All Films

The Scapegoat

1912 • 10 min • United States of America

Harry Mason, a young New Yorker of good family, tries to borrow money from his brother, Tom. One afternoon Tom collects $5,000 for his father. As it is after banking hours, Mr. Mason puts the money in his house safe. He is overseen by Harry, who breaks into the safe and steals the money.

The Black Masks

1912 • 60 min • Sweden

"The Black Masks", a secret political society, involves the beautiful agent Lydia to apprehend an important official document. Lieutenant von Muehlen is a trusted member of another secret society. He is on the same mission.

Fortunes of a Composer

1912 • 14 min • United States of America

A drama about a poor composer who is betrayed by his family and left alone.

The Speed Demon

1912 • 7 min • United States of America

An ambitious race driver who is not allowed to compete decides to outwit his competitors.

The Lieutenant's Last Fight

1912 • 28 min

American Indian Buffalo Big falls in love with the daughter of Colonel Sherry.

In a Garden

1912 • 15 min • United States of America

Over the years, an old gardener observes a romance develop between a young boy and girl. 20 years after they break up over a misunderstanding, the old man is instrumental in bringing them back together again.

Mike's Brainstorm

1912 • 20 min • United States of America

Mike Rosenberg, a ne'er-do-well, is broke, but still is undenied the pleasure of imagination. A circus comes to town, and he is without the price of admission. He retires disgusted to the solitude of the bar, where he dreams that he possesses unlimited wealth. His first investment is a pet elephant that leads him into a vast variety of expensive difficulties.

Miss Tweedledum

1912 • 8 min • Italy

Robinet disguises himself as a woman to get away from his girlfriend’s husband, and discovers the unexpected pleasures of public drag amidst mobs of flirtatious men. (MoMA)

Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Up

1912 • 8 min • United States of America

A girl helps Broncho Billy to hide when the sheriff comes looking for him. When a while later he finds her and her mother unconscious, he holds up a stagecoach to bring them to a doctor. The sheriff, still on Billy's track, shoots him in front of the doctor's practice.

A Fool and His Money

1912 • 10 min • United States of America

Sam the white-washer pines for the affluent Lindy, but she has dumped him in favor of another. Sam finds a large sum of money, and goes to New York to enjoy a shopping spree, buying new clothes, jewelry and a car with a driver. Back home, Lindy flips for Sam and his newfound wealth, and dumps the rival. Sam throws an engagement party where he indulges in a friendly game of cards with his former rival and another man, who unbeknownst to Sam, is a card shark.

A Christmas Accident

1912 • 15 min • United States of America

Well-to-do Mr. and Mrs. Gilton live next door to a large family, the Biltons, that struggles to make ends meet. Despite their desire to be friendly, Mr. Gilton is frequently irritated by his neighbors, insisting that they stay out of his yard, and blaming them for anything that goes wrong. During the holiday season, the differences between the two families become even clearer. Mrs. Gilton wants to do something to help the Biltons, but Mr. Gilton will take a lot of convincing.

Votes for Women

1912 • 20 min • United States of America

Named by historian Kevin Brownlow as “the first important suffrage film”, this melodrama follows suffragist May Fillmore in her fight to sway Senator Herman, whose vote could pass a key reform bill. After exposing him and his fiancée Jane Wadsworth to the dire living conditions of a motherless tenement family—unsanitary housing, child labor, and workplace exploitation—Jane turns against her negligent fiancé and joins the suffrage cause. Ultimately, both Herman and Jane’s father are persuaded to support reform, and the film ends with the characters proudly taking part in a suffrage parade. (Note: This silent narrative film is distinct from Edison’s Votes for Women (1913), a Kinetophone short that recorded real suffragist leaders delivering speeches.)

The Mills in Joy and Sorrow

1912 • 7 min • France, Netherlands

A hobo takes revenge to a miller who didn't give him something to eat.

The Darling of the CSA

1912 • 15 min

Anna Q. Nilsson is the title character, Agnes Lane, a daring spy for the South during the Civil War. She delivers an important message regarding an attack on a Yankee fort, then infiltrates the fort and turns herself in, only to change into a Union soldier’s clothes and escape with more confidential information. The Confederate soldiers love her, and treat her with respect, despite her un-ladylike profession. During the attack, morale appears to flag, but she sneaks out a message that she has been captured by the Yankees and is due to be executed, urging the boys to greater heroism. As they capture the fort, she again infiltrates and pretends to be grateful to her “rescuers.”

Won by a Fish

1912 • 10 min • United States of America

Papa becomes so miserable over his bad luck as a fisherman, it causes him to reject Harry, his daughter's sweetheart, who tease him about it. The next day he starts out with the hope of better luck, and the young couple sees a chance of getting back at him. Their scheme succeeds to such an extent, that Papa is forced to accept Harry as his future son-in-law.

Dottie's New Doll

1912 • 12 min • United States of America

Dottie was very proud of her great big beautiful doll but sometimes they are in danger of getting broke. And that was what happened to "Beautiful Bess" and it nearly broke her mother's tiny heart.

Desdemona

1912 • 23 min • Denmark

A husband and wife play the roles of Othello and Desdemona on stage, and find themselves in a similar situation in their own lives.

The Black Chancellor

1912 • 48 min • Denmark

Chancellor von Rallenstein is terrorizing the country. He even forces Princess Irene to marry Prince Deima, even though she is already engaged to her true love, Pawlow. When Rallenstein finds out about their secret wedding, he furiously sets out to sabotage the marriage. (stumfilm.dk)

Flying to Fortune

1912 • 10 min • United States of America

A wealthy old man, who has been a semi-invalid for years, is informed by his physician that his case is hopeless. The invalid decides to put "his home in order." Therefore it is a matter of gratification to him when he sees that his only daughter and the young partner in whom he implicitly relies seems to be mutually attracted. The partner is called to Europe just before the doctor gives his verdict, hut the invalid makes "everything all right" in his will. He provides that the bulk of his estate shall go to the girl, if she marries the partner within one year from the hour of her father's death.

The Girl of the Grove

1912 • 16 min • United States of America

The girl was young, pretty, and also a good businesswoman; When her father died she took up the reins of management and ran an orange grove with successful results. Her capable hands were so busy that she had no time to think of love. One day, however, "the prince" appeared.

The Ring of a Spanish Grandee

1912 • 28 min • United States of America

A romantic young girl, visiting St. Augustine, finds that she must make the choice which means happiness or misery for life. She has two suitors, one an everyday young American who has made his way in the world and is proud of it. He has money, will have more, and in every way would seem desirable. But the other man had ancestors!

Hot Stuff

1912 • 8 min

Hank (Mack Sennett) loses his girl (Mabel Normand) to another guy (Dell Henderson) so he decides to get even with some hot sauce.

His Official Appointment

1912 • 11 min • United States of America

This touching short film lasts only 10 minutes, 34 seconds, but is rather engaging. Charles Kent is an old man, who has spent all he owns on influencing a government appointment. His faithful black servant, Amber (Hal Wilson), cares for him as he waits to hear from the Capitol. No one there intends to do anything but make fun of him, even sending a false appointment, to his shame.

The Cross Roads

1912 • 12 min

A melodrama about a girl who has to marry the landlord in order to save her parents’ home.