کال 1899

Produced and directed by George Albert Smith, the film shows a couple sharing a brief kiss as their train passes through a tunnel. The Kiss in the Tunnel is said to mark the beginnings of narrative editing. It is in fact, two films in one, hence the 2 min length. Firstly, the G.A. Smith film here for the central cheeky scene in the carriage. The train view footage however is Cecil Hepworth's work, entitled 'View From An Engine Front - Shilla Mill Tunnel', edited into two halves in order to provide a visual narrative of the train entering the tunnel before the kiss and then leaving afterwards. More information about the filming of the phantom train ride can be found searching for the Hepworth film separately.

A fairy godmother magically turns Cinderella's rags to a beautiful dress, and a pumpkin into a coach. Cinderella goes to the ball, where she meets the Prince - but will she remember to leave before the magic runs out? Méliès based the art direction on engravings by Gustave Doré. First known example of a fairy-tale adapted to film, and the first film to use dissolves to go from one scene to another.

A parade of Gordon Highlanders in dress uniform march through the centre of Aberdeen on their way to the Boer War. Small children run around in excitement but are moved aside by a member of the regiment. Directed by Robert W. Paul.

The Astor Battery became famous after the Spanish-American war and these young men are on display in this Edison short, which was shot on Saturday, January 21, 1899. We see a parade cross Broadway onto Union Square with the mounted police, the band and then the Astor Battery. The footage of this short is still in very good condition, which adds a lot considering how little footage is available of these men.

'Armed Robber Shimizu Sadakicchi' is considered Japan's debut film and came on the heels of the country obtaining its first film camera. It famously was only a couple of minutes' long as its film reel was only seventy feet long. It featured who is considered to be Japan's first film actor Unpei Yokoyama who was one of two actors in the film. It features one scene where a robber is apprehended by the police.

View of the German and Italian royal processions, at the iron mines of Monteponi.

Some men get into hijinks at a sidewalk cafe. There is no known credited director for this film, although the attribution usually goes for Alice Guy.

A priest is officiating at a convent, when suddenly he is transformed into the devil, who frightens away the nuns and turns the place into pandemonium.

A lost film. A man digging inside an Egyptian tomb chops up a mummy, then resurrects the woman inside it. This film is presumably lost.

“This is a new negative showing the entire trip from Brooklyn to New York, in which the immense towers stand out clear and distinct against the sky. Positively the best picture of the Brooklyn Bridge yet secured.” (Edison film catalog)

“Another exhibition by Prof. Leonidas' troop of cats and dogs. One of the dogs is shown stealing his dinner from the table in his master's absence. In order to cover his own crime, the dog places a cat on the table, where she is found when the master comes in.” (AMB Picture Catalogue, 1902)

A group of riders demonstrate equestrian vaulting, or voltige, on the outskirts of Prague.

Gentlemen get into a misunderstanding over absinthe. There is no known credited director for this film, although the attribution usually goes for Alice Guy.

A train heads for a tunnel. In one car, a restless man smokes, and a woman is reading on the seat opposite him. In the darkness of the tunnel, he rises, crosses over to her seat and the two share a willing embrace and kiss. The train steams out of the tunnel toward us and past us. A Bamforth Films remake of George Albert Smith's The Kiss in the Tunnel (I) (1899).

Shot at the Kubut-za in Tokyo and a rare record of two classical kubuki actors, Onoe Eizaburo V and Ichimura Kakuki-za VI, A surviving poster for this film is illustrated by a woodblock print of the lead actors by ukiyo-e artist Yutaka Hitoshi, a frozen moment of the incipient transition from traditional art-forms of ukiyo-e and kabuki to the new, and all-dominating medium of katsudo-shashin (cinema).

Taken from a motor cab running at full speed along Piccadilly and through the Circus, narrowly escaping collision with various buses and cabs

This picture ... centers about some guard ropes moving about, perhaps in the wind, perhaps as the platform the movie is taken from rolls about, while in the background, a procession of ships goes by.

This picture shows the Columbia crossing the line, leading the Shamrock by about 1/2 mile. The Shamrock is plainly seen in the distance and she later comes up and crosses the line in the same picture.

A sleeping apartment of a friend who retires for the night. The rays of the moon are shining upon the bed through the window. He is suddenly awakened by a bug of gigantic proportions crawling over him. This he attacks and destroys, but before again retiring he notices three more climbing up the wall. He lights the candle and applies the flame to each, causing them to explode with fine smoke effect. After this slaughter he retires in contentment and soon sleeps the sleep of the just. A very funny subject.

Based on Shakespeare's play, Act V, Scene vii: King John is in torment, and his supporters fear that his end is near. As he writhes in agony, he is attended by Prince Henry, the Earl of Pembroke, and Robert Bigot. Prince Henry tries repeatedly to comfort his delirious father, but to no avail - John's pain is too great.