The Tempest

The Tempest 1908

5.70

Prospero and his daughter Miranda must take refuge on an enchanted island. There Prospero, who himself has magical powers, releases the spirit Ariel from a spell, and also meets the savage Caliban. Then Prospero uses his powers to create a tempest that shipwrecks some of the persons who caused his exile.

1908

A Love Tragedy in Spain

A Love Tragedy in Spain 1908

1

A Spanish dancer, in front of an inn in the Spanish mountains, is courted by a smuggler, who asks her to marry him. She agrees. Later, in the dancer's room, another man enters and declares his love for her. The smuggler, entering unnoticed, hears the declaration of love, and a violent argument breaks out between the two rivals for the dancer's affection. The suitors travel to a remote spot in the mountains and fight to the death; the smuggler wins the fight when the other suitor falls over a precipice. Returning to the dancer's room, the smuggler comes to meet his beloved, but the dancer refuses him when she finds out he killed his rival. The smuggler stabs himself in despair. The dancer, running to his corpse, touches his hands, and is repulsed to find them covered with blood.

1908

The Bandit's Waterloo: The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora

The Bandit's Waterloo: The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora 1908

2.50

A gang of lawless freebooters who terrorized the country and made travel in the mountains a hazardous pastime hold up a stylish landau in which are seated an old gentleman, a duenna, and a pretty young Senora. The inevitable happens; all are relieved of their valuables, and while the gentleman and duenna are sent on their way, the girl is held a prisoner.

1908

The Outlaw

The Outlaw 1908

1

In the 1849 American West, seductive outlaw Jack Morgan falls in love with Mollie, an innkeeper's daughter, already coveted by stagecoach driver Dick. After robbing Dick's stagecoach, Jack is chased by a posse of horsemen. Wounded, he finds refuge with Mollie, who hides and nurses him back to health. Hunted to a burning barn, Jack attempts to escape but is shot dead by Dick. Mollie finds him dying in her arms. Between romance, betrayal, and pursuit, the film intensely blends drama and adventure.

1908

Francesca di Rimini; or, The Two Brothers

Francesca di Rimini; or, The Two Brothers 1908

1

Francesca, surrounded by ladies-in-waiting at the palace. Her father enters, and together they read a letter from Lanciotto, asking for the hand of Francesca. Both are overjoyed at the union of the two great houses in marriage, and the daughter retires to dress for Lanciotto's arrival.

1908

The Vacuum Cleaner

The Vacuum Cleaner 1908

4.60

In this funny picture we see the vacuum cleaner, the modern dust eradicator, performing some very droll tricks. As soon as the fellow turns on the air then the fun begins. It is all accomplished through some clever trick photography. First we see two attendants start out to do a cleaning job, and while they stop to take some refreshments, two men, who happen to be passing, take the machine and start down the sheet to have some fun. They meet a woman with a dog on a leash, and at a turn of the wheel, the dog and its mistress are quickly drawn into the spout. Next a nursemaid comes sauntering down the street, and when they level the spout at her she meets the same fate. A girl and her lover are the next to disappear off the face of the earth, and still they go along, looking for more victims. (Moving Picture World)

1908

A Disastrous Flirtation

A Disastrous Flirtation 1908

1

The hero, who fancies himself a ladies' man, cannot resist winking at every comely lass who passes his way. Unfortunately, he winks once too often, and soon the would-be Romeo is running for his life, pursued by an angry boyfriend. Disaster does indeed plague our hero for the rest of the picture.

1908

Professional Jealousy

Professional Jealousy 1908

1

Two young ladies, members of a dramatic stock company, are rivals for stellar honors. One seems to have had things her own way for a time, having been cast always for the leading roles, which opportunities made her the "public's pet." However, she does not wear the mantle of fame becomingly, for her success has made her petulant, peevish and selfish. On the other hand, her rival works studiously, and by her subtle art has won some attention, until during a performance of "Darkest Russia" she completely eclipses the histrionic luster of the hitherto favorite.

1908

The Thieving Hand

The Thieving Hand 1908

6.50

A one-armed street peddler notices that a well-to-do man has dropped his ring. He returns it to him. The wealthy man is very grateful and, to show his appreciation, takes the peddler to a 'Limb Store', where he buys him a new arm. The recipient soon discovers that this new arm has a will of its own - causing him considerable embarrassment.

1908

The Will

The Will 1908

2.50

FRAGMENT | A man lies on his deathbed and shows his will to his carer. After his death, a grieving man and woman come in. The scene changes and we find ourselves on a beach in the company of two couples. They’re about up to fight on a cliff, and one of the men plummets to his death. Then the scene changes again to a living room with a sobbing woman. (Stumfilm.dk)

1908

The Magic Hoop

The Magic Hoop 1908

4.60

Émile Cohl mixes live-action and stop-motion animation in this charming evocation of the power of imagination. A magician shapes his cane into a hoop with strange properties for a young girl. Costume changes and city promenades give way towards greater abstraction as the film becomes absorbed by what goes on inside the ring.

1908

The Pumpkin Race

The Pumpkin Race 1908

5.50

Early slapstick short from Louis Feuillade involving runaways, except that, instead of it being a runaway horse (see Griffith's THE CURTAIN POLE for an example), it is a cartful of what appear to be hundred-pound pumpkins that get away, rushing hither and yon, down sewers, up chimneys, pursued by the drayer, a couple of other people and a very unwilling donkey.

1908

The Feud and the Turkey

The Feud and the Turkey 1908

2.00

Mack Sennett appears as a member of the Wilkenson clan in this film produced by the Biograph Company.

1908

The Bandit Makes Good

The Bandit Makes Good 1908

3.50

A sheriff apprehends a bank robber and recovers the money. On the way back to town, the sheriff loses the recovered money in a crooked card game. The bank robber helps him recover it.

1908

The Vestal

The Vestal 1908

1

A young Roman soldier and his sweetheart are embracing each other fondly and making their vows. The next scene shows the public square, where it is announced that war has been proclaimed. The old priest addresses the populace, telling them that he has chosen for them a great leader who is none other than this young man.

1908

The Red Girl

The Red Girl 1908

3.50

Mack Sennett appears as a man in the bar in this film produced by the Biograph Company.

1908

The Bank Robbery

The Bank Robbery 1908

4.30

A gang of outlaws are planning a bank robbery. After making preparations, they commit the robbery and make their escape amidst a sharp exchange of bullets. They return to their meeting place, and then hurriedly continue onwards, with lawmen close behind them.

1908

The Helping Hand

The Helping Hand 1908

1

An impoverished father, with his young son and daughter, begs for food in a marketplace. When a merchant angrily turns them away, their plight attracts the attention of a woman of charity. Calling shame upon the unkind merchant, she buys the poor family some food, talks with the family, and adopts the two children. Marketplace workers, witnessing the scene, give the father work as a sign carrier.

1908

The Fairy Dragonfly

The Fairy Dragonfly 1908

1

1908 French short silent film by Georges Méliès, which is presumed lost. No English-language release is known for this film,[1] but the translated title The Fairy Dragonfly has been used in film reference.

1908