All Films

An early hand-tinted adaptation of Ali Baba.

It is the depths of winter, and the snow is falling. The desolate landscape casts a melancholic note over the scene. A poor peasant woman awaits her husband, who has gone to gather firewood in the forest. When he finally arrives, they lament their sad fate. If only they had a child! This wish has been granted by the Spring Fairy, who appears before them. With a wave of her magic wand, she transforms the scene into a cheerful, flowery landscape. They themselves are dressed in rich costumes. The fairy summons flowers, which flow into her hand to form a magnificent bouquet, instantly transformed into a beautiful pink baby, which she gives to them. Then she vanishes, leaving them overflowing with joy and longing. This film, tinted in Barcelona by Segundo de Chomón, is currently lost and should not be confused with the remake done by Vincent Lorant-Heilbronn in 1905, also tinted by Chomón in Paris, which is widely available to watch.

A magician performs tricks with a chicken and eggs.

A woman shows off her trained dogs.

Porter's sequential continuity editing links several shots to form a narrative of the famous fairy tale story of Jack and his magic beanstalk. Borrowing on cinematographic methods reminiscent of 'Georges Melies' , Porter uses animation, double exposure, and trick photography to illustrate the fairy's apparitions, Jack's dream, and the fast growing beanstalk.

A happy family is brought to ruin when the father starts drinking.

"Danse excentrique" (Gaumont #587) is part of the "Miss Lina Esbrard. Danseuse cosmopolite et serpentine" series of 4 films, and should not be confused with "Danse serpentine" (Gaumont #588, the only extant film in the series), "Danse fantaisiste" (Gaumont #589) or "La Gigue" (Gaumont #590).

A Swiss tourist knocks the head off a negro waiter.

Old woman sews patch on grandson’s trousers while friends jeer.

Aristocracy, army, elephants and more mark the start of the 1903 Durbar.

A fighting couple gets interrupted by the landlady.

Evocative film of the passengers and crew of a ship docked at Liverpool.

A daredevil rides his bicycle down a ramp and attempts to land in a pool of water as a crowd of spectators watches.

The might of the British Navy struts its stuff down the Manchester Ship Canal.

Edwardian cycling competition.

Did he bowl or did he throw? A fascinating record of an early cricketing controversy.

This is a news actuality film of the former Commander in Chief of the Boer War, Lord Roberts, visiting Manchester to much hoopla.

A film from the UK based Mitchell & Kenyon.

A film from the UK based Mitchell & Kenyon.

A film from the UK based Mitchell & Kenyon.

"This film shows the citation, presentation, and dedication of a bridge by the Duke of York, later King of England and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth. Many high-ranking military officials of both England and Canada are with him"- Early motion pictures.

A group of people exiting an enormous carriage.

In this picture we show President Roosevelt and Cabinet standing at the station with bare heads, while the casket of President McKinley is being placed in the hearse...