Best Documentary Movies of 1898

Film shot by W.K.L. Dickson at Maidenhead Junction, 1898.

A ‘phantom ride’ taken from the front of a train passing through the Devon town of Barnstaple.

The festive start and disastrous aftermath of the launch of the H.M.S. Albion.

The film documents the launch of HMS Albion at Blackwall on the 21st of June, 1898—an event that was witnessed by 30,000 onlookers, 37 of whom lost their lives when the jetty upon which they were standing became washed away by the resultant swell.

A review of engineers at the Longchamp parade, filmed by the Lumière brothers.

Four men of different ranks play a game of tetherball on a ship's deck.

The Switchback Railway was the forerunner of the roller coaster. Passengers sit in a small car which trundles up a swooping railway track then performs a 180 degree turn at its summit before swooping back down on a parallel track.

During the Alaska gold rush, one way to reach the Klondike was over the Chilkoot Pass. A stationary camera is placed to see a ways down the curving trail. A pack train comes into view and passes in front of us, led by a man on horseback. Eight loaded mules follow, then another cowboy on horseback and a man walking, then eight more laden mules, another cowboy, then nine more mules, a cowboy, and still the pack train stretches as far as the eye can see. A solitary man watches from atop a hillock. (IMDb)

A “phantom ride” taken from the buffers of an engine on the London and South West Railway through the Ilfracombe area: the reservoirs, Morthroe, Ilfracombe Incline and station.

"Shows the beach at Long Branch, N.J. immediately after a heavy storm. The breaking waves dash over a row of spiles, throwing a spray high into the air."

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

George Smith's picture of the crowds out for a stroll on what I imagine is Brighton Pier.

On Saturday morning, August 20, 1898, six grim battleships of Admiral Sampson's Squadron sailed into New York Harbor and up the Hudson to receive a welcome from the people and to fire a salute of victory in sight of the tomb of the great soldier-hero of another war [Ulysses Grant].

"Here was built the peerless battleship 'Oregon.' The scene is taken at lunch hour, and shows a great throng of employees leaving the shop."

The immense ship passes the camera on its way out of the harbor, with the bits of cloth fluttering in the wind, and the passengers on the main deck waving like mad.

Eight mounted cowboys pursue an escaped steer, riding at furious speed. Fine exhibition of lasso throwing. Mexican International.

Magnificent action is displayed by this troop of Mexican cavalry. They approach at full speed, with drawn sabres, wheel rapidly, and charge in the opposite direction.

The famous show makes a parade.

Shows steam fire engine in action. Men scale ladders and play streams of water on a burning building. Very realistic.

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

The famous show makes a parade.

Men walk through the street with their flower-decorated bicycles in this early Pathe actuality.

When Battery B of the 4th U.S. Artillery came to Tampa, Fla., it meant business, and the picture shows it. One by one the big artillery-men pass by in front and reappear in the background, dismounting, unloosing saddle girths and bridles and leading away their mounts. Limbers, gun carriages and caissons in the distance. The sweating horses and the vigorous switching of their tails tell a mute story of hot weather and fly-time. A picture full of reality.

A folk dance staged in the ruins of Pompeii. With the Arch of Tiberius in the near distance and Arch of Caligula in far distance. A troop of soldiers, or possibly more performers, march past. W K L Dickson who is directing the action can apparently be seen on far right of picture.

The children come sliding down the hill on their sleds, and run the gauntlet of volleys of snowballs thrown by boys on both sides of the street.

Soldiers setting up camp.

The entry of the Torino Exposition is an 1898 film dedicated to the inauguration in Torino from the King of Italy Umberto I of Italy of the Italian General Exposition.

Reenactment of Jesus Christ with his cross.

Taken on 'Lucky' Baldwin's ranch, Santa Anita, Cal. Shows an engine and five cars approaching from a distance.

A bunch of naked boys jump and splash in the water right on one of the canals of Venice. There's even the tail end of one of the gondolas to make sure the audience doesn't mistake where this is taking place.

Taken at the Cuban Volunteer Camp at West Tampa, Fla. Men are falling into line, two abreast, every man with his tin cup and dish. Command is given 'forward march' and the column approaches the audience. A fine looking body of men, worthy of a people battling for freedom. Figures are life size and life like. Prominently displayed upon their military hats is the emblem Cuba Libre, a single star in a red tri-colored field. An accurate and interesting subject.

Ships in Southampton

"The Worthing Station is some distance from the shore, and whenever there is a wreck the life-boat is dragged to the scene on a huge truck drawn by eight horses. Our picture shows the life-boat responding to an alarm. The horses start out from the station at a gallop, and the members of the crew run beside the boat. This negative is unusually fine photographically."

In this picture the pretty bathing girls are riding their wheels along the hard sand of the beach. One girl who is a novice is learning to ride, and her efforts to maintain an upright position are very amusing.

Soldiers marching up a winding trail.

Tracking shot of a train, from the United Kingdom.

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

"This picture was taken from the front of a rapidly moving launch through one of the most beautiful stretches of the Grand Canal, showing many magnificent historical palaces. The photographic work is unusually fine."

A British Mutoscope & Biograph Company production

Brooklyn Jubilee Peace Parade

Bullfighting short from the Lumieres