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Victorian Entertainment

"We are not amused", said Queen Victoria - or so we're told. Her subjects, though, were eager for all manner of entertainments. The first films made their homes in the fairground and the music hall, and the first filmmakers - several of them originally showmen or magic lanternists - were more than happy to supply the laughs, drama and thrills that audiences demanded.

Comic skits, sight gags, dramatic scenes and the like were hugely popular. Non-fiction subjects outnumbered entertainments, but it was the second that inspired early filmmakers to many of their greatest innovations, from 'facials' (the first close-ups) to 'tricks', the prototype for modern special effects.

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The Beggar's DeceitThe Beggar's Deceit

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A copper pursues a cheeky beggar who can't possibly escape justice - or can he?

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Spiders on a WebSpiders on a Web

19000 minsSilent

Dare you watch this footage of larger-than-life spiders - one of the earliest nature films of its type?

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Come Along, Do!Come Along, Do!

Comedy18981 minsSilent

A museum visitor takes an interest in a nude sculpture - to his wife's annoyance - in a sadly incomplete early film comedy

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Railway CollisionRailway Collision

Drama19001 minsSilent

An impressive early film special effect

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Comic Faces - Old Man Drinking a Glass of BeerComic Faces - Old Man Drinking a Glass of Beer

Comedy18971 minsSilent

How many faces can one man pull while drinking one glass of beer? Far more than you might think

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How It Feels to Be Run OverHow It Feels to Be Run Over

Trick film19001 minsSilent

A terrifying first-person brush with death at the hands of a dangerous driver

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The Magic ExtinguisherThe Magic Extinguisher

Trick film19012 minsSilent

You'll never guess quite what this chap can hide under his cone...

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A Quick Shave and Brush-upA Quick Shave and Brush-up

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A Victorian gentleman's quaint morning routine - complete with cut-throat razor, scent and powder

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Catching the Milk ThiefCatching the Milk Thief

Comedy18991 minsSilent

A tramp helps himself to a farmer's milk in this knockabout Victorian comedy

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Clown and PoliceClown and Police

Trick film19002 minsSilent

A Victorian vaudeville routine is given the big screen treatment with camera tricks galore.

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A Photograph Taken from Our Area WindowA Photograph Taken from Our Area Window

Comedy19011 minsSilent

Street-level storytelling with a saucy twist in this voyeuristic Victorian comedy

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Children in the NurseryChildren in the Nursery

Comedy18981 minsSilent

Seen but not heard? Three children get up to mischief after mother puts them to bed in this Victorian entertainment.

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Artistic CreationArtistic Creation

Trick film19012 minsSilent

This burlesque film fantasy has striking sexual overtones - and a surprising feminist twist

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FootpadsFootpads

Crime18961 minsSilent

A simple special effect enlivens an early crime film

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The Child, Dog and PramThe Child, Dog and Pram

Non-Fiction19001 minsSilent

This Victorian girl is engrossed in her games, and no wonder, with a dog, two cats and a doll to play with

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Grandma's Reading GlassGrandma's Reading Glass

Trick film19001 minsSilent

A boy examines things through his Grandmother’s magnifying glass, and early film takes a huge step forward.

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Answering a CallAnswering a Call

Non-Fiction19011 minsSilent

Fire! These early 20th-century firemen ride to the rescue on horse-drawn engines, bicycles and even a tandem

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Explosion of a Motor CarExplosion of a Motor Car

Comedy19002 minsSilent

A hapless copper is left to pick up the pieces after a gruesome collision of early trick cinema and cartoonish comedy

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Herbert Campbell As Little BobbyHerbert Campbell As Little Bobby

Comedy18991 minsSilent

A not-so-little variety star shows off his appetite

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Lady and the BoatLady and the Boat

Comedy18991 minsSilent

It's not easy for a Victorian lady to maintain her dignity on the water - and this clown certainly doesn't help

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Hanging out the Clothes; Or, Master, Mistress and MaidHanging out the Clothes; Or, Master, Mistress and Maid

Comedy18972 minsSilent

A philandering husband gets hung out to dry on laundry day

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Lady and PuppiesLady and Puppies

Interest film19011 minsSilent

Four wriggling puppies make for more than an armful - as a young woman discovers in this charming short film

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Man in BedroomMan in Bedroom

Trick film19012 minsSilent

A Victorian gentleman undresses for bed. Rest assured that this film contains absolutely no nudity!

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Miss BayleyMiss Bayley

Non-Fiction19000 minsSilent

Backstage at a music hall, an actress prepares for her performance.

