Classic Movies

Several little boys run along a pier, then jump into the ocean -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Cinematography Louis Lumière Release date 1895 Running time 38 seconds Country France Language Silent

An impudent child plays a prank on a gardener innocently watering his plants -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Starring François Clerc Benoît Duval Cinematography Louis Lumière Release date 10 June 1895 Running time 45 seconds Country France Language Silent

The seventh sequence of the "Wintergartenprogramm (1895)" by the Skladanowsky Brothers. In it, a young female dancer with large, flowing robes, swirls round herself quickly, making her light robe flow around her like a butterfly's wings -- IMDB Directed by Max Skladanowsky Produced by Max Skladanowsky Cinematography Max Skladanowsky Release date November 1, 1895 Running time 6 seconds Country German Empire Language Silent

Outdoors, with a nondescript building in the background, four men stand, each holding the corner of a blanket stretched parallel to the ground. They wear the clothes of laborers. By the back corner on our left stands a uniformed man who seems in charge. A sixth man stands back from the blanket about six paces; he runs forward and takes a leap but stops at the edge of the blanket and is upbraided by the uniformed gent. The same thing happens a second time, but the next three times, he completes a flip, landing on his back in the middle of the blanket, and the four then boost him out toward the camera. The final time seems like it will be his last for awhile -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Cinematography Louis Lumière Release dates 1895 July 1896 (Finland) Running time 41 seconds Country France Language Silent

Directed by Birt Acres Produced by Birt Acres Robert W. Paul Cinematography Birt Acres Release date 1895 Running time 18 seconds Country United Kingdom Language Silent

A baby held by his father dips his little hands into a water jug and he can' t catch the goldfish -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Cinematography Louis Lumière Release date 1895 Running time 38 seconds Country France Language Silent

The earliest extant sound film. William K.L. Dickson stands in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder. As he plays a violin, two men dance in the foreground. This film was made to demonstrate a new Thomas Edison machine, the Kinetophone. These machines were Kinetoscope peepshow viewers mated with Thomas Edison wax cylinder phonographs. But the Kinetophone never caught on and this film was never released. The film still exists, but the phonograph soundtrack has been lost -- IMDB Directed by Alfred Clark Produced by Thomas Edison Starring Robert Thomae Cinematography William Heise Distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company Release date August 28, 1895 Running time 18 seconds Country United States Language Silent film

The earliest extant sound film. William K.L. Dickson stands in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder. As he plays a violin, two men dance in the foreground. This film was made to demonstrate a new Thomas Edison machine, the Kinetophone. These machines were Kinetoscope peepshow viewers mated with Thomas Edison wax cylinder phonographs. But the Kinetophone never caught on and this film was never released. The film still exists, but the phonograph soundtrack has been lost -- IMDB Directed by William Dickson Starring William Dickson Cinematography William Heise Music by Robert Planquette Distributed by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Running time 17 seconds Country United States

A butcher puts a full-grown live pig into his large box-like machine. Moments later, he draws out a full range of pork products, many already packaged for sale -- IMDB Directed by Lumière Brothers Release date 1895/1896 Country France

Two men play cards, as a third watches and a waiter brings drinks. The third man pours drinks as the waiter laughs -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Starring Antoine Féraud Cinematography Louis Lumière Release dates 1895 July 1896 (Finland) Running time 43 seconds Country France Language Silent

The third sequence of the "Wintergartenprogramm (1895)" by the Skladanowsky Brothers. In it, a man and a kangaroo stand up in front of each other with boxing gloves, and simulate a boxing match on a theatre stage -- IMDB Directed by Max Skladanowsky Produced by Max Skladanowsky Starring Mr. Delaware Cinematography Max Skladanowsky Distributed by Skladanowsky (Berlin) Release date 1 November 1895 Country German Empire Language Silent

Three men in a rowboat are leaving the harbor -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Cinematography Louis Lumière Release date 1895 Running time 46 seconds Country France Language Silent

Two blacksmiths work while the vapors rise in the air. Later, another man arrives and offers a drink -- IMDB Directed by Louis Lumière Produced by Louis Lumière Cinematography Louis Lumière Release dates 1895 28 June 1896 (Finland) Running time 49 seconds Country France Language Silent

The first sequence of the "Wintergartenprogramm (1895)" by the Skladanowsky Brothers. In it, two children, Ploetz and Larella, perform an Italian peasant dance -- IMDB Directed by Max Skladanowsky Cinematography Max Skladanowsky Distributed by Grunato GmbH Release date 2 November 1895 [1] Country German Empire Language Silent

Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dance routines. She uses her dance steps and her long, flowing skirts to create a variety of visual patterns -- IMDB Directed by William K.L. Dickson William Heise Produced by William Heise Starring Annabelle Moore Production company Edison Manufacturing Company Distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company Release date 1895 Running time 45 seconds Country United States Language Silent

The fifth sequence of the "Wintergartenprogramm (1895)" by the Skladanowsky Brothers. In it, eight circus performers known as the Grunato Family perform their famous balancing act -- IMDB Directed by Max Skladanowsky Emil Skladanowsky Produced by Max Skladanowsky Starring Grunato family Cinematography Max Skladanowsky Distributed by Grunato GmbH Release date 1 November 1895 Running time 6 seconds Country German Empire Language Silent

The water beats relentlessly against the Hell's Mouth (Boca do Inferno), one of the main natural attractions of Lisbon's west coast, filmed from above almost in a vertical plunge onto the deep, rocky ground -- IMDB Directed by Henry Short Produced by Robert W. Paul Cinematography Henry Short Production company Paul's Animatograph Works Release date 22 October 1896 Running time 13 secs Country United Kingdom Language Silent

William McKinley in William McKinley at Canton, Ohio (1896) "This view was taken upon Mr. McKinley's lawn at his home in Canton, Ohio. Mr. McKinley appears walking across the lawn in company with his Secretary, who hands him a telegram, which he reads with apparent satisfaction. The characteristic walk and gestures of Mr. McKinley will be noted with interest by his friends. -- William McKinley in William McKinley at Canton, Ohio (1896) "This view was taken upon Mr. McKinley's lawn at his home in Canton, Ohio. Mr. McKinley appears walking across the lawn in company with his Secretary, who hands him a telegram, which he reads with apparent satisfaction. The characteristic walk and gestures of Mr. McKinley will be noted with interest by his friends. -- IMDB Duration: 1 minute and 12 seconds.1:12 Produced by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company Starring William McKinley Ida Saxton McKinley George Cortelyou Release date September 1896 Country United States Languages Silent film English intertitles

Directed by John Macintyre Produced by John Macintyre Release date 1896 Running time 1 min 1 sec Country Scotland Language Silent

In a medium close-up shot of the first kiss ever recorded on screen, two fervent lovers cuddle and talk passionately at hair's breadth, just before the love-smitten gentleman decides to give his chosen one an innocent peck -- IMDB Directed by William Heise Starring May Irwin John Rice Distributed by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Release date April–May 1896 Running time 18 seconds Country United States Language silent

Husband comes home late and wakes the wife -- IMDB Written by Paul Clerget Produced by Robert W. Paul Starring Paul Clerget Ethel Ross-Selwicke Production company Paul's Animatograph Works Release date August 1896 Running time 1 min 8 secs Country United Kingdom Language Silent

One of the prettiest pictures of child life we have yet offered. Two pretty children are seated in their high chairs playing "Tea Party" with their dishes arranged about them. They become engaged in a dispute over the possession of a piece of cake and one of them cries, giving the most perfect and child-like facial expressions we have yet had the pleasure of seeing -- IMDB Directed by Robert W. Paul Produced by Robert W. Paul Production company Paul's Animatograph Works Release date August 1896 Running time 20 secs Country United Kingdom Language Silent

Comic Costume Race (1896) Amongst the most interesting of these is that representing the scene of the music hall sports at Herne-Hill. The particular event depicted is the costume race, and the manner in which the competitors scramble into their fancy dresses and tear down the course causes the heartiest merriment -- IMDB Directed by Robert W. Paul Produced by Robert W. Paul Cinematography Robert W. Paul Production company Paul's Animatograph Works Release date 1896 Running time 1 min Country United Kingdom Language Silent

An actuality record of Blackfriars Bridge, London, taken from the southern end looking northwards over the Thames by R.W.Paul in July 1896. It was screened as part of his Alhambra Theatre programme shortly afterwards, certainly no later than 31 August, as it is included in a printed programme of that date (as 'Traffic on Blackfriars Bridge'). Two or three of the pedestrians seem aware of the camera's presence, though not to any particularly noticeable extent -- IMDB Directed by Robert W. Paul Produced by Robert W. Paul Cinematography Robert W. Paul Production company Paul's Animatograph Works Release date August 1896 Running time 25 secs Country United Kingdom Language Silent

Angelic and demonic serpentine dances from dawn of cinema by the Lumière Brothers film, called the Serpentine Dance. The dancer is Loie Fuller; the pioneer modern dancer. Recorded in 1896 in Paris, and hand-colored frame by frame -- IMDB