This page presents a selection of image and video related to early films and filmmakers that are covered in the beginning of the course. These resources are all now in the public domain.
Very Early Film
Galloping Race Horse
Sequence of a race horse galloping. Photos taken by Eadweard Muybridge, first published in 1887 at Philadelphia.
See the animation of this sequence, courtesy of Wikipedia.
Fred Ott's Sneeze
Three still shots of Fred Ott sneezing in the 1894 motion picture Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze: the first copyrighted film in history. (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
See the complete film, hosted by American Memory at the Library of Congress.
The Kiss
Three still shots from the early short The Kiss. (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
See the complete film, hosted by American Memory at the Library of Congress.
The Great Train Robbery
A contemporary poster advertising The Great Train Robbery. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
A still from The Great Train Robbery. When this part of the film was first shown, viewers used to run from the screen in fear, because the actor aiming a gun at the audience appeared so real to viewers unaccustomed to motion pictures. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
See the complete film, hosted by American Memory at the Library of Congress.
D. W. Griffith
A stamp released by the U.S. Post Office to commemorate D. W. Griffith. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Birth of a Nation
See the complete film, hosted by Google Video.
Buster Keaton
One Week
See the complete film, hosted by Google Video
The General
A still shot showing Buster Keaton's "great stone face" in The General. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Another still showing Keaton in The General. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
See the complete film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.
Steamboat Bill Jr.
See selected clips from the film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.
The Balloonatic
See the complete film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Charlie Chaplin in his 1914 film debut Kid Auto Races in Venice. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Charlie Chaplin in a still from his 1921 film The Kid. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Easy Street
Watch the complete film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.
By the Sea
Watch the complete film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.
Work
See a clip from the film, hosted by Public Domain Comedy.