OLD DOCUMENTARIES
by UniversalSHEEP | created - 11 months ago | updated - 8 months ago | PublicVery old documentaries I have seen
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Pferd und Reiter Springen über ein Hindernis (1888)
1 min | Short
A horse with rider jumping over an obstacle
Director: Ottomar Anschütz
Votes: 445
2. Mosquinha (1890)
1 min | Short
Shot of the flight of a fly.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 745
3. Brighton Street Scene (1888)
Documentary, Short
Lost film from 1888, directed by William Friese-Greene.
Director: William Friese-Greene
Votes: 161
4. Accordion Player (1888)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A very brief film of a man playing the accordion.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince | Star: Adolphe Le Prince
Votes: 1,459
5. Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A shot of people walking on The Leeds Bridge.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince
Votes: 3,299
6. Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
In the garden, a man asks his friends to do something silly for him to record on film.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince | Stars: Annie Hartley, Adolphe Le Prince, Joseph Whitley, Sarah Whitley
Votes: 6,803
7. Leisurely Pedestrians, Open Topped Buses and Hansom Cabs with Trotting Horses (1889)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Alleged silent black-and-white short film shot at Apsley Gate, Hyde Park, London.
Director: William Friese-Greene
Votes: 486
8. Hyde Park Corner (1889)
1 min | Short
A lost film not seen since it was made.
Director: William Friese-Greene
Votes: 300
9. Monkeyshines, No. 3 (1890)
1 min | Short
An Edison company worker makes large gestures in front of a Kinetoscope to test the new camera system.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 481
10. Monkeyshines, No. 1 (1890)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
One of W.K.L. Dickson's laboratory workers horses around for the camera.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 1,648
11. Monkeyshines, No. 2 (1890)
1 min | Short
In an experiment that follows up on the results of 'Monkeyshines, No. 1', an Edison company worker again moves around in front of the motion picture camera.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 1,198
12. London's Trafalgar Square (1890)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A shot of Trafalgar Square.
Directors: William Carr Crofts, Wordsworth Donisthorpe
Votes: 916
13. Baboon Walking on All Fours (1887)
Short
A baboon is shown walking on all fours in this photographic series by Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 129
14. Baboon Climbing a Pole (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A photographic series depicting a baboon climbing up a pole.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 132
15. Capybara Walking (1887)
1 min | Short
Eadweard Muybridge photographs a capybara in motion.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 500
16. Child Carrying Flowers to Woman (1887)
1 min | Short
Eadweard Muybridge's motion photography film depicts a child bringing a bouquet of flowers to a topless woman who kisses his cheek.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 423
17. Cockatoo Flying (1887)
Documentary, Short
This series of images by Muybridge pictures a cockatoo in flight.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 258
18. Chickens Scared by Torpedo (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A locomotion study by Muybridge, made up of still photographs and featuring some chickens frightened at the explosion of several torpedoes.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 207
19. Eland Trotting (1887)
Short
Eadweard Muybridge photographs an eland in motion.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 108
20. Elephant Walking (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A series of photographs picturing an elephant walking.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 184
21. Gnu Bucking and Galloping (1887)
Short
A series of images by Muybridge of a gnu in motion.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 125
22. Goat Walking (1887)
Short
A series of images photographed by Eadweard Muybridge, featuring a goat walking.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 141
23. Guanaco Galloping (1887)
Short
A guanaco in motion, in the action of galloping, as photographed by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 112
24. Storks, Swans, etc. (1887)
1 min | Short
A flock of various birds is shown in a series of photographs by Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 96
25. Virginia Deer, Buck, Galloping (1887)
Short
A Virginia deer is shown in a series of photographs, in the action of galloping.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 118
26. Woman Crossing Brook on Stepping-Stones with a Fishing Pole and a Can (1887)
1 min | Short
A semi-nude female model crosses a creek on stepping stones, in one hand a fishing pole; in the other a basket.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 225
27. Woman Getting Into Bed (1887)
Short
A film experiment featuring one of Eadweard Muybridge's nude female models getting into a bed.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 182
28. Woman Hopping on One Foot (1887)
Short
Two separate series of photographs, (one taken from the front, the other from the back) showing a nude woman jumping up and down on one foot.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 196
29. Woman Jumping from Rock to Rock (1887)
Short
A nude model wearing a see-through skirt jumping from one rock another other rock. It begins on a frontal view and ends on a side view.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 193
30. Woman Opening Umbrella (1887)
Short
A detailed human locomotion study of photos, showing a woman opening a parasol.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 179
31. Woman Picking Up Skirt (1887)
Short
A series of images of a nude model picking up a translucent skirt from the floor.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 190
32. Woman Pouring from Jug (1887)
1 min | Short
Eadweard Muybridge's nude female model is depicted in a series of images, detailing her bending over and pouring water from a jug.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 193
33. Man Walking Around the Corner (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A frame sequence featuring a man walking around a corner.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince
Votes: 1,566
34. Woman Walking Downstairs (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A series a photographs, depicting a nude model coming down a staircase and towards the viewer.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 382
35. Adjutant Walking (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A series of photographs shot by Eadweard Muybridge, depicting an adjutant walking.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 131
