All Films

Tannhäuser

1913 • 40 min • United States of America

Dramatic three-reel film based on Wagner's opera of chivalry and spiritual struggle. Wandering minstrel Tannhauser wins the heart of Elizabeth, niece of the powerful Landgrave. Later, under the spell of Venus and her nymphs, Tannhauser passes into Venusberg, a netherworld of earthly pleasures. Returning to the Landgrave's court, he praises Venus in song and sparks the righteous anger of all present. His own prayers and those of Elizabeth free him from enchantment and he takes up the habit of a monk, devoting himself to God. He sets off to seek absolution in Rome while Elizabeth waits at court, ever weakening in his absence.

Broncho Billy Gets Square

1913 • 22 min • United States of America

A reward is offered for the capture of Broncho Billy and David Kirkland and freedom is promised to either one who will turn state's evidence.

Fatty at San Diego

1913 • 14 min • United States of America

Fatty induces wife to let him take a day off to go to the celebration at San Diego. He has a wonderful time, flirting with the girls, breaking up a parade, fighting the police force and falling into the fountain with him, escapes, and with the crowd after him, leaps into the river. Here he rescues a little boy and becomes a hero. He goes home to wife in a bedraggled condition, tells of rescue and is set upon a pedestal. Wife, as a reward, takes him to the movies at night and sees husband flirting and fighting in the fountain, where some enterprising cameraman caught him. That explaining, as she thought, the bedraggled state in which he arrived home, she turns and beats him all the way home.

An Old Man's Love Story

1913 • 13 min • United States of America

Ethel, whose financially distressed parents depend on her marrying into wealth, may be forced to abandon the man she loves for her father's rich friend.

The Coming of Angelo

1913 • 17 min

Young Theresa was thought to be much favored in the love of Guido, the leader of the Italian colony. Then Angelo came. Theresa, though aroused by her first real love, strove to keep her vows to Guido, but life's big law overcame her. Guido prepared a death feast for himself, then summoned Angelo. Why should he die for another's happiness? But Angelo lived.

Two Men of the Desert

1913 • 17 min • United States of America

The young authoress had come to the edge of the desert for her mother's sake. There she met the two young prospectors and a romance began. But the men were about to go across the desert, where they had heard rumors of gold. They decided to play square and before going determined to let the coin decide who should ask the young authoress the all-important question. The flip of the coin decided the older should try his luck first. He learned the girl did not love him. But the other she promised to marry when he should return from the gold lands, and the care of her sick mother, who would then be restored to health, should no longer interfere with her happiness. The young partners soon reached the other side of the desert, where success came to them far beyond their expectations.

Das schwarze Los

1913 • 52 min • Germany

About members of a Commedia dell'arte troupe . Initially cheerful, later tragic events in a triangular relationship consisting of the classic Commedia triumvirate Pierrot, Colombina and Arlecchino.

The Politician

1913 • 6 min • United States of America

A political boss antagonizes his constituents when he delivers an oratory while being fed talking points from his daughter who is reading from the wrong newspaper.

Madamigella Robinet

1913 • 3 min

While Robinette's old admirer isn't at home, she secretly meets Robinet. Suddenly the man returns and Robinet is forced to disguise himself as a woman.

The Legend of Provence

1913 • 40 min

A foundling is raised in a convent and becomes a nun there, until she falls in love with a wounded soldier under her care. When she leaves the convent, a statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and assumes the girl's appearance to carry on her work.

A Regiment of Two

1913 • 32 min • United States of America

Ira and his son-in-law Harry pretend to enlist in the 13th regiment where they have "drills" every Friday night. When the 13th is called to the front, the two take a fishing trip, only to learn that "their" regiment has been wiped out.

The Pit and the Pendulum

1913 • 16 min • United States of America

Alice Guy's version of Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum. This film is partially lost.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

1913 • 50 min • United States of America

A peasant girl sent to make a claim on her family's ancestral home in England's Wessex is seduced and left with child by its current owner.

King Rene’s Daughter

1913 • 39 min • United States of America

This elaborate and well-staged silent version of Hertz' play is exceedingly well produced for 1913: it starts off by introducing the actors by name and role, then showing them in double exposure in street clothes and in costumes. The production values are also elaborate and the look of the set designs reminds one of the elaborate backdrops that Melies used in his shots.

De Medeminaars

1913 • 13 min

Two brothers - fishermen - fall for the same girl. So one decides to kill the other. But the attempt fails.

Love and Rubbish

1913 • 10 min • United States of America

Two groundskeepers compete for the attention of a pretty park visitor. When the woman’s daughter goes missing, the two set out to rescue her.

Burstup Homes' Murder Case

1913 • 13 min • United States of America

A spoof of Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Alice Guy-Blache for Solax Film Company.

How Men Propose

1913 • 6 min • United States of America

Three men in succession propose marriage to Grace Darling; she accepts all! Since they are roommates, the three discover their problem in short order; when they return for an explanation, they're in for a surprise.

By Fire and Water

1913 • 10 min

A dramatic one-act film. The wife of the captain of a canal boat chooses the nicer boat and nicer uniform of another captain. She reconsiders her choice when she is rescued by her own husband after a fire.

The Fellow Lovers

1913 • 12 min • France, Netherlands

Melodrama about two brothers who are in love with the same woman.

The House of Darkness

1913 • 17 min • United States of America

A potentially violent patient in an insane asylum is calmed when he hears a nurse playing the piano. But shortly afterwards he breaks free, eludes his pursuers, and acquires a gun. He soon comes to a house where a young wife is home alone, and there is a tense confrontation.

The Flight of the Crow

1913 • 22 min • United States of America

Old Morgan, an eccentric millionaire in a western city, has a dissipated young son. He has also a very sweet adopted daughter, Edwina. One day the son is waylaid near the railroad yards, stripped of a big "roll" and thrown unconscious into a box car.

Protéa

1913 • 50 min • France

Protéa is the last film directed by Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset, one of the early film pioneers in France. The hero of this film is a female spy, an acrobatic Mata-Hari, played by his favorite actress, Josette Andriot, who wore a characteristic costume of a close-fitting black jersey, two years before Musidora achieved cult status with her similar appearance as Irma Vep. This final masterpiece reflects Jasset's popular style: rhythmic action, fantastic realism, rich visuals, an anarchistic philosophy, a disdain for psychology, and an attention to lighting that earned him the nickname “the Rembrandt of the cinema". Although Jasset died shortly after completion, the film had considerable success and Andriot went on to make four more films in the series with other directors.

The Girl Ranchers

1913 • 14 min • United States of America

Two sisters inherit a ranch and choose to manage it without male help