add to the cruelty of his purpose, the Duke has Irma seized, and taken to the cell where Edward is confined, and there a mock trial is held, and the nephew ordered to the torture chamber. During the time of the torture the hunchback is pacing quickly to and fro between the dungeon, reception room and the girl's chamber. The Duke in forms Irma that the price of the lover's life is herself. She refuses, and the trap-door is opened, showing the agonized girl her lover on the rack, being seared and tortured. She consents to sacrifice herself and the torture ceases. The Duke is satisfied at the result of his diabolical method of winning the girl. The hunchback is commanded to bring the girl to the bed-chamber of the Duke. Irma left alone in a fit of desperation, sears her face with a red-hot poker, horribly disfiguring her beautiful face. She accompanies the hunchback into the presence of the amorous old Duke, wearing a veil. The Duke lifting the veil is horrified at the face of the woman, who was once so beautiful. He renounces all pursuit of her and consents his nephew to appear in the audience chamber, where Irma is still veiled. The Duke announced to Edward that he must marry her, being possessed of the idea that the girl will be cast aside by Edward when he gazes on her once-beautiful face. Edward is all too willing, and raising the veil is shocked at the result of her sacrifice, but draws her towards him in a fond, loving embrace and leads her away; loving her in spite of her blemished face.
- DirectorWallace McCutcheonStarsD.W. GriffithLinda ArvidsonEdward DillonA husband finishes packing a suitcase, and then says good-bye to his wife. As soon as he is gone, the wife has her maid help her to dress for a costume ball. Meanwhile, the husband meets a friend, and the two of them put on costumes and go to the same party. At the ball, the husband and wife meet without recognizing each other, then they dance together, and start a flirtation. Once they become suspicious of each other, they each make plans to trap the other.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonA gymnast assumes a number of positions while holding a wand in both hands.
- DirectorJames WilliamsonStarsMr. JamesMr. LepardFlorence WilliamsonThe titles tell us this film is based on an incident in the Boxer Rebellion. A man tries to defend a woman and a large house against Chinese attackers. They attack with swords, guns, and paddles. He's over-matched. What will become of the mission, its defenders, and its occupants?
- DirectorRomeo BosettiÉmile CohlA film of more than unusual interest. Those who are familiar with the length of time it takes to make a picture wherein oil the furniture in the house moves out automatically, will appreciate the great labor of making this film.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsArthur V. JohnsonClara T. BracyMary PickfordA confirmed bachelor learns that he will inherit his late uncle's fortune only if he marries, which he does reluctantly. Shortly afterward he returns to his bachelor lifestyle but realizes he can't get his wife's face out of his thoughts.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJoseph JeffersonThe seventh of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip awakes from his slumber, having significantly aged during his sleep.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsAuguste LumièreMrs. Auguste LumiereAndrée LumièreAs part of a maiden public film screening at the Salon Indien, on December 28, in Paris, Auguste Lumière pivots the centre of attention around his baby daughter, as he tries to feed her from a spoon.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsA bachelor meets with a magician to conjure the perfect mate.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsZizi PapillonA ballet master dreams of ballerinas.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsFred W. BoardmanWilliam CushingAd DorschA scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns around and directs the musicians as they take up their own positions.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseCustomer gets a lightning-fast shave.
- DirectorMack SennettStarsDell HendersonMabel NormandJoseph GraybillTwo waiters, vain of their personal appearance, have their photographs taken by an itinerant photographer. The boss catches them and "Fired!" is the result. One of them hits upon a scheme to get easy money by posing as a baron. Things are coming his way, when he is met by his erstwhile friend, who gives the snap away. However, he would have succeeded in marrying an heiress, but for a mix-up at the license bureau, giving him a dog's license instead of a marriage license.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsAfter an evening of excessive wining and dining Baron Munchausen must be helped to bed by his servants. Once asleep, he has bizarre and frightening dreams.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsCharles WestBlanche SweetCharles Hill MailesUnion soldiers march off to battle amid cheering crowds. After the battle turns against the Union Army, one soldier runs away, hiding in his girlfriend's house. Ashamed of his cowardice, he finds his courage and crosses enemy lines to bring help to his trapped comrades.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA musketeer bows to the audience and proceeds to hang his hat, coat and vest on the wall in a most amazing manner. Being in need of two pages, he brings them out of his coat, and with rope he makes a hoop. The two pages stretch out a large sheet of white paper. The musketeer puts the hoop through the paper, and instantly the hoop is all covered with paper like those used by performers in the circus. The pages hold up the hoop; the paper bursts, only to let out a hideous clown, who goes and sits in the corner to see what is going to happen. Then the musketeer breaks the hoop, takes out of his hat a lot of flowers, which he throws on the pieces of the hoop, and by his act he makes a lovely wreath, from which appears a beautiful woman. This woman is then substituted by an immense and grinning face, into which the clown jumps. Then an explosion is heard and nothing is left of the clown nor the head. The musketeer takes the pages on his soldiers, one after the other, and they are changed as his coat and hat. Finally he disappears in a most mysterious way.
