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If you were to look at a history or timeline of cinema, you would think there were no films made between 1903 and 1915's Birth Of A Nation. With good reason.
After watching several 1904-1907 films, there really isn't a memorable film at all. Here's a rundown of a few of the notable ones.
The Kleptomaniac (1905)
Directed by: Edward S. Porter
Lenth: 12 minutes
It's a parallel story of two women caught stealing. One woman is wealthy and steals a piece of cloth from a store. The other woman is poor and steal bread to feed her family. They are both caught and are put in front of a judge. The poor woman is found guilty and sent to jail, despite a plea from her daughter, while the wealthy woman is let go because of her social standing. The film ends with Lady Justice holding up her scales, with a loaf of bread on on end.
This is about the time when films with social meanings start to come out.
Historical Rating: 5/10
Entertainment Rating 3/10
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Coney Island At Night (1905)
Length: 5 minutes
One of the first, non-short documentaries. Until now, there were films of the aftermatch of the San Francisco earthquake and the hurracane in Galviston, TX. But they were short, mostly just 15-30 seconds. This is the first one lasting several minutes. This was also a time when not everyone had electricity, so it must have been quite the sight to see Coney Island all lit up when in many parts of the country, electricity was still pretty rare.
Historical Rating: 6/10
Entertainment Rating: 2/10
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The White Caps (1905)
Directed By: Edward S. Porter
Length: 12 minutes
The White Caps is a movie about a group of vigilanties called, unsurprisingly, The White Caps. They enforced a sort of moral law. The story is about a man who beats his wife, and then she runs away and the White Caps find out. They grab the guy at his home, but he escapes. What follows is the hunt for the man, his capture and then he gets tarred and feathers. The last scene is of the White Caps parading him down the street.
Historical Rating: 4/10
Entertainment Rating: 4/10
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The "Teddy" Bears (1907)
Directed By: Edward S. Porter
Length: 12 minutes
This is a retelling of the story of Goldilocks And The Three Bears. What makes this noteworthy is that it includes an extended stop-motion animation scene, definately one of the first scenes of stop-motion animation.
Historical Rating: 6/10
Entertainment Rating: 3/10
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