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Inventing Film Language
In any new technology, it's the early adopters whose innovations and discoveries begin to map out what is possible. The first filmmakers had a lot to learn, but with eager audiences to please, they learnt quickly.
Most of the techniques we know today were in place by the end of the Victorian period: close-ups, pans and travelling shots; editing and principles of continuity, and numerous tricks and effects, from jump-cuts, to double-exposure and even split screen. Generations of later filmmakers would refine these methods, but the groundwork had already been done.
As Seen through a Telescope As Seen through a Telescope
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
A peeping Tom gets a shocking glimpse of stocking in this early take on film voyeurism.
Countryman and the Cinematograph Countryman and the Cinematograph
Comedy 1901 0 mins Silent
A country yokel gets a shock in an early example of a 'film within a film'.
Fire! Fire!
Drama 1901 5 mins Silent
A dramatic rescue from a burning building by heroic firemen is one of our most important films
Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller
Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent
Entertaining example of early 'special effects'
Grandma's Reading Glass Grandma's Reading Glass
Trick film 1900 1 mins Silent
A boy examines things through his Grandmother’s magnifying glass, and early film takes a huge step forward.
The Big Swallow The Big Swallow
Comedy 1901 1 mins Silent
A classic early film gag - and a big leap forward for a fast-evolving new art
Let Me Dream Again Let Me Dream Again
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
Harsh reality interrupts an older man's reverie of flirting with a pretty young woman
The Kiss in the Tunnel The Kiss in the Tunnel
Comedy 1899 2 mins Silent
A snatched kiss in a railway tunnel, played by real-life married couple GA Smith and Laura Bayley
The Kiss in the Tunnel The Kiss in the Tunnel
Comedy 1899 1 mins Silent
A classic saucy sketch, a chance for canoodling in the carriage as the train hits a tunnel
The Magic Sword A Mediaeval Mystery The Magic Sword A Mediaeval Mystery
Fairy tale 1901 3 mins Silent
This innovative 'trick' film is a fantastical children's pantomime in miniature
The House That Jack Built The House That Jack Built
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
All's well that ends well - which is exactly what happens when movie magic undoes a boy's wanton vandalism
Comic Faces - Old Man Drinking a Glass of Beer Comic Faces - Old Man Drinking a Glass of Beer
Comedy 1897 1 mins Silent
How many faces can one man pull while drinking one glass of beer? Far more than you might think
Spiders on a Web Spiders on a Web
1900 0 mins Silent
Dare you watch this footage of larger-than-life spiders - one of the earliest nature films of its type?
Are You There? Are You There?
Comedy 1901 1 mins Silent
Innovative early film, which invents its own 'split-screen' effect
Cheese Mites; Or, Lilliputians in a London Restaurant Cheese Mites; Or, Lilliputians in a London Restaurant
Trick film 1901 1 mins Silent
Discovering an infestation in a restaurant has never been as much fun as in this early trick film
The Puzzled Bather and His Animated Clothes The Puzzled Bather and His Animated Clothes
Trick film 1901 1 mins Silent
An entertaining early film 'trick'
The Haunted Curiosity Shop The Haunted Curiosity Shop
Fantasy 1901 2 mins
The strange objects in this shop are brought uncannily to life thanks to a series of early camera tricks
Waif and the Wizard; or, The Home Made Happy Waif and the Wizard; or, The Home Made Happy
Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent
A boy asks a magician to entertain his sick sister in this edition of RW Paul’s Sentimental Songs with Animated Illustrations.
Artistic Creation Artistic Creation
Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent
This burlesque film fantasy has striking sexual overtones - and a surprising feminist twist