- DirectorWalter Pfeffer DandoWilliam K.L. DicksonHerbert Beerbohm TreeStarsHerbert Beerbohm TreeDora TullochCharles SeftonKing John does whatever it takes to keep himself on the throne of England, making enemies of the pope, France, and his nephew along the way.
- DirectorSidney OlcottFrank Oakes RoseStarsGene GauntierHarry T. MoreyWilliam S. HartThe scene opens with an assembly of citizens who are harangued by one of their number, whose words have great weight with the crowd, and their attitude of approval shows that Roman misrule in Jerusalem has reached its climax. Heralds now approach and Roman soldiers beat back the crowd to make way for the approach of the Roman Procurator. The scene changes to the home of Ben Hur, who is seen with his sister and mother on the house top. The cavalcade of Roman troops approaches, and to get a near view Ben Hur leans from the coping and knocks down one of the stones thereof onto the shoulder of the Procurator. This is seen and misconstrued by the Governor, who orders soldiers to arrest the inmates; they, after ineffectual pleas and struggles, are carried off. Ben Hur is consigned to the galleys, where he is loaded with chains. Here he signalizes himself by saving the life of Arrias, who publicly adopts him as his son and proclaims him a Roman citizen amidst the acclamations of the assembled crowd in the forum. Now comes the scene in the games where Ben Hur is challenged by Messala, and accepts it, to the great delight of the citizens. The chariots and athletes parade before the dais and in due time are arranged, and the chariot race commences. Three times 'round the ring dash the chariots, and at the fourth turn Ben Hur comes out the victor and is crowned with the wreath, to the great, chagrin of Messala, who is borne on a stretcher, wounded to death.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsFlorence LawrenceHarry SolterLinda ArvidsonWhile spending the night at wealthy widow Wharton's home, Myrtle steals a pearl necklace and cleverly hides the loot. Little does she know the widow knows a thing or two about fingerprinting.
- DirectorRollin S. SturgeonStarsRobert ThornbyGeorge StanleyAnne SchaeferJim Saunders' fondness for gambling makes him neglect his wife and child. One night while he's at the saloon, Miguel Gomez, a Mexican outlaw for whom $1,000 reward is offered, enters Jim's home and demands food of Mrs. Saunders. Her child, suffering with a severe attack of croup, demands her constant attention and she tells Gomez to help himself. When the child has a severe coughing fit, the alarmed mother asks Miguel to go for a doctor. He consents and hurries off for the nearest one, miles away. As he runs through the foothills, he is met by Saunders, who recognizes him and stops him at pistol-point. Miguel, anxious to get to the doctor, grapples with Jim. They struggle to the edge of a cliff over which Miguel hurls Jim, who falls to the bottom stunned. Miguel jumps upon Jim's horse and hastens on to the doctor, whom he tells of the sick child and induces him to go with him to its relief. After a breakneck ride, they reach Saunders' home just in time to save the child from death. Saunders, who has recovered from his fall, hurries to his home and sees the Mexican through the window. He rushes in and demands his surrender. Jim's wife tells him of the Mexican's generous deed through which their child was saved. Jim hangs his head in shame, and acknowledges that the outlaw is a better man than himself, for had he stayed at home with his wife and child instead of spending his time at the saloon gambling, he would have proven himself more of a man. Mrs. Saunders tells Gomez that he may go unmolested by them for whatever may he his faults, they must acknowledge his goodness of heart in helping them and their child. Tenderly bending over the little girl, he smooths her forehead, she takes his hand in hers and Miguel Gomez is permitted to depart in peace with their blessing.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsJoseph GrapinetGeorges MélièsGeorgette MélièsUsing the same rocking effect previously employed in "Combat naval en Grèce (1897)", the director Georges Méliès recreates the illusion of a small ship in a tempest.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsAt a solitary cheap inn, a distant traveller overcome with fatigue has a close encounter with the supernatural.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA traveler at an inn is harassed by a mischievous devil in his room.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsCharles KayserJohn OttThree men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
- DirectorLouis LumièreTwo blacksmiths work while the vapors rise in the air. Later, another man arrives and offers a drink.
