Best Documentary Movies of 1899

Within a printing (printing a test).

This view represents the passage of a decorated chariot; The many spectators fight with confetti.

"An interesting exhibit by Hadji Cheriff, of the original Midway Plaisance. Twirls his rifle over his shoulder, behind back, under leg, both hands and one hand."

Filmed from the Brooklyn tower of the bridge, this is a panorama starting at Manhattan's Battery and then panning northward along the East River shoreline. Reportedly filmed somewhere between 1897 - 1899, though not copyrighted until 1903.

This picture is very novel and interesting. It gives the complete trip from the station at the New York City end of the bridge to the station at the Brooklyn end, as seen from the front end of a third rail car running at high speed. The entire trip consumes three minutes of time, during which abundant opportunity is given to observe all the structural wonders of the bridge, and far distant river panorama below.

Taken from the front platform of a special train run backward over this celebrated S curve. Not only are the passing trains and crowded platforms of great interest, but the view of uptown New York is an excellent one, showing acre upon acre of roofs, towers, steeples and towering apartment houses. As the 'special' slows up at 92nd street, a Harlem express dashes by, the engineer leaning out of his cab, and waving a good-bye.

"Grandpa sits nodding in his armchair in the kitchen, where a sout, jolly washerwoman is washing clothes. While the woman leaves the tub to talk to a book agent, a small boy enters, and ties grandpa's chair to a towel which is hanging over the tub. The washerwoman begins vigorously wringing the clothes. The towel is drawn into the wringer, and as grandpa is sitting with his feet on the stove and the chair tilted back, a collision is brought about by the towel pulling grandpa and the tub together. This is a crowning success as a comic picture."—Edison Catalog

“This is a new negative showing the entire trip from Brooklyn to New York, in which the immense towers stand out clear and distinct against the sky. Positively the best picture of the Brooklyn Bridge yet secured.” (Edison film catalog)

Probably part of the "Alaska and Yellowstone National Park Series" in the "Northern Pacific Railway Series"

This picture shows the Columbia crossing the line, leading the Shamrock by about 1/2 mile. The Shamrock is plainly seen in the distance and she later comes up and crosses the line in the same picture.

"In his characterization of Capt. Dreyfus and Emile Zola."

The Filipinos execute a flank movement and re-occupy the trenches, cutting off the advance guard of Americans. The rebel flag waves over the ditch and they defend their positions bravely. A fierce charge by our soldiers makes them give way and they scatter in all directions. The officer in command pays dearly for his desperate sortie.

Showing Central Park in the background.

Taken from the front end of a locomotive following an express train at high speed around the high curves of the Ninth Avenue Elevated, from the 104th to 116th Street station. This section, with its reverse curve, is known as "The Big Loop", and is the highest (at over 100 feet) and most dangerous section on the New York Elevated. During the trip, Grant's Tomb, Columbia College buildings, the new Cathedral of St. John The Divine, and Morningside Park, as well as a portion of the north end of Central Park are visible.

Naval Exercise, United Kingdom

"A magnificent picture of the launching of the 'Oceanic,' which up to that time was the largest vessel ever floated. The view is taken from a pier out over the water; the vessel coming stern on towards the camera and passing it by. A tremendous wave is thrown among the spectators crowded at the side of the pier, and the great excitement prevailing is very evident in the picture." (Belfast)

While he was trying, Dickson made the same sort of movie that others had before him. This is an imitation.of a Lumiere picture of people leaving a show of their pictures.

This is a ladies cycling display in the summer of 1899 in London, England. It is a display/show by the Catford Cycling Club.

A parade of soldiers.

Members of the 'Savage South Africa' troupe at Southampton Docks. The film shows a group of Africans (Zulus) in full tribal attire at Southampton docks.

The Shamrock is seen after its defeat in the 1899 America's Cup, along with the Erin, which served as its tow boat across the Atlantic.

Film by W.K.L. Dickson; Rounding a bend in the track, we behold Windsor Castle.

It looks like peasants dancing in their holiday finery, the women wearing long skirts, the men britches and flowered hats. They set into pairs and walk in a circle, while the fiddler plays.

Well-known horse-women and their mounts riding before the judge's stand at the Open Air Horse Show, Manhattan Field, N.Y. City.

A couple of women stand in a field, using pitch forks to separate burning grass. Men run away from the event. Meanwhile, a third woman stands to the right, drinking what I would guess is water from a pitcher, instead of using it to put out the fire.

In [Admiral] Dewey land parade.

As Camilla sleeps in the garden of Tollhouse Inn, Roland steals a vial of elixir from under her skirt.

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

Showing the tapping of the furnace, and the running of the molten metal into the moulds at Elswick yard.

A phantom ride.

Close shot of 4.7" naval gun pointing to the left with group of British naval ratings standing around it. The gun fires and the men run up to reload, the begin to pull the gun forward.

Four men tie ropes to a log and then pull it to the shore.

Cambodian procession. Filmed by Veyre for the Lumieres

Troyes captured by the Lumiere Brothers

This is a ladies cycling display by the Catford Cycling Club in the summer of 1899 in London, England.