Best Movies of 1898

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

Santa arrives at a house on Christmas Eve to deliver his presents for the children.

Earliest known example of African American intimacy on screen.

An adaptation of the folk tale.

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 lost film. Georges Méliès also directed a film entitled Faust aux enfers in 1903 that is frequently confused with this one, but it has little to do with the story of Faust.

Come Along, Do! is an 1898 British short silent comedy film, produced and directed by Robert W. Paul. The film was of 1 minute duration, but only forty-some seconds have survived. The whole of the second shot is only available as film stills. The film features an elderly man at an art gallery who takes a great interest in a nude statue to the irritation of his wife. The film has cinematographic significance as the first example of film continuity. It was, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "one of the first films to feature more than one shot." In the first shot, an elderly couple is outside an art exhibition having lunch and then follow other people inside through the door. The second shot shows what they do inside.

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

“A file of Spanish soldiers line up the Cubans against a blank wall and fire a volley. The flash of rifles and drifting smoke make a very striking picture.” (Edison film catalog)

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.

He sits asleep at a bare table; old witch enters, raps three times, then disappears; cavalier sees table spread for a sumptuous repast. Mephistopheles appears; then the old witch, who suddenly changes to a beautiful young girl. The changes and magical appearances are startling and instantaneous.

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 soldier and a serving-girl are courting on a bench. A fat old lady sits on the bench, interrupting them.

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."

There is a burglar on the rooftop of a Manhattan office building, and he is trying to break in. Two women spot him, and one of them begins beating him with a broom as they wait for help to arrive. Soon others do appear on the scene to help, but by now the burglar has decided that he is going to put up a fight in an attempt to escape.

Papa is reading his newspaper and his little girl tickles his neck with a long straw. Thinking it is a fly papa "shoos" away the supposed fly with his hand…

This Victorian duel between knife-wielding women was taken from an existing stage production, thought to be the Drury Lane theatre melodrama 'Women and Wine'. The actresses are believed to be Edith Blanche and Beatrice Homer.

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 film consists of a single shot of a Spanish flag being pulled down and the US flag being raised in its place. Also known as Raising Old Glory over Morro Castle.

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.

Thieves are chased by police on rooftops.

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.

Leopoldo Fregoli pose as various composers

Leopoldo Fregoli gets free tasty samples.

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

A man changes clothes immediately.

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.

A farmer kisses a lean girl.

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.

Leopoldo Fregoli eating at the restaurant.

A man gets into an argument with his carriage driver.

Some boys are seated at a table outdoors for a meal when a fight breaks out.

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.