- DirectorAlice GuyA cadger, pretending to be blind, turns round little finger constabulary, putting instead of itself nothing unsuspecting inhabitant.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsJehanne d'AlcyBleuette BernonA young woman becomes the eighth wife of the wealthy Bluebeard, whose first seven wives have died under mysterious circumstances.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsMrs. Auguste LumiereJeanne-Joséphine LumièreThree men in a rowboat are leaving the harbor.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA boy is led into the frame by two nursemaids who give him a big ball to play with. For the remainder of the film heads appear and disappear, stage props blow up and turn into other objects or people, and finally Bob Kick disappears.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsHenry Welton"A glove contest between trained cats. A very comical and amusing subject, and is sure to create a great laugh." (by Edison Films)
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA Brahmin comes upon a giant caterpillar, which turns into a cross between a butterfly and a girl: the Brahmin finally turns into a caterpillar.
- DirectorMack SennettStarsMack SennettDell HendersonMabel NormandAt the Hunting Lodge there arrives a great braggadocio who boasts that he, while in Africa, only went in quest of big game, showing a lot of skins as trophies of his expeditions. Out he starts, accoutered in the most approved fashion, to add to his already extensive collection by bringing back some more embryonic floor rugs, and he came near getting them, or rather, they came near getting him.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsFrank PowellMary PickfordKate BruceGeorge Peabody is a young man who has been giving free rein to his inclinations, the principal one being drink. One might have concluded he was lost, but there was the chance which the hand of Providence always bestows in the person of pretty little Ruth King, who had secretly loved George since their childhood days. She succeeds in persuading him from his reckless life, and he determines to cut off from his old loose companions by going out West and making a man of himself. Bidding Ruth and her mother good-bye, he realizes that he loves his little preserver and promises to return worthy of her love and confidence. They plight their troth with their first kiss and a heart shaped locket, which Ruth wears, she breaking it in two, giving George one side while she retains the other, which symbolized the reunion of their hearts with his return. George is fortunate to strike the West in the midst of a boom, and being an affable, bright chap, meets with success, and is soon a favorite with his employers. His life here up to this is without a blemish, but has he strength? We shall see, for as gold is tested by the fire, so a man is by temptation, and George's trial comes with the persuasion to take a drink. At first he holds out against it, but at last yields, and that drink was his undoing. Once more the craving for liquor is induced and his promise to his little sweetheart in the East is forgotten, he falls an easy victim of a Mexican girl, who pretends to love him, assuming him a rather good catch. Meanwhile, faithful little Ruth is counting the days as they drag on towards the time she imagines he will return. The Mexican girl, to secure him as her own, writes a letter to Ruth purporting to come from one of his male chums to the effect that he had been killed. The shock of this letter throws the poor girl into a delirium of fever, and for a time her life is despaired of. She recovers, however, but is hopelessly blind. What woe a man's weakness may work, but we find he is rewarded for his weakness, and some time later we see George a loathsome parasite, a dirty, ragged, drunken bum a pariah among his former associates. Back East he wanders, ignorant of the misery he has caused, and what a sight greets him. There is the ever faithful little girl, accompanied by her mother, standing at the gate, the beauties of the world forever shut out from her. How dark is everything to her, but then how much darker would this world have been, had she viewed the awful condition of George as he stood there. No, of this, at least, she is blissfully ignorant, and with a subterfuge. George slinks away; she imagining that he will soon return, but, alas, the locket is forever broken.
- DirectorGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonStarsGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonBrinsley ShawAugustus CarneyA new schoolteacher arrives at Snakeville and immediately all the marriageable men of the county come a-courtin'. The affair finally resolves about Jack Heyworth and Broncho Billy, but it is evident that the teacher is partial to Billy. Jack plots to get even and opportunity soon offers. The boys warn the schoolmistress not to go out at night but she tells them she is not afraid and shows them a small revolver which she carries with her. Just for fun the boys plan a hold-up to try the schoolma'am's nerve and Broncho Billy agrees to play the bandit. This is Jack's opportunity and when the hold-up occurs, he, stationed behind a bush, a few feet away, fires at Billy. The wounded man is carried to his shack and the schoolteacher is about to be arrested when she shows the sheriff that her gun had contained nothing but blanks and points out Heyworth as the man who shot Billy. Heyworth is ordered to clear out of the country and when Billy gets well school is closed a week earlier because of teacher's marriage to the hero of Snakeville.
