The First Story Films (1899-1905)
This lists is of some of the earliest story films ever made, at a time when most films consisted of mundane, everyday scenes of people doing ordinary things without having to be told how to act or anything. These following films helped cinema develop into the films with plots that we see today.
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- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsMlle BarralBleuette BernonCarmelliA 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?Melies's first version of the fairy-tale, a lavish production for 1899 running for 6 minutes.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsBleuette BernonJeanne CalvièreJehanne d'AlcyA divinely inspired peasant woman becomes an army captain for France and then is martyred after she is captured.A historical telling of the story of Joan of Arc, in hand color.
- DirectorFerdinand ZeccaStarsJean LiézerBretteauFerdinand ZeccaA burglar is arrested for a murder. He is condemned to death. Before his execution the murderer dreams of his past, of how he was a bank clerk, then turned to crime. The criminal is then taken out of his cell, and a moment later is executed.An early drama by Ferdinand Zecca.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsJehanne d'AlcyBleuette BernonA young woman becomes the eighth wife of the wealthy Bluebeard, whose first seven wives have died under mysterious circumstances.Considered one of the earliest horror film, Melies's version of the classic tale runs extremely long for the time, for 10 minutes straight.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsVictor AndréBleuette BernonA group of astronomers go on an expedition to the Moon.Probably one of the most popular films of its time, "A Trip to the Moon" is a truly lavish film for 1902.
- DirectorFerdinand ZeccaAn early adaptation of the Ali Baba tale.A lavish drama which tells the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonA.C. AbadieGeorge BarnesA group of bandits stage a brazen train hold-up, only to find a determined posse hot on their heels.Edwin S. Porter's exciting drama is considered to be the first Western.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsMarguerite ThévenardBleuette BernonIn this spectacular free adaptation of the popular theatre play "La Biche au Bois", the valiant Prince Bel-Azor pursues a baleful old witch to her impregnable castle, to save the beautiful young Princess Azurine.A lavish fairy-tale film from Melies running for 16 minutes.
- DirectorCecil M. HepworthPercy StowStarsMay ClarkCecil M. HepworthBlairThis is the first movie version of the famous story. Alice dozes in a garden, awakened by a dithering white rabbit in waistcoat with pocket watch. She follows him down a hole and finds herself in a hall of many doors.Made by Hepworth Manufacturing, this is the first version of the classic story.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsFernande AlbanyJehanne d'AlcyUsing every known means of transportation, several savants from the Geographic Society undertake a journey through the Alps to the Sun which finishes under the sea.One of the longest films of its time, a 20-minute spectacle loosely based on "A Trip to the Moon" from two years before.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterIn this parody of 1903's _Great Train Robbery, The (1903)_, also made by Edwin S. Porter, young bandits rob the passengers of a kiddie train and are chased by police officers.An early parody on "The Great Train Robbery."
- DirectorLewin FitzhamonCecil M. HepworthStarsBlairMay ClarkBarbara HepworthA dog leads its master to his kidnapped baby.Hepworth's most popular film, a drama about a child being kidnapped who is tracked down by the family dog.