Jeanne d'Arc

For 1900, this is an epic in many respects: its sheer length (10 minutes), the mythical/historical subject, and number of sets (12). It also attempts to seem like a cast of hundreds by having its actors parade across the screen, then circle back off-screen and parade by again. Obviously when viewed today, this kind of scene is pedestrian (no pun intended) and lacks the impact it may have had at the time. Overall, it's also a pretty straightforward depiction of the story of Joan of Arc, simply marching through chapters of her life in long shot. Perhaps this film and the many other representations of her in the arts played a role in getting Joan of Arc sanctified twenty years later. Regardless, the real miracle is how old this film is, and the fact that it survives.