- 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)
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsHair CoatParts His HairLast HorseThree Sioux Indians perform a 'buffalo dance', while two others use drums to supply a rhythm. The three dancers move around in a circle as they perform the various actions that are part of the dance.
- DirectorAlice GuyStarsAlice GuyGermaine SerandYvonne SerandThe first film directed by a female director, "The Cabbage Fairy" presents a brief fantasy tale involving a strange fairy who can produce and deliver babies coming out of cabbages. Gently moving through the cabbages and using of lovely gestures, she takes one baby out of there, then makes more magic and delivers two more.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsJuan A. Caicedo"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsDeep into a vast cavern of the pitch-black inferno, a couple of professional dancers demonstrate the cakewalk that is currently so much in vogue, and now, everyone in the once-gloomy underworld is doing the crazy dance. Who is the best?
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsHarry SolterLinda ArvidsonCharles InsleeA young couple are enjoying a romantic interlude in the young woman's home, when her father discovers them and angrily chases the young man out of the house. They thus decide to elope, and they make plans accordingly. But as they are leaving, a thief discovers their plans, and he decides to turn the situation to his own advantage.
- DirectorWladyslaw StarewiczMr Beetle seeks companionship from a statuesque dragonfly dancer, unaware that her ex-boyfriend, a slender grasshopper and an industrious cameraman, watches their every move. Will Mrs Beetle forgive him? Will he get away with adultery?
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterA group of bank robbers meet at their campsite to plan a burglary. When everything is ready, they break into the bank and blow open the safe. Their getaway, though, is not a clean one. They have to shoot their way out, and the gun battle sets off a desperate chase.
- DirectorLeopoldo FregoliStarsLeopoldo FregoliA card game over drinks with three men, including Antoine Lumiere and Felicien Trewey.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsJames KirkwoodFlorence LawrenceFrank PowellA royal woman rejects her arranged marriage. The cardinal hatches a plan: the suitor will shave and change clothes. He arranges with 4 clowns to stage an attack on the princess which he easily repels. It works; the princess falls for him, especially when the cardinal arranges his arrest.
- DirectorLouis LumièreCarmaux is in south-central France, near the Tarn River. As a brick of coke, about four feet high and three feet wide, is gradually pushed out of a smelter into a yard, one worker sprays it with water from a hose while two workers with long metal rakes wait to spread it out. Other workers buzz in and out of the foreground of the stationary camera. Atop the first level of the brick smelter, workers push full carts of coal along a track.
- DirectorGerolamo Lo SavioStarsVittoria LepantoAlberto NepotiDante CappelliThis picturesque narrative of Spain, from the magic pen of the brilliant writer, Posper Merimee, and set to music by the immortal Bizet, is the subject now presented in film d'art form. Madame Lepanto as Carmen, typifies the description of the Spanish girl. Don Jose Navarro, a Basque, and a Christian of the ancient type, had enlisted in the cavalry regiment of Almanza and was on duty at the tobacco factory in Seville where four or five hundred girls were employed in rolling cigars. As the bell rings for the girls to return to their work the young men watch them as they pass. One, a handsome, merry-looking girl, the beauty of the place and known to all as "La Carmencita," struts by the line of admiring men. Don Jose being a quiet sort of fellow, is not much attracted at first by the saucy-looking beauty, who, not accustomed to being ignored, asked Navarro to give her the chain he is fashioning out of some brass wire. Navarro replied that he could not, as he was making it for a certain purpose, whereupon she took the flower from her month and struck him in the face with it, much to the amusement of all the others. As Carmen passed on. Navarro, when no one was looking, stooped and picked up the flower and put it in his pocket. Two or three hours after this incident a porter rushed into the guard house saying that one of the factory girls had been murdered. With several of his comrades Don Jose hurried to the factory, where he beheld a wounded woman lying on the floor and recognized Carmen in the grasp of five or six of her companions. When the wounded girl beheld the soldiers, she accused Carmen, who stood with a defiant expression on her face. Don Jose's duty was plain: he must arrest the girl. So taking her gently by the arm (she being a woman) he bound her hands behind her and placed her under arrest. The wily gypsy asked her for her mantilla and then started off with Don Jose. On the way she turned and asked him in a childlike tone where he was taking her, Don Jose, determined to do his duty, answered that he was taking her to prison. Upon which