Year 1908 - 11

Barcarola is a 1908 Brazilian film directed by Júlio Ferrez. It was the first "sound" film in Brazil, that is, with actors dubbing themselves live, behind the screen, based on already recorded images. Premiered on September 1, 1908. It was produced by the company William e Cia. The film was inspired by the operetta "Les contes d'Hoffmann", by composer and cellist Jacques Offenbach. The film's synopsis is unknown, but given the name, which references the song "Barcarolle", it is very likely that it is inspired by the third act of Les contes d'Hoffmann. Like many films from this era, Barcarola is considered a lost film, with only one surviving image, taken during the film's production.

A broken-hearted husband thinks about the past as he sits by the fireplace.

A comedic short film.

Images of Sicily.

A handful of short tales of love, framed by leaf masks.

Partially lost film. One of the kings of ancient Thebes enters the abode of an astrologer and demands that he be told his future. The former utterly refuses to forecast the coming events of his sovereign, even under the pain of death; but he brings forth a priestess who possesses the powers of divination. This priestess is introduced in a wonderful way: a throne is brought forward, and then a box from which the pieces of a statue are removed and piled up in regular order; the statue suddenly becomes animated. The king implores the latter to foretell his life. She commands him to look through a telescope toward the side of the room. A vision appears. (Moving Picture World)

Short film about a magic ride

A man gets cajoled into working as a sideshow wrestler.

A family tries to eat dinner, but the table vanishes and reappears, changes shape and location, all in the usual manner laid down by Melies, but here copied by Segundo de Chomón.

Silent French short film by Georges Méliès, based on the character from Alphonse Daudet's novel of the same name. The film is presumed to be lost.

Lost Polish comedy short from 1908. Not to be confused with the 1916 remake of which a small portion survives.

Very early footage of the streets of Barcelona, filmed from a tram.

Early Balkan footage.

A fraudster is at work in his laboratory, where he pretends to make synthetic diamonds.

An excellent reproduction of the world-famed riders of Russia in their various stunts and acrobatic feats while on their thoroughbred horses.

M. Rasta, a high society con man, is accused of a crime he didn't commit.

In this simple melodrama, a boy loses his beloved girl, hence dying of a broken heart. The film presents advanced techniques in several fields.