Frankenstein

Frankenstein 1910

6.06

Frankenstein, a young medical student, trying to create the perfect human being, instead creates a misshapen monster. Made ill by what he has done, Frankenstein is comforted by his fiancée; but on his wedding night he is visited by the monster.

1910

Carmencita

Carmencita 1894

5.21

The first woman to appear in front of an Edison motion picture camera and possibly the first woman to appear in a motion picture within the United States. In the film, Carmencita is recorded going through a routine she had been performing at Koster & Bial's in New York since February 1890.

1894

Faust

Faust 1909

1

Faust, an aged philosopher and magician who has grown weary of life and has sought in vain for the secret of eternal youth, decides, after a night's long vigil, to call forth from the realms of darkness the evil one to aid him. Mephistopheles appears and offers him his services in return for Faust's soul. The aged philosopher refuses to accept until the devil shows him a vision of Marguerite in all her maiden simplicity and beauty. Faust agrees to accept the compact providing Mephistopheles will give him youth, wealth and love.

1909

Black Eyes

Black Eyes 1915

4.20

A husband and wife swear never again to sneak out on each other with their friends, and are both faced with complications when they go back on their word.

1915

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) 1909

1

The only known moving-image footage of the author, filmed at his home, Stormfield, in Redding, Connecticut. The silent short shows Twain walking about his estate, relaxing indoors with his daughters Clara and Jean. No known voice recording survives. Part of this footage has been associated with Edison’s The Prince and the Pauper (1909). Although Thomas Edison has sometimes been mistakenly named as director, he was never credited as director on any films; the actual director of this short is unknown.

1909

Men Boxing

Men Boxing 1891

4.18

Experimental film fragment made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film.

1891

Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair 1915

1

In early 19th century England, ambitious and ruthless orphan Rebecca Sharp advances from the position of governess to the heights of British society.

1915

Band Drill

Band Drill 1894

3.48

A scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns around and directs the musicians as they take up their own positions.

1894

The Kiss

The Kiss 1900

5.40

"Nothing new, but an old thing done over again and done well. Some one has attempted to describe a kiss as "something made of nothing," but this is not one of that kind, but one of those old fashioned "home made" kind that sets the whole audience into merriment and motion, and has always proven a popular subject. It is very fine photographically and an exhibit is not complete without it." -Edison film catalog.

1900

A Frontier Scene

A Frontier Scene 1895

1

A western short depicting the execution of a horse thief by a group of enraged cowboys. This film is considered to be lost.

1895

The Unbeliever

The Unbeliever 1918

6.10

A wealthy young American, bred to class distinction and racial intolerance, enters the Marines during the First World War. In the course of his training and his experiences in the trenches fighting, being wounded by, and being hospitalized with Germans, he comes to a recognition of the equality and brotherhood of men.

1918

The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas 1905

6.10

On Christmas Eve, Santa feeds his reindeer and loads his sleigh, before going on his journey to deliver toys to the children of the world.

1905

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol 1910

6.41

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

1910

The Bells

The Bells 1913

6.00

At the express wish of her father, Lucy Martin marries Leo Noakes, a stingy man and one twice her age. When they are at church one Sunday a fire breaks out and everybody manages to escape with the exception of Lucy, her husband and her former sweetheart, Walter. While Noakes sinks tremblingly upon the floor, Walter seizes Lucy and brings her to safety. Regardless of his many burns, he dashes back into the roaring flames and drags out old Noakes, But upon investigation it is discovered that he is dead. Even though he had been cruel and harsh to her, Lucy bewails his loss. Some time after the obsequies Lucy succumbs to the wooing of her former sweetheart.

1913

Tim

Tim 1912

1

Tim spends his days running with a railroad gang which frustrates his struggling parents. When his father falls ill Tim reluctantly gets a job begrudging being forced into that position, but when events take a tragic turn he realizes the need for him to become a responsible adult.

1912

Kidnapped

Kidnapped 1917

6.30

In Scotland in 1751, young David Balfour is shanghaied aboard a ship where he meets Jacobite rebel Alan Breck Stewart with whom he escapes to the Scottish Highlands, dodging the redcoats.

1917

Michael Strogoff

Michael Strogoff 1910

6.00

A graphic reproduction of Jules Verne's famous story under the above title. It deals with a secret mission in Russia

1910

A Christmas Accident

A Christmas Accident 1912

5.60

Well-to-do Mr. and Mrs. Gilton live next door to a large family, the Biltons, that struggles to make ends meet. Despite their desire to be friendly, Mr. Gilton is frequently irritated by his neighbors, insisting that they stay out of his yard, and blaming them for anything that goes wrong. During the holiday season, the differences between the two families become even clearer. Mrs. Gilton wants to do something to help the Biltons, but Mr. Gilton will take a lot of convincing.

1912

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 1910

6.19

Made by the Edison Manufacturing Company and directed by Edwin S. Porter, the film starred Gladys Hulette as Alice. Being a silent film, naturally all of Lewis Carroll's nonsensical prose could not be used, and, being only a one-reel picture, most of Carroll's memorable characters in his original 1865 novel similarly could not be included. What was used in the film was faithful in spirit to Carroll, and in design to the original John Tenniel illustrations. Variety complimented the picture by comparing it favorably to the "foreign" film fantasies then flooding American cinemas.

1910