Roundhay Garden Scene

Oh my God! It's Attack of the 80's all over again... the 1880's!! This smashing blockbuster was not only the absolute first of its time, it stands well on its own as an epic mystery story. The questions this movie raises are plenty:

1) Who is the woman in the funny hat? Why does she turn away from the camera? Is there some dark secret she is desperately trying to hide?

2) Why is the man to the left so eager to leave? Afraid that the camera will make evidence of a murder eternal?

OK, so maybe two questions may not count as plenty in today's plot twist-jaded audience, but still it is quite an amazing feat for a two seconds long film to leave you feeling both dazed and confused, left wanting for more, yet afraid of what horrible truths you might find and wondering if the truth can really live up to your imagination.

Roundhay Garden Scene is a masterwork, right up there with "Leeds Bridge" and "Train Pulling Into Bombay Station". Recommended for all ages! 10/10

(r#10)

There is nothing wrong with this very short short film. The reason it's flawless is because it has a runtime of like 2 seconds. Exactly 2 seconds. But hey, at least you won't be bored while you are watching it. This short film rightfully deserves itself a 10/10 for it's quality and because it is one of the first short films/films ever made that helped the movie industry get started. It's definitely worth a watch.

If you are busy doing something and you think that you won't have time to watch it, trust me. It will be over before you know it. This short film is simply a must see to all movie buffs that enjoy watching old works of art and that would like to see how the film industry began.

If ever there were the case for a ten out of ten rating, this and 'Traffic Crossing the Leeds Bridge' are it. This is the first film ever made -- or at least the earliest film to survive. It is absolutely priceless and has an incalculable value for the history of film. The wonderful thing is that anyone can watch it through the 'Video Clip' link on the IMDb. Very interesting to have a brief glimpse of life 118 years ago. 'Traffic Crossing the Leeds Bridge' is equally fascinating (and brief). There is really no comparison as they both show a brief glimpse of the nineteenth century, but, if forced to choose, I'd say watch that one. Both are tremendous, however, and we're extremely lucky that they've been preserved.

Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)

Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888)

If you've ever wondered what the first movies ever made were then here you go. Director Louise Le Prince shot these two films with a single lense camera he made in 1888. From what I've read, both were shot in October of 1888 because the director's mother died this month and she's featured in the first film (which I just had to watch twice). The first film has some sort of creepy feel along with it but if you're interested then you can see them at IMDb or Youtube. Both just last for two seconds but at least I can now say I saw the first film ever made.

No plot. No sound. No credits. But it was the first ever moving picture and it was directed by Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince, a man who's dad was pals with the earliest of photographers.

The film simply involves Le Prince's family standing in the garden of a large Victorian house, moving around each other in circles. They had to do something I guess. Mad isn't it, the first ever film and it's just people doing the first crazy thing that comes to their head.

It's weird watching this 120-year-old film and seeing a more vivid look at life in those days. Le Prince disappeared of the face of the earth in 1890 and his vanishing was never solved. He never knew how much of a pioneer he was.