Elephant March in Phnom Penh

Elephant March in Phnom Penh 1899

1

Short actuality capturing an elephant procession in the streets of Phnom Penh: elephants bearing riders, walking through public space in procession, as part of local ceremony or spectacle.

1899

Lord Roberts Leaving For South Africa

Lord Roberts Leaving For South Africa 1899

5.00

An actuality and reportage film. This film captures Lord Frederick Roberts (British Army rank Field Marshal) departing England for South Africa on 23rd December 1899, where he commanded British forces for a year in the Second Boer War. The ship in this film is the RMS Dunottar Castle. Going with Roberts is his chief of staff, Lord Kitchener, whose future role as Secretary Of State for War during World War One awaits him. This film was produced and distributed by the Warwick Trading Company, a London based company at its peak at this time, involved in the majority of British films.The Warwick Trading Company specialised in travel, reportage and actuality films and had substantial catalogues. Charles Urban had taken over as managing director in 1897 and was in that role when this film was produced. According to the BFI programme entry, the company had a large amount of resources already in South Africa. This meant they could capture historic moments as part of its Boer War coverage.

1899

Voltige à cheval à Prague

Voltige à cheval à Prague 1899

5.00

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

1899

Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes

Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes 1899

5.10

Showing room at the military prison at Rennes in which Dreyfus the accused is confined. He is visited by his counsel, Maître Labori and Demange, with whom he is seen in animated conversation. A visit from his wife is announced, who enters. The meeting of the husband and wife is most pathetic and emotional.

1899

Stealing a Dinner

Stealing a Dinner 1899

2.20

“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)

1899

Morning Colors on U.S. Cruiser 'Raleigh'

Morning Colors on U.S. Cruiser 'Raleigh' 1899

3.00

Shows a group of sailors and an officer at the stern. The flag runs out in a ball to the end of the staff, and, at the signal, is broken. Proudly the stars and stripes wave in the morning breeze, while the officer salutes. A very pretty picture of man-o-war life.

1899

The Kiss in the Tunnel

The Kiss in the Tunnel 1899

5.20

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).

1899

'Columbia' Winning the Cup

'Columbia' Winning the Cup 1899

3.00

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.

1899

Japonaise faisant sa toilette

Japonaise faisant sa toilette 1899

5.20

A young woman in traditional Japanese attire fixes her hair and kimono while her servants assist her.

1899

The Dreyfus Affair

The Dreyfus Affair 1899

5.47

The first movie ever censored for political reasons. The title refers to the then contemporaneous Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish military officer was falsely convicted of treason, and it was alleged that he was framed due to anti-semitism.

1899

Suicide of Colonel Henry

Suicide of Colonel Henry 1899

4.90

Shows the interior of the cell of the Prison Militaire du Cherche-Midi, Paris, where Colonel Henry is confined. He is seated at a table writing a letter, on completion of which he rises and takes a razor out he had concealed in his porte-manteau, with which he cuts his throat. The suicide is discovered by the sergeant of the guard and officers.

1899