36. Antelope Trotting (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A series of photographs of an antelope in motion, photographed by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 122
37. Jumping Over a Man's Back-Leapfrog (1887)
1 min | Short, Sport
A brief series photography by British Photographer Eadweard Muybridge featuring two boys playing leapfrog.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 263
38. Dog Running (1887)
Short
Eadweard Muybridge photographs a dog running from two different angles: one from the side, one from the back.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 145
39. Horse Bouquet Galloping, Saddled with Rider (1887)
1 min | Short
Two shots of a thoroughbred horse at a gallop, with a rider: one from the side, the other from the front.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge | Star: Bouquet
Votes: 114
40. Kangaroo Walking on All Fours, Changing to Jumping (1887)
Short
A kangaroo in shown in motion in a series of photographs: first shown at a walk, them gradually changing to jumping.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 123
41. Leopard Walking (1887)
Short
A series of photographs showing the movements of a walking leopard.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 103
42. Lion Walking (1887)
Documentary, Short
A series of photographs depicting a male lion walking, shot by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 183
43. Lioness Walking (1887)
Documentary, Short
A female lion walking in a series of photographs shot by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 198
44. Man Riding Jumping Horse (1887)
Short
A man riding a horse jumps over an obstacle.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge | Star: Daisy
Votes: 194
45. Man Taking Off His Boater (1887)
Short
A series of photographs of a man in a suit taking a hat off his head.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 154
46. Mule Kicking (1887)
Short
A mule kicking with her hind legs, photographed by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge | Star: Ruth
Votes: 135
47. Oryx Galloping (1887)
Short
An orex at a gallop, photographed by Eadweard Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 109
48. Ostrich Walking (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Two series of images by Eadweard Muybridge of an ostrich walking: one taken from the side, the other from the back.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 184
49. Ox Walking (1887)
1 min | Short
An ox in motion is photographed by Eadweard Muybridge in a series of photographs taken to study the animal locomotion.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 130
50. Pig Walking (1887)
Short
Two series of photos showing a pig walking. One is taken from the front, the other from the side.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 143
51. Raccoon Walking (1887)
Short
This motion study of animal locomotion by Muybridge features a raccoon walking.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 140
52. Sloth Climbing (1887)
Short
A series of photographs depicting a sloth in motion, photographed by Muybridge.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 113
53. Tigress Walking (1887)
1 min | Short
Muybridge photographs a tigress, or female tiger, in the action of walking.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 128
54. Woman Picking Up Child (1887)
Documentary, Short
This series of photographs depict two nude models: a woman and a young child, as the woman picks up the child.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 148
55. Woman Setting Down Jug (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A nude model poses for a series of photographs, which depict her setting down a jug on the floor.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 174
56. Woman Throwing Baseball (1887)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A series of photographic images by photographer Eadweard Muybridge, showing a nude woman picking up a baseball and throwing it.
Director: Eadweard Muybridge
Votes: 265
57. Dickson Greeting (1891)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
The very first American film shown to public audiences and the press. It depicts William K.L. Dickson taking off his hat and greeting the audience.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 1,569
58. Duncan Smoking (1891)
1 min | Short
Short, experimental film depicting James C. Duncan smoking a pipe.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: James C. Duncan
Votes: 197
59. Duncan or Devonald with Muslin Cloud (1891)
Short
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Fred C. Devonald, James C. Duncan
Votes: 136
60. Je vous aime (1891)
1 min | Short
Medium close-up of a man saying "Je vous aime".
Director: Georges Demenÿ | Star: Georges Demenÿ
Votes: 400
61. La vague (1891)
1 min | Short
In this early film experiment a wave crashes against a jagged rock.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 513
62. Men Boxing (1891)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Action
Two men wearing boxing gloves prepare to spar in the Edison Company studio.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 1,112
63. A Hand Shake (1892)
1 min | Short
Two men shake hands for the Kinetograph.
Stars: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 613
64. Fencing (1892)
1 min | Short, Sport
Experimental film to test the new kinetoscope which depicts two men practicing fencing.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 574
65. Le clown et ses chiens (1892)
5 min | Animation, Short
Lost short film consisting of 300 painted images. It shows a clown entering a circus ring and greeting the audience before he starts to perform tricks with three dogs. The dogs jump through hoops, walk on a ball and jump over a wand.
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 275
66. Le prince de Galles (1902)
Documentary, Short
This short documentary is a mini-biography of Edward VII, then Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne of England. Because his mother, Queen Victoria, reigned for such an unusually ... See full summary »
Director: Louis Lumière | Star: King Edward VII
Votes: 199
67. Man on Parallel Bars (1892)
1 min | Short, Sport
Lost film directed by William K.L. Dickson. Presented by Edison Manufacturing Company.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 161
68. Wrestling (1892)
Short, Sport
A lost film, directed by William K.L. Dickson about two men wrestling.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 145
70. Hyde Park Bicycling Scene (1896)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Many of the cyclists are women, and wearing skirts. Although women had been riding bicycles since the 1880s, it was only towards the end of the 1890s that they could do so comfortably ... See full summary »
Director: Robert W. Paul
Votes: 181
71. A Morning Bath (1896)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Comedy
A woman is washing an infant child. She thrusts him, kicking and struggling, into a tub full of foaming water.
