All Films

Ma fille n'épousera qu'un médium

1909 • 5 min • France

Jenny's father, a crank and a spiritualist, wishing to obtain a medium to aid him in his researches, inserts an advertisement in the paper to the effect that he desires to marry his daughter to a medium. Jenny thereupon runs away with her lover, Reggie, and the two concoct a little plan by which they can get married. Disguised as a Turk, Reggie calls and states he is willing to marry the spiritualist's daughter. Jenny's father is distracted at the loss of his daughter, so he begs the supposed medium to trace his daughter by occult means. Needless to say this is not a difficult matter to Reggie, who after leading the spiritualist a wild-goose chase over the country, brings him back to his own home (to which Jenny has returned in the meantime) and shows him his daughter hidden away in a cupboard. Tableau of delighted father, unmasking and blessings on the young couple.

Wild Birds in Their Haunts

1909 • 4 min • France

The picture shows various kinds of birds in their natural environments, and in their natural colors, and at such close range that the very eyes of the little fledglings in the nest are easily discerned. Every feather seems distinct and the birds seem to be in such relief that it appears as though one could almost reach out and catch them.

Spring: Episode 2 - On the Ponds / The Love Conductor

1909 • 1 min • France

Nymphs and cupids dance in celebration of the arrival of Spring.

Reminicências

1909 • 11 min • Brazil

Il polentone a Pont Canavese

1909 • 7 min • Italy

During the carnival in Pont Canavese a polenta is prepared in the square and the whole town finds itself rejoicing around the stage and the big pot. The brentatori fill the saucepan with water, the cooks begin the preparation. The passing of the band on a cart cheers the villagers. The steaming polenta is ready: it is overturned on a table and a pennant is planted in the middle: “Ricordo dei Rivarolesi ai Pontesi 1909”. The crowd eagerly awaits the distribution of the rations and begins the binge.

Les exploits d'Houdini à Paris; ou, Les merveilleux expoits d'Houdini

1909 • 2 min • France

Houdini and his wife Bess are walking along the Seine in Paris, when he encounters a melee between a drunkard and the police. In the ensuing confusion, Houdini is arrested and taken to the police station where he is handcuffed, manacles, shackled, straitjacketed and otherwise tied up to a chair. He escapes from all these restraints. The film, originally shot in 1901, and re-shot in 1909, is intended as a way of recording the amazing escapes of Houdini the illusionist.

Stockholm Industrial Arts Exhibition 1909

1909 • 7 min

Images from the entrance by boat and through the exhibits of the Konstindustriutställningen, which began in June.

Oyster Fishing at Whitstable

1909 • 4 min • United Kingdom

The journey of the oyster from seabed to dinner plate.

Paludi Pontine

1909 • 8 min

Early travelogue

Aviation Week at Rheims

1909 • 9 min • United Kingdom, France

Newsfilm about the world’s first aviation meeting

Ceremônias e Festa da Igreja em S. Maria

1909 • 5 min

Celebrations for the consecration and inauguration of the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on December 5, 1909. People leaving the church for the celebration, the fair and the procession. At the train station: the boarding platform, the service cars, the passengers and the locomotive departing.

Wordplay

1909 • 2 min • Russia

Rio Picturesque

1909 • 7 min

A walk through the streets, buildings and gardens of Rio de Janeiro, including high waves and tides advancing into the roads.

Circuito de São Gonçalo

1909 • 8 min • Brazil

It's the oldest Brazilian movie that survived and the film that captured the first car race in Brazil.

Dances from Different Eras

1909 • 3 min • Sweden

A dance demonstrated by Emma Meissner & Rosa Grünberg.

The King Amuses Himself

1909 • 31 min

Moines et guerriers

1909 • 7 min

El pericón nacional

1909 • 4 min • Argentina

Documentary footage of folk-dancers.

Impressions of Trier

1909 • 5 min • Germany

Impressions of Trier, ca. 1902-1909.

The Corpus Christi Procession in Trier

1909 • 3 min • Germany

Marzen photographs this multi-shot document of a Catholic procession.

Jealous Dog

1909 • 6 min • France

An old woman and her jealous dog.

The Star of Bethlehem

1909 • 8 min • United States of America

Youghal Clock Tower

1909 • 1 min • Ireland

The Youghal Clock Tower is a light-hearted and playful exploration of the possibilities of animation in its infancy. In this short, the well-known landmark is depicted dancing into frame as the clock gate comes to life, spinning and dancing through the main street of the Cork town. It is likely that James Horgan was one of the earliest animators in Irish film history, as he experimented with film production techniques including stop-motion animation and the use of models, as well as retouching still photographs.

Paper Manufacturing

1909 • 8 min • Italy

Short documentary