she begged and pleaded with him to have mercy. Soon, therefore, when they come to a narrow lane, with one throat of her tiny hand she gives Don Jose a push, and he obligingly falls back and his prisoner hopping over his prostrate body regains her liberty. Navarro is compelled to return to the guard house without succeeding in locating her, and consequently is reduced to the ranks and imprisoned for a month. While he is in prison his keeper comes to him one day with a loaf of bread, which he said was sent him by his cousin. Navarro knows very well that he has no cousin in Seville and immediately suspects that Carmen is responsible for the loaf of bread. As he attempts to cut it his knife strikes something hard and he finds that a small English file has been placed in the dough before it was baked. He also finds two pastries with which Carmen evidently intended him to purchase a civilian's coat, and also a note from Carmen telling him to meet her at Lillas Pastia's. Thanks to the gypsy girl's thoughtfulness, Navarro escapes and finds his love waiting for him at the old gypsy eating house. Well, the end of it all is that Carmen has decided to persuade Navarro to join a band of smugglers. At first he would not listen to it, but finally out of love for the girl he consented. For his devotion, however, the fickle beauty repays him by flirting with other admirers, thus making Don Jose most unhappy. She had at this time become acquainted with a very handsome and skillful picador named Lucas. One day one of his comrades told him that he saw Carmen in a shop with Lucas and Navarro became inflamed and questioned the girl, who confessed her love for the picador, at the same time tearing off her finger a ring Don Jose had given her. The latter, unable any longer to control his rage, strikes her a deadly blow with his knife and then remains with arm uplifted as if turned to stone as he gazes down on the huddled up little figure of the woman he had so passionately loved.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonStarsCarmencitaPerforming on what looks like a small wooden stage, wearing a dress with a hoop skirt and white high-heeled pumps, Carmencita does a dance with kicks and twirls, a smile always on her face.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsMarcel KoehlerA medium closeup of a large cat, washing itself. A boy brings him/her a plate of milk.
- DirectorWallace McCutcheonStarsD.W. GriffithEdward DillonIn Ireland, Paddy is having troubles with his rent collector who has also made advances to Paddy's wife. The rent collector enlists the aid of the Black-and-Tans and Paddy has to flee to the United States. Much later the rent collector is charged with theft and to also flees aboard a ship to the U.S. Paddy has done well in America, and sent his wife the money needed to join him there. She and the villain are on the same ship and she recognizes him and has the ship's wireless operator send the New York Police a message that the wanted-man is on the ship. When the ship docks, the rent-collector is met by Paddy, who is now a NYC policeman, and Paddy arrests him. This 8-minute short was incorporated into an RKO Flicker Flashback in 1948, along with "Eldora the Flower Girl."
- DirectorJ. Searle DawleyStarsBen F. WilsonRichard NeillJames GordonRetelling of the famous incident in the 1854 Crimean War when a British cavalry unit, because of a mix-up in orders, charged an almost impregnable Russian artillery position and was decimated.
- DirectorRobert W. PaulStarsAlfred CollinsA stationary camera looks on as two dapper gents play a game of chess. One drinks and smokes, and when he looks away, his opponent moves two pieces. A fight ensues, first with the squirting of a seltzer bottle, then with fisticuffs. The combatants wrestle each other to the floor and continue the fight out of the camera's view, hidden by the table. The waiter arrives to haul both of them out.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsDorothy WestKate BruceDell HendersonAfter her mother's death, Ruth struggles to support herself as a seamstress. While Ruth delivers shirts to the factory owner, the owner's son steals some money and Ruth is accused of the crime. She flees the ghetto of New York's Lower East Side and hides in the country where a young farmer takes her in and they fall in love.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsAndrée LumièreSuzanne Lumière"Two babies are shown seated in high chairs and apparently enjoying themselves. Suddenly one snatches a toy from the other, and they indulge in hair-pulling."
- DirectorAshley MillerStarsRobert ConnessMiriam NesbittShirley MasonA factory hires only children, forcing an immigrant family to put their daughter to work. When the girl brings home a foundling, the family gets sends her to work. Little do they know that the girl's father bought the factory.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsEmile GajeanGeorges MélièsThe Ping-PongsA young enslaved chimney sweep named Jack finds a box of jewels in a chimney which restores his well-being.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonWilliam HeiseStarsPhil DoretoRobettaThe pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.