Director: James H. White
Votes: 545
72. After the Ball, the Bath (1897)
1 min | Short
The first film to ever show a nudity scene on screen is a simple presentation of a servant preparing a bath for another woman.
Director: Georges Méliès | Stars: Jeanne Brady, Jehanne d'Alcy
Votes: 1,490
74. Annabelle Butterfly Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 998
75. Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dance routines. She uses her dance steps and her long, flowing skirts to create a variety of visual patterns.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 2,404
76. Annabelle Sun Dance (1894)
1 min | Short
Annabelle Moore performs her Sun Dance.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 297
77. Edison Kinetoscope Records: Annie Oakley (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
Annie Oakley, the 'Little Miss Sure Shot' of the 'Wild West' gives an exhibition of rifle shooting at glass balls and clay pigeons in a film from the Edison Catalog.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Francis E. Butler, Annie Oakley
Votes: 1,492
78. Ateliers de La Ciotat (1896)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A short black and white film which documents the workday of shipbuilders.
Director: Louis Lumière
Votes: 493
79. Athlete with Wand (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Sport
A gymnast assumes a number of positions while holding a wand in both hands.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 620
80. Band Drill (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Comedy
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.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Fred W. Boardman, William Cushing, Ad Dorsch, E.P. Brown
Votes: 566
81. A Bar Room Scene (1894)
Short
"Showing the wind-up of a political discussion. Dramatis personae: A Democrat, a Republican, a Bar Maid, and a Policeman."
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 87
82. Cripple Creek Bar-Room Scene (1899)
1 min | Western, Short
A vignette of a barroom/liquor-store in the West, no plot per se. However this short is usually regarded as the first "Western" in the sense that it depicts a western scene.
Director: James H. White
Votes: 339
83. Bertoldi (Table Contortion) (1894)
Short
"The marvelous lady contortionist and acrobat."
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Ena Bertoldi
Votes: 79
84. Blacksmith Scene (1893)
Unrated | 1 min | Short, Comedy
Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Charles Kayser, John Ott
Votes: 2,771
85. The Boxing Cats (Prof. Welton's) (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Action, Comedy
"A glove contest between trained cats. A very comical and amusing subject, and is sure to create a great laugh." (by Edison Films)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Henry Welton
Votes: 1,441
87. Buffalo Bill (1894)
1 min | Short, Western
"The famous army scout in an exhibition of rifle shooting. A fine picture of the principal, and beautiful smoke effects."
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Buffalo Bill Cody
Votes: 100
88. Buffalo Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
Three Sioux Indians perform a 'buffalo dance', while two others use drums to supply a rhythm. The three dancers move around in a circle as they perform the various actions that are part of the dance.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Hair Coat, Parts His Hair, Last Horse
Votes: 1,035
89. Bucking Broncho (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
A fine exhibition of horsemanship by Lee Martin, a genuine cowboy. This particular broncho is an unusually wicked one. (from Edison Films)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Frank Hammitt, Lee Martin, Sunfish
Votes: 753
90. Caicedo (with Pole) (1894)
Unrated | 1 min | Short
"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Juan A. Caicedo
Votes: 919
91. Carmencita (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Performing on what looks like a small wooden stage, wearing a dress with a hoop skirt and white high-heeled pumps, Carmencita does a dance with kicks and twirls, a smile always on her face.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Carmencita
Votes: 2,052
92. Cinderella (1899)
Not Rated | 6 min | Short, Drama, Family
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?
Director: Georges Méliès | Stars: Mlle Barral, Bleuette Bernon, Carmelli, Jehanne d'Alcy
Votes: 1,808
94. Cock Fight, No. 2 (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
Two gamecocks are fighting inside a wire cage, while two spectators look on in the background. The two men agree to make a bet on the outcome. One of them shows his money to the other, who is commenting on the fight.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Henry Welton
Votes: 498
95. Chinese Laundry Scene (1894)
1 min | Short, Comedy
The pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Phil Doreto, Robetta
Votes: 613
96. Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Sport
James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: James J. Corbett, Peter Courtney
Votes: 859
97. Arab Cortege, Geneva (1896)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
A stationary camera looks across a busy corner toward a store front marked "The Divan." The words "des fees" are beneath. A cortege of Arabs, about 20 persons in the party, walk past; the ... See full summary »
Director: Alexandre Promio
Votes: 388
98. Cupid and Psyche (1897)
1 min | Short
"[By the Leander Sisters.] The dress of one consists of a pair of wings and a bow and arrow; the other represents a fairy. Bathers in all stages of dress and undress watch the graceful dance."
Director: James H. White
Votes: 232
99. Douche après le bain (1897)
1 min | Short, Comedy
A black and white short film of children having a water fight.
Director: Louis Lumière | Stars: Édouard Lumière, Louise Willy
Votes: 361
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