Best Picture 1903
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- 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.
- DirectorLucien NonguetFerdinand ZeccaStarsMadame MoreauMonsieur MoreauThe story of Jesus Christ from the proclamation of his Nativity to his crucifixion. Impressive scenes and dynamism of the actors prelude to the Italian colossal movies of the silent period.
- 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.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsThe leader of a marching band demonstrates an unusual way of writing music.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsDeep into a vast cavern of the pitch-black inferno, a couple of professional dancers demonstrate the cakewalk that is currently so much in vogue, and now, everyone in the once-gloomy underworld is doing the crazy dance. Who is the best?
- 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.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterBased on the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe: Eliza, a slave who has a young child, pleads with Tom, another slave, to escape with her. Tom does not leave, but Eliza flees with her child. After getting some help to escape the slave traders who are looking for her, she then must try to cross the icy Ohio River if she wants to be free. Meanwhile, Tom is sold from one master to another, and his fortunes vary widely.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsDenied a handout, a witch exacts vengeance by cursing the village well.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsScenes. 1. The Route to the Depths of Perdition (a Dazzingly Sensational New Effect.) 2. The Fantastical Ride. 3. The Gloomy Pass. 4. The Stream. 5. The Entrance to the Lower Regions. 6. The Marvelous Grottoes (tableau with six dissolving Scenes.) 7. The Crystal Stalactites 8. The Devil's Hole 9. The Ice Cavern. 10. The Goddesses of Antiquity (a Superb Fantastical Ballet in a Snowstorm.) 11. The Subterranean Cascade (a New Trick with Apparition in a Waterfall.) 12. The Nymphs of the Underworld.--The Seven Headed Hydra--The Demons--The Struggle of Water with Fire (a big Novelty.) 13. The Descent to Satan's Domain (a clever trick now first shown.) 14. The Furnace. 15. The Triumph of Mephistopheles.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsTwo demons throw helpless captives into a boiling cauldron, and then try to summon forth their spirits.
- DirectorFrank S. MottershawA thief jumps a fence and removes the shutter from a house. He enters, but a lad who's witnessed the crime runs off to hail the coppers.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsBrief "trick film" in which Zeus and two other gods romp with dancing girls on Olympian clouds.
- DirectorGeorge Albert SmithStarsLaura BayleySmith casts his wife as a sluttish housewife who is mutilated by lighting her oven with paraffin.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsZizi PapillonIn this brief "trick film" two clowns assemble an enormous magic lantern which first projects moving images, then emits dancing girls.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsAgainst a moonlit Egyptian backdrop duly encompassing the Sphinx, a narrator explains how a prince hires a mystic to bring back his beloved late wife.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsThe scene takes place in front of a barrack, where a young soldier is on duty --most laughable and comical.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsPioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès performs his cine-magic act.
- DirectorWilliam HaggarStarsSid GriffithsWill Haggar Jr.Walter HaggarThree hunters surprise two poachers in the act. The hunters take umbrage and give chase over fences and through fields. The hunters fire away, but the poachers have guns as well, and a fight ensues with casualties for the hunters. Two cops appear and so do dogs as the chase continues. Will the poachers escape, or will they, like the game they were after, be trapped?
- DirectorRobert W. PaulStarsAlfred CollinsA stationary camera looks on as two dapper gents play a game of chess. One drinks and smokes, and when he looks away, his opponent moves two pieces. A fight ensues, first with the squirting of a seltzer bottle, then with fisticuffs. The combatants wrestle each other to the floor and continue the fight out of the camera's view, hidden by the table. The waiter arrives to haul both of them out.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsA human skeleton is placed upon a table by an attendant. When the attendant leaves the room the skeleton begins kicking his legs and throwing his arms about and suddenly turns into a magician. The magician produces an egg, performing several sleight-of-hand tricks, and places it upon the table with the small end downward. He then crudely draws a human face upon the shell, and the egg immediately begins growing larger and larger until it reaches the size of a normal head. The form of the egg fades away and there immediately appears the head of a very pretty girl. Then two or more of the same type appear on either side of the original. The heads of the girls are merged into one head and from this appears the hideous head of a hobgoblin. The hobgoblin fades away into the original egg. The egg is reduced to its normal size and is removed from the table by the magician, who swallows it. He then takes his place on the table, reverting back to the skeleton, which is removed by the attendant, thus closing the picture.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsGilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' AndersonBertha RegustusA woman riding a train must contend with the unwelcome advances of a male passenger.
- DirectorGeorge S. FlemingEdwin S. PorterStarsEdwin S. PorterVivian VaughanArthur WhiteA fireman rushes into a carriage to rescue a woman from a house fire. He breaks the windowpanes and carries the woman to safety; after dangerous and uncertain moments he also saves the woman's son.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsThe scene is similar to that seen at Coney Island, where a number of shows are constantly going on. A Juggler enters, dressed in promenade costume, with an overcoat hanging over his arm, a silk hat on his head and carrying a cane. Laying down his coat and cane, he uses his hat for some of his juggling feats. Throwing the hat to the ground, it suddenly becomes a balloon, which he catches and balances on the end of the cane. The balloon turns into a piece of cloth, which in turn becomes an umbrella cover on the end of the cane. Concealing himself behind the umbrella for a moment, he suddenly comes forth clothed in the costume of a young Greek. He draws out of the umbrella a beautiful woman in Algerian costume. One after the other, he takes from the umbrella a Swiss, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Turkish, Holland, Swedish and Gypsy Maiden, and, as a finish, a beautiful Fairy appears, the latter dropping out of a bunch of roses as they fall from the umbrella. Thus there have been produced by one umbrella, ten beautiful maidens which our Juggler poses in a charming group. He causes each one to jump to the floor, but in their descent each one changes her costume to that of an up-to-date coquette. They all engage in a dance, and the scenery changes. The Juggler assumes his original costume. He tears the umbrella apart and the latter again becomes a cane. He misses his hat. Perceiving the balloon in the corner, he seizes it, and it again becomes a high hat, which he dons and bows himself out of the picture.