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Grandma Threading Her NeedleGrandma Threading Her Needle

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Granny's eyesight may be failing, but she won't rest until she has threaded her needle, and given us a giggle too

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RobberyRobbery

Crime18971 minsSilent

A Victorian gentleman is robbed at gunpoint, not just for his wallet but for his hat and suit as well. Oh, the humiliation

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Scandal over the TeacupsScandal over the Teacups

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Well, did you ever? Two women share juicy stories, and enjoyably shocked reactions, over tea

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Soda Syphon JokeSoda Syphon Joke

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Ooh la la! This chap becomes a little too engrossed in his French magazine, and ends up taking a cold shower

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The BathersThe Bathers

Comedy19002 minsSilent

A simple special effect gives an eerily comic twist to this film of Victorian gentleman taking some outdoor exercise

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Winning the V.C.Winning the V.C.

War19001 minsSilent

A Boer War skirmish… filmed in Blackburn

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Stop Thief!Stop Thief!

Comedy19012 minsSilent

After him! A tramp stealing meat kicks off one of the very first film chases

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The Biter BitThe Biter Bit

Comedy18981 minsSilent

Film's first joke? A fresh take on an old prank.

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The Burning StableThe Burning Stable

Drama19002 minsSilent

All hands to the pump as firemen and passersby tackle a fire and save the horses from a stable smothered in smoke

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As Seen through a TelescopeAs Seen through a Telescope

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A peeping Tom gets a shocking glimpse of stocking in this early take on film voyeurism.

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Man by BedMan by Bed

Trick film19011 minsSilent

When the bed itself is tossing and turning, how is a man supposed to get his rest?

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Two Old SportsTwo Old Sports

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A conversation between two gents perks up when they see a picture of a beautiful actress in a magazine

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The Haunted Curiosity ShopThe Haunted Curiosity Shop

Fantasy19012 mins

The strange objects in this shop are brought uncannily to life thanks to a series of early camera tricks

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The House That Jack BuiltThe House That Jack Built

Comedy19001 minsSilent

All's well that ends well - which is exactly what happens when movie magic undoes a boy's wanton vandalism

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The Kissing CoupleThe Kissing Couple

Drama18991 minsSilent

This sequence of increasingly enthusiastic smooches was hot stuff in 1899

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Three Linotype MachinesThree Linotype Machines

Advert19001 mins

Early advertising film demonstrating the machinery which revolutionised the printing industry

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Tommy Atkins in the ParkTommy Atkins in the Park

Comedy18981 minsSilent

A soldier takes boisterous revenge when an unwelcome stranger interrupts his romantic moment

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Mister MoonMister Moon

Trick film19011 minsSilent

Musical comedian Percy Honri is a ukulele-playing man-in-the-moon in this early skit

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Lover Kisses HusbandLover Kisses Husband

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A husband catches his wife with another man and takes his revenge

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Cheese MitesCheese Mites

Comedy19032 minsSilent

What’s in your cheese? The microscopic mites here are unpleasant today but caused a sensation in 1903, in one of the Britain’s earliest exhibited scientific films.

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Are You There?Are You There?

Comedy19011 minsSilent

Innovative early film, which invents its own 'split-screen' effect

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Shelling the Red CrossShelling the Red Cross

War19001 minsSilent

A dramatised Boer War scene

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Policeman in SchoolroomPoliceman in Schoolroom

Comedy19011 minsSilent

A pantomime kitchen scene

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The Bill PosterThe Bill Poster

Comedy18991 minsSilent

An early film in-joke

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The Death of Poor JoeThe Death of Poor Joe

Drama19001 minsSilent

A scene from Bleak House is the first ever screen adaptation of Charles Dickens

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The Dull RazorThe Dull Razor

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Close-up of a close - and painful - shave

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The Bride's First NightThe Bride's First Night

Comedy18981 minsSilent

Saucy comedy about a bride modestly disrobing whilst the husband peeks from behind a screen

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The Puzzled Bather and His Animated ClothesThe Puzzled Bather and His Animated Clothes

Trick film19011 minsSilent

An entertaining early film 'trick'

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Deonzo BrothersDeonzo Brothers

Performance19011 minsSilent

The fabulous Deonzo Brothers in a spectacular barrel-jumping stage act

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The Dispatch BearerThe Dispatch Bearer

War19001 minsSilent

Mitchell & Kenyon enter the action genre, reimagining a Boer War skirmish - with Blackburn standing in for South Africa.

