All Films

Long Distance Wireless Photography

1908 • 6 min • France

Into a photography studio full of large fantastic machines steps an elderly couple. The bearded proprietor explains the equipment and gives them a demonstration: he starts machines whirring, and projects a painting of three women onto a large screen; suddenly the women begin to move. The customers are impressed. First the women sits in the special seat: she's projected onto the screen, and her good nature comes out in the laughing image. Then it's the man's turn, but the machine discloses a vastly different nature in him. Will his reaction threaten our proprietor's inventions?

Falsely Accused!

1908 • 7 min • United States of America

A wealthy old alchemist and inventor has just perfected a motion picture camera with which he hopes to revolutionize the art of animated photography, and our story opens with the old man in his library studying out the plans of his invention. A telegram calls him hurriedly away. He replaces the papers in his safe, but, in his haste, neglects to lock it, which oversight is pardonable, as his wife and daughter are in the room at the time. The daughter's hand is sought in marriage by a worthy young man, whose attentions are looked upon with favor by herself and her parents. But he has a rival in the person of a contemptible villain, whose motives are purely mercenary, reasoning that this new invention will greatly enhance the father's already ample wealth.

The New Lord of the Village

1908 • 2 min • France

There's a scene in a village, then there's a scene out in the wilderness with what appear to be gods, and a giant crab, and a giant frog... then there's another scene in the village... and that's it.

The Broken Violin

1908 • 3 min • France

If a violin was actually broken here we don't get to see it. Sadly this is one of many Georges Melies films that are only available in a fragment. Hopefully one day a complete print will turn up but until then at least we have this. The film starts off in some sort of bakery as the boss starts giving orders and then a bit later we see a young man pull out a violin he has been hiding and start to play it. The film then flashes to another location but this is where it cuts off so I'm not certain where the story went from here.

His First Job

1908 • 5 min • France

Georges Melies' film has a new guy showing up in a store on his first day and he obviously just doesn't fit in as he makes one mistake after another.

A Tricky Painter’s Fate

1908 • 4 min • France

A painter boards a train and puts his paintings in the windows so that they look like passengers.

The Tempest

1908 • 12 min • United Kingdom

Prospero and his daughter Miranda must take refuge on an enchanted island. There Prospero, who himself has magical powers, releases the spirit Ariel from a spell, and also meets the savage Caliban. Then Prospero uses his powers to create a tempest that shipwrecks some of the persons who caused his exile.

Female Conscripts

1908 • 4 min • Austria

A man in civil clothes, and three men in army uniforms are inspecting seven women to be recruited.

The Dream of an Opium Fiend

1908 • 5 min • France

The opium fiend is seen in a den, puffing on this terrible narcotic. He then falls fast asleep and dreams that he is at home with his wife. He asks for something to drink and he is given wine, which he does not care for, and he is finally given some bottled beer and a glass, but he complains that the glass is too small and he gets a very large sized glass receptacle, into which his wife and maid servant pour the contents of the bottle. As he is about to drink the glass passes from his hand mysteriously, sailing through the room and out of the window to the moon…

The Genii of Fire

1908 • 4 min • France

Not much of a plot. A couple is menaced by some sort of bizarre religious cult. Then they're saved.

The Miser

1908 • 5 min • France

This Georges Melies film is only available in a five-minute fragment. The film starts off with a title card setting up the events. An elderly miser keep all of his money to himself and refuses to help people no matter what they might need. We see him turn away a few people and then portions of the film are missing and we pick up later in the story as the old man is scared of something (apparently someone stole his money).

The Dreyfus Affair

1908 • 18 min • France

In this interesting picture we are given a vivid idea of the principal incidents connected with the Dreyfus case, which caused such a stir in military circles in the year of 1894. Alfred Dreyfus, an officer on the general staff, was charged with selling secrets to a foreign power. He was tried and judged guilty on flimsy evidence, and sentenced to imprisonment on Devil's Island, where he remained for eight years, until his influential friends, who took up his case in earnest, proved it was a plot formed by other officers, who subsequently confessed to having forged the documents.

Justinian's Human Torches

1908 • 4 min • France

During an orgy, Emperor Justinian orders three people to be torched alive.

The Last Days of Pompeii

1908 • 19 min • Italy

Pompeii 79AD, mere days before the Vesuvian eruption. Glaucus and Jone are in love with each other. Arbaces, the Egyptian High Priest, is determined to conquer Jone. Glaucus purchases Nydia, the blind and long-suffering slave. Nydia falls in love with Glaucus and asks Arbaces for his help. He gives her a potion to make Glaucus fall in love with her-- In fact, a poison which will cause violent insanity.

Les malheurs d'un photographe

1908 • 3 min • France

A family goes to a photographer. The photographer pushes the boy around, and no one seems to care. The boy gets his revenge.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1908 • 16 min • United States of America

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.

The Count of Monte Cristo

1908 • 14 min • United States of America

Adaptation of the novel by Alexandre Dumas

The Assassination of the Duke de Guise

1908 • 18 min • France

The film portrays the events on the day King Henri III of France arranged for Duke Henri de Guise to be murdered.

Pharmaceutical Hallucinations

1908 • 13 min • France

There's a chemistry lab, in which one or two people ingest the wrong drug -- apparently -- and have a seriously bad trip. Then there's this wizard in his cave, and a fairy appears -- then there's this massive feast with about a dozen people. Then it ends.

Unusual Cooking

1908 • 3 min • France

A chef comes into the kitchen and throws a lot of rags on the floor: he then casts a spell over them, and immediately they take the form of human beings, and dance a wild saraband around the place. After performing many unique tricks they disappear into space, and are replaced by a group of knives and forks, pans, kettles and spoons. (Moving Picture World)

Grandmother's Tale and Child's Dream

1908 • 5 min • France

The film begins with a grandmother reading a story to a small child before tucking them into bed. No sooner has the mite fallen asleep than they begin dreaming of an angel standing over their bed and whisking them off to a land of giant toys. The kid wanders around for a bit before being led away by a lady who takes them to a forest where other young ladies dressed as butterflies dance around a bit.

Sweet Dreams Intermingled With Nightmares

1908 • 5 min • France

A woman falls asleep on a park bench. The Devil appears and summons an imp who takes the woman to his fantastic lair. After a nightmarish episode, the woman awakens only to promptly doze off again. Now a fairy appears who shows the woman a beautiful dreamland.

The Puppet's Nightmare

1908 • 2 min • France

A nightmare, sketched out upon a living blackboard.

A Visit to the Seaside

1908 • 8 min • United Kingdom

The first successful motion picture in natural color, filmed with Kinemacolor. It is an 8 minute short film directed by George Albert Smith of Brighton, showing people doing everyday activities. It is ranked of high historical importance. Kinemacolor later influenced and replaced by Technicolor, which was used from 1916 to 1952.