- DirectorJ. Searle DawleyCharles KentAshley MillerStarsMarc McDermottCharles OgleWilliam BechtelBased on the story by Charles Dickens: Ebenezer Scrooge is well known for his harsh, miserly ways, until he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, and then by three other spirits.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsThe entire story of Christmastide is here depicted. The scene opens in a large boudoir of an apparently wealthy man's home. His children, assisted by their governess, are about to retire. Before lying down they hang up their stockings on the edge of the bed. The picture changes and night appears. We see the housetops of the town and angels are flying about depositing packages in each of the chimneys. Santa Claus is also busy and furnishes our little friends with numerous presents. Again a change in the picture and we see the corridor of the old village church. The sexton, an old grey haired man, stands by, while a number of lusty boys pull the rope attached to the great bell in the belfry. The bell tolling in the steeple bursts into view, after which the interior of the church is seen with the full choir accompanied by the organist and choir boys singing the Christmas hymn. Another change and the boudoir is again before us and the children are looking over their presents while their parents are receiving the congratulations of their friends who have come to visit them. The picture changes into that of the great dining hall with the guests sitting around the table and the beggar is brought in and given a place at the table. The conclusion of this beautiful subject is a pretty tableau. We cannot speak too highly of the dissolving effects of this film. One picture dissolves into the other and thus the story is continuous from beginning to the end. Artistically beautiful.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsMlle BarralBleuette BernonCarmelliA 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?
- DirectorCharles L. GaskillStarsHelen GardnerPearl SindelarMiss FieldingThe fabled queen of Egypt's affair with Roman general Marc Antony is ultimately disastrous for both of them.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA weary clock-maker dozes off in a chair. While he is asleep, three women suddenly appear in the midst of his shop. They proceed to show the sleeping clock-maker some new kinds of clocks that they know how to make.
- DirectorAlice GuyA clown and his dog bounce a balloon in the air, making sure that it never touches the ground.
- DirectorWilliam K.L. DicksonTwo gamecocks fight in the Edison Company film studio. This feature was remade later in the same year, with additional detail added.
- Two roosters fight while two men make bets in the background. No (onscreen) deaths of the animals involved.
- DirectorLouis FeuilladeStarsAlice TissotMaurice VinotRenée CarlLegendary French director Louis Feuillade does what he does best in THE COLONEL'S ACCOUNT. What begins as the simple telling of a story erupts into chaos as the tale becomes reality. One thing leads to another. If war is hell then all hell breaks loose!
- DirectorGeorges MélièsTwo painters are working just above a group of soldiers, just as the commanding officer enters. One little slip with a paint bucket, and hilarity ensues.
- DirectorRobert W. PaulA couple look at a statue while eating in an art gallery.
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsFlorence LawrenceCharles InsleeArthur V. JohnsonA beautiful romance of a girl from the Golden West. Confidence is the flower grown from the seed of true friendship, watered by the tears of adversity, and often assailed by the blight of calumny. For as Shakespeare says', "be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny." So it was with little Nellie Burton, the orphan girl of the rancho, who budding into womanhood, realizes her position and appreciates the low brutal character of the habitués of the Dive, even discerning the true nature of her fancied sweetheart, Jim Colt, who was to say the least an unconscionable villain. Tiring of her present environments she decides to leave the place seek a nobler and higher life. To this end she makes her way eastward and applies for a position as nurse at a New York hospital, and we next find her engaged in that work of mercy "ministering to the sick." Her mild manners and pure nature impress the head surgeon, a man of eminence in his profession, to such an extent that he finds himself deeply in love with this poor self-sacrificing girl. He proposes marriage, which she at first mildly declines, but he at length persuades her, and they are married. However, there must come a cloud, and this is in the shape of her girlhood sweetheart, Colt, who has migrated East, and living on his wits. He runs across Nellie in the company with her husband as she enters her own home. The low conniving nature at once asserts itself and he plans a scheme of blackmail, using as capital her pure innocent love letters. Waiting a favorable opportunity, Jim Colt "visits'' her and with a threat of showing these letters to her husband he extorts money from her. This gone he comes for more, and as she has no ready cash he takes her jewels. The money raised on these goes the same way, so he calls to make another demand. This the poor helpless girl finds unable to meet, and during their argument the surgeon enters. Colt then hands the missives over to the husband who, taking the packet throws them into the tire and has Colt forcibly ejected from the place, with the positive injunction never to return.
- DirectorAlice GuyAlms for the poor! A vagabond magician teaches a moral lesson in this Alice Guy short from 1905. When charity comes your way, pass it along.