All Films

A Bad (K)night

1899 • 2 min • United States of America

A portly clubman comes home after a social session considerably the worse for the wear. In the hall he encounters a suit of armor which has all the appearances of being alive; and he is so badly frightened that he collapses in a chair, where he is discovered by his wife, and marched off to bed.

A Midnight Episode

1899 • 1 min • France

A sleeping apartment of a friend who retires for the night. The rays of the moon are shining upon the bed through the window. He is suddenly awakened by a bug of gigantic proportions crawling over him. This he attacks and destroys, but before again retiring he notices three more climbing up the wall. He lights the candle and applies the flame to each, causing them to explode with fine smoke effect. After this slaughter he retires in contentment and soon sleeps the sleep of the just. A very funny subject.

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

"An interesting picture of the great inter-collegiate eight-oared boat race of 1899. The picture is taken from the judge's boat, and shows the start and first part of the race."

Christ Walking on Water

1899 • 2 min • France

Showing the rolling sea, upon which gradually appears a cloud of mist. From this evolves the figure of Christ, who proceeds to walk on the waves. The rolling movement of the water and the sudden apparition certainly give a most startling effect, illustrating the biblical miracle of Christ walking on the water.

The Inexhaustible Cab

1899 • 1 min • United Kingdom

A cab is hailed in front of a palatial mansion by a gentleman who wishes a score of people driven to another part of the city. A clown jumps out and a satisfactory agreement is made between the clown and the gentleman, and a score or so of persons are hustled in one at a time until the clown succeeds in piling in the whole lot except Bridget, who is carrying a child. The persistent clown, in order to assist the nurse, who tips the scale at 400 pounds, takes the child from her. After caressing it he tosses it on top of the cab. He then picks up a board and uses it with good effect on the extremities of the fat woman, until she is forced into the cab, which drives away with its load of humanity.

Dreyfus Leaving the Lycée for Jail

1899 • 1 min

One of eleven installments of The Dreyfus Affair (L'affaire Dreyfus), a docudrama reconstructing the historical Dreyfus Affair, which was still playing out as the series was being filmed. This film is the last of the 11 installments in the "Dreyfus Affair" film series by Georges Melies. Notable for the fact that this last segment was banned from the public as disputes broke up at the viewing of it, and today it is one of two films that is currently not available to the public.

The Court Martial at Rennes

1899 • 2 min • France

The infamous Dreyfus is finally brought before a court martial.

Suicide of Colonel Henry

1899 • 1 min • France

Shows the interior of the cell of the Prison Militaire du Cherche-Midi, Paris, where Colonel Henry is confined. He is seated at a table writing a letter, on completion of which he rises and takes a razor out he had concealed in his porte-manteau, with which he cuts his throat. The suicide is discovered by the sergeant of the guard and officers.

Dreyfus Put in Irons

1899 • 1 min • France

Showing the interior view of the hut in which Dreyfus is confined. The scene takes place at night, showing the moon through the window of the cell. Two guards stealthily approach the cot upon which Dreyfus is sleeping. They awake him and read to him the order from the French minister–M. Lebon–to put him into irons, which they proceed at once to accomplish. Dreyfus vigorously protests against this treatment, which protests, however, fall on deaf ears. The chief sergeant and guards before leaving the hut, inspect the four corners of same by means of a lantern.

Opium Den

1899 • 1 min • France

A century-old film depicting opium smokers in French Indochina (Vietnam).

Flower Parade in Haarlem

1899 • 1 min • Netherlands

In April the bloemencorso (flower parade) takes place in Haarlem in the Netherlands. This shot shows groups of carriages, festooned with flowers parading in a grassy area with onlookers.

Firemen Rescuing Men and Women

1899 • 1 min

Shows the efficiency of modern life-saving methods and apparatus now in use by the fire departments. Shows the front of a building burning and two ladders raised against it. Through a thick cloud of smoke and sparks membes of the fire companies are ascending. Entering the windows they pass unfortunate occupants to their comrades, who in turn take them safely to the ground.—Edison Catalog

Dreyfus Court Martial - Arrest Of Dreyfus

1899 • 1 min • France

Du Paty de Clam requests Captain Dreyfus to write as he dictates for the purpose of ascertaining whether his handwriting conforms to that of the Bordereau. He notices the nervousness of Dreyfus, and accuses him of being the author of the Bordereau. Paty de Clam offers Dreyfus a revolver, with advice to commit suicide. The revolver is scornfully rejected, Dreyfus stating that he had no need for such cowardly methods, proclaiming his innocence. His arrest is immediately ordered by M. Cochefort.

Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes

1899 • 1 min • France

Showing room at the military prison at Rennes in which Dreyfus the accused is confined. He is visited by his counsel, Maître Labori and Demange, with whom he is seen in animated conversation. A visit from his wife is announced, who enters. The meeting of the husband and wife is most pathetic and emotional.

Devil's Island - Within the Palisade

1899 • 1 min • France

A reenactment of a scene inside Devil's Island prison.

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon

1899 • 1 min • France

A section of the port Haliquen (Quiberon) Bretagne, at night where Dreyfus was landed by French marines, and officers after his transport from Devil's Island. He is received by the French authorities, officers, and gendarmes, and conducted to the station for his departure to Rennes. This little scene was enacted on a dark rainy night, which is clearly shown in the film. The effects are further heightened by vivid flashes of lightning which are certainly new in cinematography.

Extravagant Struggles

1899 • 1 min • France

In a square room, two men and two women, in white body-hugging clothes, try on wrestling holds, each with a partner of the same sex.

The Dreyfus Affair

1899 • 13 min • France

The first movie ever censored for political reasons. The title refers to the then contemporaneous Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish military officer was falsely convicted of treason, and it was alleged that he was framed due to anti-semitism.

The Mysterious Portrait

1899 • 1 min • France

A magician produces a living portrait of himself.

The Little Girl and Her Cat

1899 • 1 min • France

A little girl sits at a table, holding a container of what appears to be some sort of food. Suddenly there's a flash of movement: a tortoiseshell cat, with long hair and a very furry tail, has leapt onto the table.

The Degradation of Dreyfus

1899 • 1 min

The Jewish ex-officer Alfred Dreyfus's degradation. He stands in a military quadrant and the Adjutant proceeds to tear off his medals; Dreyfus is compelled to pass in front of the troops in disgrace. Star Film catalog #216, this is part of Melies's Dreyfus Affair film series and is the second installment. It is one of two installments that has either been destroyed or never restored, and is thus not currently available to the public.

The Devil in a Convent

1899 • 3 min • France

A priest is officiating at a convent, when suddenly he is transformed into the devil, who frightens away the nuns and turns the place into pandemonium.

An Up-to-Date Conjurer

1899 • 1 min • France

A film from Méliès has him playing a magician who does a few tricks including making a woman disappear.

Summoning the Spirits

1899 • 1 min • France

A bearded man hangs up a wreath and, like any good magician, waves his hands inside of it and under it to show us it's only a wreath…