All Films

Les mines de charbon de Hon Gay

1899 • 1 min • France

Local workers climb the slope pushing carts.

Catching the Ferry in Amsterdam

1899 • 1 min • Netherlands

Part of the 'Giant Postcards' series, a filmed entr'acte screened during the play 'De Nieuwe Prikkel' by August Reyding. Camilla and Roland take the pont across the IJ to go to the Tolhuis amusement park.

Arrivée du roi et de son état-major

1899 • 1 min • France

King Umberto I and his Staff, on horseback, parade in front of foot soldiers standing at attention.

Ladies on Bicycles

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

This is a ladies cycling display by the Catford Cycling Club in the summer of 1899 in London, England.

Brûleuses d'herbes

1899 • 1 min • France

A couple of women stand in a field, using pitch forks to separate burning grass. Men run away from the event. Meanwhile, a third woman stands to the right, drinking what I would guess is water from a pitcher, instead of using it to put out the fire.

The Maniac Barber

1899 • 1 min • United States of America

This scene is laid in a barber shop. A customer enters and takes his seat in the chair. The barber places the cloth about his neck, sharpens his razor, and then goes mad. He seizes a huge knife, cuts the man's head off, and takes it to a table some distance away. There he lathers and shaves the face; then taking the head back to the chair, he places it in his proper position on the trunk. The customer thereupon rises, none the worse for his experience, pays his bill, and leaves the shop.

Troops Passing Over Modder River by Train

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

A train, with locomotives and armoured cars at each end, passes over a temporary bridge erected over the Modder river; Seaforth Highlanders are riding in coal trucks and the train moves towards the camera.

Panorama of Calcutta

1899 • 2 min • United Kingdom, India

One of the earliest films to be shot in India apparently shows the Calcutta ghats - or does it?

Fregoli barbiere mago

1899 • 1 min • Italy

A man with a heavy beard and long hair comes into a barber shop. The barber wets down his hair, does a thorough job of cutting, leaving customer with a big bald patch, then wets down his hair again, and the man leaves with his hair intact as at the start.

Man Overboard!

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

Sailors practice rescuing someone who's fallen overboard.

Embarquement d'un bœuf à bord d'un navire

1899 • 1 min • France

Transport des bois par radeaux

1899 • 1 min

Four men tie ropes to a log and then pull it to the shore.

Naval Guns Firing at Colenso

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

Close shot of 4.7" naval gun pointing to the left with group of British naval ratings standing around it. The gun fires and the men run up to reload, the begin to pull the gun forward.

Panorama from the Tower of the Brooklyn Bridge

1899 • 1 min • United States of America

Filmed from the Brooklyn tower of the bridge, this is a panorama starting at Manhattan's Battery and then panning northward along the East River shoreline. Reportedly filmed somewhere between 1897 - 1899, though not copyrighted until 1903.

In Single File on Glaciers With Snowshoes, l. Montée

1899 • 1 min • France

Elephant March in Phnom Penh

1899 • 1 min • France

Short actuality capturing an elephant procession in the streets of Phnom Penh: elephants bearing riders, walking through public space in procession, as part of local ceremony or spectacle.

The Landing of Savage South Africa at Southampton

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

Members of the 'Savage South Africa' troupe at Southampton Docks. The film shows a group of Africans (Zulus) in full tribal attire at Southampton docks.

The Corset Model

1899 • 1 min • United States of America

The scene opens with a salesman displaying corsets to the buyer of a country store. He calls in a female model and tries a corset on her. While the buyer is looking at the figure, the salesman removes the head and arms and finally shows that instead of legs, she has a wire frame. This is one of the most effective trick pictures in our list.

The Attempt Against the Life of Maitre Labori

1899 • 1 min • France

Maître Labori is seen approaching the bridge of Rennes in company with Colonel Picquart and M. Gast, Mayor of Rennes. They notice that they are followed by another man to whom Colonel Picquart calls Labori's attention. They, however, consider his proximity of no importance, and continue to speak together. As soon as their backs are turned, the man draws a revolver and fires twice at Maître Labori, who is seen to fall to the ground. The culprit makes his escape, pursued by Colonel Picquart and M. Gast.

Indochina: Children Gathering Coins Scattered by Western Women

1899 • 1 min • France

Vietnamese children collect coins that are thrown them by two aristocratic ladies.

The Mysterious Knight

1899 • 2 min • France

A knight performs several magic tricks with a disembodied head materialized from a chalkboard drawing.

Fantastic Dining Room

1899 • 1 min • France

Showing the interior of a dining room of a modest cottage, whereto enter a young couple to partake in their meal, which is being served up by the maid. Suddenly the legs of the table are extended to three times their height; the dinner being elevated to this extent; in order to reach same they climb into the chairs. The table suddenly vanishes, but makes its appearance in another section of the room. It is practically a chase between them and the table, this finally disappearing altogether, and in its place is seen a gigantic bottle of "Scotch." Further surprising tricks are introduced, making this subject one of unusual interest. (Selig Catalog)

The Clown and Automobile

1899 • 2 min • France

The clown and his automobile enters with great puffs of smoke

The Fight of Reporters

1899 • 1 min • France

During an interval in the proceedings of the court martial, the journalists enter into an animated discussion, resulting in a dispute between Arthur Meyer of the 'Gaulois', and Mme. Severine of the 'Fronde', resulting in a fight between Dreyfusards and Anti-Dreyfusards, in which canes and chairs are brought down upon the heads of many. The room is finally cleared by the gendarmes.