All Films

La Sposa del Nilo (1911) was a proto-epic, where you could sense the Italian filmmakers (Enrico Guazzoni in this case) gearing up to the gigantic imaginings of Cabiria and Quo Vadis just a few years on. The film wanted to impress you with its stateliness and scale; at time the central action (a young virgin is drowned to appease Isis and ensure that the Nile floods) became lost in the crowded frame – but that just reminded you that early cinema audiences look that much more intently at what was going on, and picked up on details that our lazier eyes sometimes miss.

Early short film adapted from the Bible (Judges 4-5)

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Various shots of the Coronation procession for King George V.

Dick, an easterner, comes west to try his luck at mining. No sooner does he arrive than Hartley, the local gambler and all-around villain, commences to make sport at his expense. Dick endeavors to bear it patiently, but a clash is inevitable, until the arrival at the village store of Mary Brown, one whom all held in respect, excepting Hartley.

In the first scene we see a group of children at a window waiting for the arrival of their father. Following this we learn that the little family lacks a mother. The next scene brings us to a theater-box party. The father of the little family meets another woman. It soon becomes evident that he intends to marry again and at last he brings this other woman to the house. While he is present, she seems to be fond of the children, but once he is out of the room we see that her fondness is hardly skin-deep. Soon the mother's picture is removed from over the fireplace and evidently the new wedding will take place. Little Margaret, taking care of the children, finds them hard to amuse one day, and going up into the garret, finds some old clothes, in which they all dress. By chance she puts on the very costume which was used when her mother posed for the big portrait, now absent from its place over the mantel, and so it happens that when the father comes home at night.

Gilbert Irving and Bertie Erroll have been inseparable companions since boyhood. At a house party Mrs. Allen announces the engagement of her daughter, Lucille, to Gilbert and the pair are congratulated. At the reception Madam Eloise and her companion, a count, are introduced. Gilbert is at once infatuated by her charms, and neglects Lucille.

Three troublemakers, one clumsy maid and the strictest madam in town – everything is as usual at the “Peace and Quiet” boarding house. That is, until the madam of the house grows tired of the maid and authorises her three boarders to find her a replacement while she’s visiting a friend. After a wild night out, the three gentlemen return with three cute girl under their arms. When madam returns home earlier than expected, all three troublemakers come up with the same brilliant cock-and-bull story – that their girl is the new maid. (Stumfilm.dk)

In a playful, reflexive take on the familiar “last-minute rescue” formula, a woman and her housekeeper left alone at home miss-read shadows projected from the street outside and fear a violent assault. Male police officers dispatched to rescue them correctly diagnose the situation, with hilarious results, including a late gender reveal. Notable for its early use of triptych.

An adaptation of the fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin.

A love story filmed in Long Island Sound with a stowaway and a shipwreck.

The prison doors open and Tom Benton, a first timer, and Slim Jim, alias Red Davis, of the underworld, are liberated. Tom learns that the prison odor clings by being ceremoniously turned away wherever he applies for work. Slim Jim immediately on his release beats his way west. Eventually Tom goes west and finds his work. Several months later Slim Jim gets a job at the same place Tom is employed. Slim Jim, being caught at his old tricks and exposed by Tom, reveals Tom's past. The several thrilling scenes that follow show Tom's genuine manhood and gives Slim Jim an opportunity to prove that even the underdog has at least a spark of good lying dormant under the rough exterior.

Harold Burton, a trusted employee of the Los Vegas Mining Company, Mexico, is in a quandary and sorely perplexed, owing to a letter from his wife, who in sympathizing with him in his struggle for fortune. The Superintendent is dangerously sick and is lying on a cot in the office. Burton believes him dead, is tempted to steal the contents of the safe, the payroll, and go back to civilization, but the ever-watchful eye of conscience awakes in him. In his ambitions for a purer and nobler manhood restoration is made, and Harold Burton is happy in the thought of conquered temptations.

Leo suspects Sonja of infidelity, although she is in fact – for better or worse – fraternising with militant nihilists. One evening, Leo secretly follows her and ends up in the clutches of the nihilists, who give him an ultimatum that puts his life at stake. If Leo can obtain the police’s list of their cronies facing execution within three days, he and Sonja will be allowed to live. (Stumfilm.dk)

On doctor's orders Max buys a new bathtub, but Max struggles to fill it, and when he does, he can't bathe in peace!

A young man's parents refuse to accept his new wife, but a reconciliation is eventually brought about.

The story of how Lady Godiva came to ride naked through the streets of Coventry.

Lieutenant Robbins, a young naval officer, sees Haydee the favored inmate of the sultan's harem and is smitten by her charms. She is also interested in the handsome young American. She manages to write him a note that is delivered to him on the deck of his warship lying at anchor in a harbor and implores him to effect her rescue,

Told in Colorado is a short, silent thriller

Jack Carvel, a young ambitious clerk, is in the employ of the wealthy and aristocratic Mr. Fielding. Jack having an eye for all that is good and beautiful, dares to raise his eyes to Mabel, the daughter of his employer and is caught in the act of declaring his love to her, with the result that he is immediately dismissed from Mr. Fielding's employ. He is soon successful in securing a position as traveling companion for an invalid, with whom he goes on a ranch in California. A year later we find that Mr. Fielding has met with reverses in business; he and his daughter are compelled to leave their luxurious home for simpler quarters.

The Texas Rangers, led by Tom Wilson, are hot on the trail of the Mexican bootleggers, who have been smuggling whiskey into American territory and supplying it to the Indians.

Poor Eugénie! She's humpbacked and everyone wants to straighten her out, but when success finally comes, she's too tall not to cause disasters. To solve the problem, the help of a sword swallower is urgently needed.

This is a touching story, faithfully told, and shows the devotion of a venerable preacher whose church has retired him because it thought he had outlived his usefulness. In his place a younger minister is secured, who fails at each call made upon him to do his Christian duty.