The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat 1896

7.09

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

1896

The Vanishing Lady

The Vanishing Lady 1896

6.20

Georges Méliès makes a woman disappear, then reappear.

1896

The Haunted Castle

The Haunted Castle 1896

6.50

In a medieval castle, a dark magician thought to be Mephistopheles conjures up a series of bizarre creatures and events in order to torment a pair of interloping cavaliers.

1896

Playing Cards

Playing Cards 1896

4.85

Three friends are playing cards in a beer garden. One of them orders drinks. The waitress comes back with a bottle of wine and three glasses on a tray. The man serves his friends. They clink glasses and drink. Then the man asks for a newspaper. He reads a funny story in it and the three friends burst out laughing while the waitress merely smiles.

1896

Demolition of a Wall

Demolition of a Wall 1896

6.30

Auguste Lumière directs four workers in the demolition of an old wall at the Lumière factory. One worker is pressing the wall inwards with a jackscrew, while another is pushing it with a pick. When the wall hits the ground, a cloud of white dust whirls up. Three workers continue the demolition of the wall with picks.

1896

The Kiss

The Kiss 1896

5.20

They get ready to kiss, begin to kiss, and kiss in a way that brings down the house every time.

1896

A Nightmare

A Nightmare 1896

6.00

A man has a fantastical nightmare involving, among other things, a grinning malevolent moon.

1896

The Cabbage-Patch Fairy

The Cabbage-Patch Fairy 1896

5.20

A brief fantasy tale involving a strange fairy who can produce and deliver babies coming out of cabbages. This film is lost or never existed. Copies of it online are actually the 1900 remake.

1896

A Terrible Night

A Terrible Night 1896

5.09

A man tries to get a good night's sleep, but is disturbed by a giant spider that leaps onto his bed, and a battle ensues in hilarious comic fashion.

1896

Sandow

Sandow 1896

5.10

Strong-man Eugene Sandow flexes his muscles and strikes a few poses in front of a black background. This was a short film shot by William K.L. Dickson for the American Mutoscope Company and is not the 1894 Edison film shot at the Black Maria.

1896

Lion, London Zoological Gardens

Lion, London Zoological Gardens 1896

4.80

A male lion, right next to bars that are about 6 or 8 inches apart, keenly watches a uniformed zoo attendant toss small morsels of food into the cage. The lion alternates between finding the food on the cage floor and reaching through the bars to swipe at the man, who stays alarmingly close to the beast. In the background are the large rocks and brick wall at the back of the lion's habitat.

1896

Bedtime for the Bride

Bedtime for the Bride 1896

4.70

A newlywed couple in front of their wedding-bed after their wedding. The woman undresses in front of her husband. A French erotic short film considered to be one of the first erotic films made.

1896

Game of Cards

Game of Cards 1896

5.60

Three men are sitting around a table, two of them playing a game of Écarté. When the game is over, a domestic serves drinks.

1896

Feeding the Doves

Feeding the Doves 1896

5.09

A woman and a young girl each carry containers of bird feed, and they toss occasional handfuls to the chickens and doves in the farmyard. Most of the chickens stay nearby, but the doves occasionally fly off and then return to eat more.

1896

Exit of Rip and the Dwarf

Exit of Rip and the Dwarf 1896

4.17

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

1896

Rough Sea at Dover

Rough Sea at Dover 1896

5.10

The surf pounds against a breakwater on which are visible several people standing. The wall looks to be about 20 feet above sea level and extend at least 100 feet into the water. A large wave rolls picturesquely along the wall toward the shore. Smaller waves follow. Then the scene changes to river water flowing. We see both shores: in the foreground a log and tree branch are visible; on the far shore, there appears to be a low wall with trees beyond it. The camera is stationary in both shots.

1896