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Two A.M.; Or, The Husband's ReturnTwo A.M.; Or, The Husband's Return

Comedy18961 minsSilent

A drunken spouse gets his just desserts in a timeless scene

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The Lassie and Her DogThe Lassie and Her Dog

Comedy19013 minsSilent

A pet dog submits to his mistress’s beautifying ministrations

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Two Laughing MenTwo Laughing Men

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Two men lose it laughing at something in a magazine

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Will Evans, The Musical EccentricWill Evans, The Musical Eccentric

Comedy18991 minsSilent

Music hall chairs: impressive acrobatics in a Victorian music hall act

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Two WrestlersTwo Wrestlers

Sport19001 mins

An early demonstration of Greco-Roman wrestling for the benefit of the camera

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Attack on a China Mission - Bluejackets to the RescueAttack on a China Mission - Bluejackets to the Rescue

War19001 minsSilent Location: Brighton

Fictional treatment of a contemporary atrocity story from the 1900 Boxer rebellion in China.

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Weary WillieWeary Willie

Comedy18981 minsSilent Location: West Yorkshire

Comic hijinks with a malodorous tramp

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The Artist's ModelThe Artist's Model

Comedy18981 minsSilent

A mischievous model turns on the artist

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Woman, Dog and PupsWoman, Dog and Pups

Interest film19011 minsSilent

Beautifully-preserved early film of a young girl feeding some excitable puppies

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Afternoon Tea al FrescoAfternoon Tea al Fresco

19001 minsSilent

An overeager guest disrupts teatime in this enigmatic slice of Victorian drama.

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The Magic Sword A Mediaeval MysteryThe Magic Sword A Mediaeval Mystery

Fairy tale19013 minsSilent

This innovative 'trick' film is a fantastical children's pantomime in miniature

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Arrest of Goudie (1901)Arrest of Goudie (1901)

Crime19016 minsSilent Location: Berry St, Liverpool

Crimewatch Mitchell and Kenyon style, in the first ever film to recreate a true crime.

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Beheading a Chinese BoxerBeheading a Chinese Boxer

War19001 minsSilent

A grisly early fictional reconstruction inspired by atrocity stories from China's Boxer Rebellion.

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Aunt Selina - Takes Snuff, Sews and Plays with Her CatsAunt Selina - Takes Snuff, Sews and Plays with Her Cats

Comedy19001 mins

This ‘facial’ comedy showcases the rubber face of Tom Green.

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Attack on a Mission StationAttack on a Mission Station

War19001 minsSilent Location: Blackburn

Dramatised account of Chinese rebels' violent confrontation with Christian missionaries, made in the wake of the Boxer Rebellion.

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Countryman and the CinematographCountryman and the Cinematograph

Comedy19010 minsSilent

A country yokel gets a shock in an early example of a 'film within a film'.

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Collapsing Bed SceneCollapsing Bed Scene

Comedy18970 minsSilent

A mysterious fragment of Victorian footage.

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Fire!Fire!

Drama19015 minsSilent

A dramatic rescue from a burning building by heroic firemen is one of our most important films

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E. H. Williams' Merrie MenE. H. Williams' Merrie Men

Performance18993 minsSilent

Fascinating fragments of a typical Victorian seaside entertainment

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His Brave DefenderHis Brave Defender

Crime19011 minsSilent

When a couple's home is burgled, the missus proves her mettle by confronting the culprit, come what may

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Gentleman FishingGentleman Fishing

Comedy18961 minsSilent

A splash of Victorian comedy that still reels you in

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Has He Hit Me?Has He Hit Me?

Comedy18981 minsSilent

The 'Two McNaughtons' roll out their popular music-hall routine

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Kitty MahoneKitty Mahone

Performance19002 mins

Victorian Music hall star Lil Hawthorne sings the popular 'Kitty Mahone' in this earliest surviving 'sound film'

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The Indian Chief and the Seidlitz PowderThe Indian Chief and the Seidlitz Powder

Comedy19012 minsSilent

A witty warning that medicine is not to be messed with: mix the wrong dose of powders and your bellyache may blow up

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Kidnapping by Indians (1899)Kidnapping by Indians (1899)

Drama18992 minsSilent Location: Blackburn

Out-takes of the world's earliest ever 'Western' film.

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The Kiss in the TunnelThe Kiss in the Tunnel

Comedy18991 minsSilent

A classic saucy sketch, a chance for canoodling in the carriage as the train hits a tunnel

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Long Night DanceLong Night Dance

Drama19002 minsSilent

There's more than footwork going on in this dance lesson

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The Miller and the SweepThe Miller and the Sweep

Comedy18971 minsSilent

A battle of soot versus flour

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Policeman BeatenPoliceman Beaten

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A woman beating out a carpet; a frisky policeman; a husband’s return… whatever will happen next?

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Morning Wash (c.1900)Morning Wash (c.1900)

Comedy19002 minsSilent

An old joke but a merry one.

