Film Dictionary

1. "Fire" (James Williamson, UK) 2. "The Big Swallow" (James Williamson, UK) 3. "Histoire d'un crime...

Innovative British film about a country bumpkin who sees a film for the first time. Directed by Robert W. Paul. Remade a year later in the...

A man, objecting to being filmed, comes closer and closer to the camera lens until his mouth is all we see. Then he opens wide and swallows ...

Celebrated Georges Méliès' short about an inflatable rubber head. Wonderfully surrealistic.

Aka "Le miracle de la madone". The Virgin Mary saves a young maiden from the Devil.

Trick film about a dancing clown's body parts floating away and coming back again.

Short, but visually memorable film by Georges Méliès.

James Williamson directed this innovative film about a man running after a thief.

"La Maison tranquille" ("The Quiet House) ? A very misleading title, because this George Méliès' film is a wacky comedy...

Ferdinand Zecca directed this very short film about a flying machine. Produced by Pathé.

A young woman becomes the eighth wife of the wealthy Bluebeard, whose first seven wives have died under mysterious circumstances. An ambitio...

A bachelor visits a witch hoping to find a wife. A surprise awaits him.

A magician organizing a dinner party literally pulls his guests out of a hat.

Georges Méliès' film set in a magician's cavern, with dancing skeletons, chairs and tables.

A man dreams of a beautiful woman, but wakes up in bed with his ugly wife. Directed by Ferdinand Zecca.

And the sad answer is - not much. This Edison film was possibly an inspiration for that classic Marilyn Monroe scene in "The Seven Year...

A worm is put inside a cocoon et it emerges as a butterfly woman. Directed by Georges Méliès.

A magician performs various tricks.

  Made two years before “Life Of An American Fireman” (1903), this British film, directed by James Williamson, is far more innovative...

The first narrative film ever made, directed by Ferdinand Zecca. It's a story of a murder and punishment. Produced by Pathé. Length: 6 m...

1. "Le Déshabillage impossible" (Georges Méliès, France) 2. "Attack On A China Mission"  (James Williamson, UK) ...

Hilarious farce about a family trying to eat a meal.

Various tricks on stage.

A wrestling match.

Innovative British film directed by George A. Smith. The first use of the "focus pulling”. Remade a year later in France as ...

A Christmas dream.

The camera is run over by a speeding car in this impressive British film directed by Cecil M.Hepworth.

Film about a double conjurer, a living head and a devil.

Produced by American Mutoscope & Biograph. Directed by Arthur Marvin.

Historically significant as the first attempt to animate a drawing on screen. Directed by J.Stuart Blackton.

One of Georges Méliès' least impressive films.

A film about a magical book.

A British film, directed by George Albert Smith, which contains several POV shots (a novelty back in 1900).

Film about a wizard, a prince and a good fairy.

British film directed by James Williamson. The first successful use of a reverse angle shot.

The first use of jump cuts in the history of cinema? Unlikely. Probably just a old and used print with many frames missing.

A typical film by Georges Meliès, full of magic tricks.

British remake of “L'Arroseur arrose” (1895).