- DirectorWalter R. BoothRobert W. PaulA man and a woman talk beside a street near a corner where a cop stands. Just as a horse-drawn cart rounds the corner, the man backs off the sidewalk saying good-by to his companion. The horse and cart flatten him and continue on, out of the camera's stationary range. The cop runs after the cab, the woman dashes to the body. The cop brings back the driver; is the victim dead?
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterA fine panoramic view of this busy market on a Friday morning. Immense throngs of people are passing along the stands and making their purchases of fish. A great character-study. - from the Edison Catalog
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterThe first scene shows a country couple entering Steeplechase Park. They proceed to amuse themselves on the steeplechase, rope bridge, the "Down and Out" and riding the bulls. The scene then changes to a panorama of Luna Park, showing Rube and Mandy doing stunts on the rattan slide, riding on the miniature railway, shooting the chutes, riding the boats in the old mill, and visiting Professor Wormwood's Monkey theatre. They next appear on the Bowery, visiting the fortune tellers, striking the punching machine and winding up with the frankfurter man. The climax shows a bust view of Rube and Mandy eating frankfurters. Interesting for the humorous features, and the excellent views of Coney Island and Luna Park.
- DirectorFrederick S. ArmitageA.E. WeedFilm taken from a boat heading down the Hudson is shown at varying speeds, often giving a sense of rapid transit. We see empty hills sweeping by, then a steamboat passes. A few houses appear in woods along the river's bank. The camera goes around a curve in the river; a train track is visible at the water's edge. The occasional sign of industrialization appears, then a working rail yard. Around another bend are more steamboats, a three-masted sailboat, and barges. In the distance, a train heads south. After awhile, we reach a city.
- DirectorGeorge Albert SmithA girl gives a spoonful of medicine to a kitten.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsAndré DeedGeorges MélièsRobinson Crusoe and Friday fight with hostile natives, and eventually retire to their jungle cottage to relax.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterShows a bedroom and a man asleep in bed. A burglar cautiously raises the window, climbs in, and proceeds to go through the man's clothes. The man awakes, pulls a lever, which closes him up in a folding bed, the bottom of which is iron-clad and fitted with guns and portholes. The burglar is dumbfounded and cannot move. Subbubs turns his battery loose, blowing the burglar to pieces. He then raises an American flag on a staff on top of the bed as a signal of victory. The bed opens up again and Subbubs goes to sleep.
- DirectorJ.B. SmithThis short film shows a panoramic view of Manhattan Island, as it appeared in 1903. The island is viewed from the North River (Hudson River), and the view moves down the west side of the island towards The Battery. Both the waterfront and the skyline behind it are shown.
- DirectorAlice GuyStarsFerdinand ZeccaAn uncharacteristic "trick" film from Alice Guy. The fellow prepares for his bath. And prepares. And prepares.
- DirectorA.E. WeedIt's a very windy day, and the pedestrians passing by the Flatiron Building are having considerable difficulty in keeping their hats from flying off.
- DirectorA.C. AbadieShows a large open barge loaded with people of every nationality, disembarking at Ellis Island, N. Y. A most interesting and typical scene.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsEdward BouldenA woman being fitted for shoes exposes her ankle to the shoe clerk, who is intrigued. He kisses her, but her chaperone hits him with her umbrella.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsJules-Eugène LegrisGeorges MélièsA juggler enters upon the scene, picks up a skull, throws it into the air, catches it in his hands, where it is transformed into a handkerchief. The handkerchief, after being twirled about a wand, is changed to a napkin, and afterward to a tablecloth. Out of the table cloth comes a servant. The servant brings a low table upon which the juggler throws some magic powder. The powder takes fire and blazes up into a large flame, in the midst of which appears a beautiful female. The flame dies away, the lady descends to show that she is alive. She mounts the table again. The juggler leaves the room. The servant falls in love with the lady and proposes marriage, but she fades from view. The juggler reenters and head over heals disappears from the top of the chair. The servant rushes toward the chair, juggler reappears coming out from under the table, seizes the servant and, throwing him to the floor, reduces him to smoke. He disposes of the chair in like manner and dances off.
- DirectorA.C. AbadiePush-cart vendors are told to move on by a policeman.
- Men on the streetcar offer their seats to pretty women, but not to an ugly woman.
- DirectorA.E. WeedA woman in fancy dress enters a dressing room and begins to disrobe. She removes a coat, a top, and her skirt. As she starts to remove her chemise in front of the camera, she thinks the better of it and steps behind an opaque screen. Soon, she tosses her slip over the screen toward the camera. Then, she reaches with her naked arm across to a chair to grab her next costume. She emerges dressed in a very short and spangled skirt and top, ready for her next performance.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsMarie MurrayAn engaged couple, dressed in white, meet each other at a train station. When the train arrives, they get on board, and they enjoy the sights from the platform on the last car. The workers on the train are eager to help, and they make some special arrangements for the couple.
- DirectorEdwin S. PorterStarsCarl GoliathTopsyThe execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in 1902 which was then sold to new owners who turned it into Luna Park. After they decided they could no longer handle her, the owners of Luna Park announced they would hang Topsy, leading to an outcry by the ASPCA. The owners then decided they would electrocute the elephant, with a backup plan of feeding her cyanide-laced carrots and strangling her with a cable.