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Old Maid's ValentineOld Maid's Valentine

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Early comedy in which a cruel joke is played on an old maid

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Policeman and BurglarPoliceman and Burglar

Crime19021 minsSilent

A bracing fight scene, played out in an early purpose-built film studio.

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The Postman and the NursemaidThe Postman and the Nursemaid

Comedy18991 minsSilent

A comic old faithful

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The Tramp and the Baby's BottleThe Tramp and the Baby's Bottle

Comedy18992 minsSilent

It's a lovely day in the park, for romance and daylight robbery - but will this tramp make a clean getaway?

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The Twins' Tea PartyThe Twins' Tea Party

Comedy18961 minsSilent

These two little lovelies were captured on screen by RW Paul and were the hit of his 1896 Alhambra show.

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Snowballs (1901)Snowballs (1901)

Comedy19012 minsSilent Location: Glasgow

Young scamps launch a snowball attack on a hapless bobby.

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Sporting Colliers and the Bobby (c.1901)Sporting Colliers and the Bobby (c.1901)

Comedy19012 minsSilent

A policeman breaks up a gambling den, but is caught pocketing the proceeds.

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Mr Moon (1901)Mr Moon (1901)

Advert19013 minsSilent

Rare production footage of an early 'trick' film with a famous music hall performer.

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Unfaithful Wife (c.1900)Unfaithful Wife (c.1900)

Drama19001 minsSilent

A faithless wife, with a penchant for men in uniform, entertains a sailor before her policeman husband comes home.

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Waif and the Wizard; or, The Home Made HappyWaif and the Wizard; or, The Home Made Happy

Trick film19012 minsSilent

A boy asks a magician to entertain his sick sister in this edition of RW Paul’s Sentimental Songs with Animated Illustrations.

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A Woman UndressingA Woman Undressing

Pornography18961 minsSilent

A treat for Victorian voyeurs - and Britain's oldest erotic film?

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The Would-be ConjurorThe Would-be Conjuror

Comedy19001 minsSilent

A yokel is so impressed by a conjuror's magic trick that he attempts to repeat it on his wife

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Comic Costume RaceComic Costume Race

Non-Fiction18961 minsSilent

Plenty of laughs to be had as these Victorian clowns attempt to run a charity race - if they can get their wigs on

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Let Me Dream AgainLet Me Dream Again

Comedy19001 minsSilent

Harsh reality interrupts an older man's reverie of flirting with a pretty young woman

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The Spirit of His ForefathersThe Spirit of His Forefathers

Advert19001 minsSilent

One of the earliest surviving British adverts

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King JohnKing John

Drama18991 minsSilent

The first ever Shakespearean film - once thought to be lost - with Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the title role.

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Scrooge; Or, Marley's GhostScrooge; Or, Marley's Ghost

Fantasy19016 minsSilent

Debut film outing for Dickens' Yuletide classic

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The Big SwallowThe Big Swallow

Comedy19011 minsSilent

A classic early film gag - and a big leap forward for a fast-evolving new art

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First X-ray Cinematograph Film Ever TakenFirst X-ray Cinematograph Film Ever Taken

0 mins

Frogs legs on film: trailblazing Victorian medical research

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A Morning WashA Morning Wash

Comedy19001 minsSilent

What larks during the morning wash, swapping bootblack for the soap...

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Santa ClausSanta Claus

Fantasy18981 minsSilent

These Victorian children's Christmas wishes come true in a very special early British film

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Upside Down; Or, The Human FliesUpside Down; Or, The Human Flies

Comedy18991 minsSilent

A memorable early film 'trick'

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How We Filmed in the NinetiesHow We Filmed in the Nineties

Amateur film193624 minsSilent

A whistlestop tour of early filmmaking, from street scenes to a thrilling Western.

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Once upon a Time...Once upon a Time...

Non-Fiction18972 minsSilent

Double nostalgia, as this 1930 newsreel looks back at a London landmark in earlier days

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Nurses Attending the WoundedNurses Attending the Wounded

War18991 minsSilent

Brits versus Boers... or are they?

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Tom Merry, Lightning Cartoonist, Sketching Kaiser Wilhelm IITom Merry, Lightning Cartoonist, Sketching Kaiser Wilhelm II

Trick film18950 minsSilent

Quick on the draw: Victorian cartoonist Tom Merry does a rapid sketch of Kaiser Wilhelm II

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X RaysX Rays

Comedy18971 minsSilent

I've got you under my skin... early 'trick' film having fun with the new science of x-ray photography

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Good NightGood Night

Advert18981 minsSilent Location: St Pancras

An unusual farewell in this charming early film