Robert W. Paul

A magical glowing white motorcar ignores policemen, drives up buildings, flies through outer space, and can transform into a horse and carriage.

Filmed in 35mm and in black and white, this short silent film was produced by the English film pioneer R. W. Paul, and directed by Walter R. Booth and was filmed at Paul's Animatograph Works. It was released in November 1901. As was common in cinema's early days, the filmmakers chose to adapt an already well-known story, in this case A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in the belief that the audience's familiarity with the story would result in the need for fewer intertitles. It was presented in 'Twelve Tableaux' or scenes.

Short actuality showing Kaiser Wilhelm II visiting Portsmouth, including views associated with Nelson’s flagship H.M.S. Victory. Produced in Britain during the late-Victorian boom in topical films, it records the Kaiser’s naval-themed stop at the Royal Navy’s principal base.

The Alhambra Girls perform a dance at Alhambra Theatre, London. Lost.

A series of actuality films showing the procession to mark Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

Drama by Walter R. Booth. Survival status unknown.

A magical glowing white motorcar ignores policemen, drives up buildings, flies through outer space, and can transform into a horse and carriage.

Filmed in 35mm and in black and white, this short silent film was produced by the English film pioneer R. W. Paul, and directed by Walter R. Booth and was filmed at Paul's Animatograph Works. It was released in November 1901. As was common in cinema's early days, the filmmakers chose to adapt an already well-known story, in this case A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in the belief that the audience's familiarity with the story would result in the need for fewer intertitles. It was presented in 'Twelve Tableaux' or scenes.

Short actuality showing Kaiser Wilhelm II visiting Portsmouth, including views associated with Nelson’s flagship H.M.S. Victory. Produced in Britain during the late-Victorian boom in topical films, it records the Kaiser’s naval-themed stop at the Royal Navy’s principal base.

The Alhambra Girls perform a dance at Alhambra Theatre, London. Lost.

A series of actuality films showing the procession to mark Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

A series of actuality films showing the procession to mark Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

Drama by Walter R. Booth. Survival status unknown.

Trick film. A stage magician transforms a woman into a butterfly and himself into a giant bat. This film is considered lost.

A panorama shot of the Norwegian town and harbour of Hammerfest. Believed to be the earliest surviving film of Norway.

A panorama shot of the Norwegian town and harbour of Hammerfest. Believed to be the earliest surviving film of Norway.

A man and a woman talk beside a street near a corner where a cop stands. Just as a horse-drawn cart rounds the corner, the man backs off the sidewalk saying good-by to his companion. The horse and cart flatten him and continue on, out of the camera's stationary range. The cop runs after the cab, the woman dashes to the body. The cop brings back the driver; is the victim dead?

Poor pedestrian, horse drawn carts, wagons and bus travel across bridge at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

Directed by Robert W. Paul.

An old proprietor is startled and haunted by the strange happenings inside his curiosity shop.

The scene is a railroad track on the side of a steep mountain, with a tunnel in the background, toward which a train is running at a high rate of speed. At this instant the audience is appalled at the sight of a second train rushing out of the tunnel. Both trains are on the same track and traveling toward each other at a high rate of speed. They collide. Cars and engines are smashed into fragments and thrown down the steep incline. (Edison Catalog)

A robber forces a luckless stroller in the park to remove his hat, coat, waistcoat and trousers.

A robber forces a luckless stroller in the park to remove his hat, coat, waistcoat and trousers.

This attractively composed one-shot film offers viewers an uncomplicated view of waves crashing against rocks.

Directed by Robert W. Paul.

Rumored to be shot by Georges Demenÿ.

No synopsis available yet.

A parade of Gordon Highlanders in dress uniform march through the centre of Aberdeen on their way to the Boer War. Small children run around in excitement but are moved aside by a member of the regiment. Directed by Robert W. Paul.

Short documentary released in 1907.

A wounded soldier dreams of his mother whose framed miniature deflects a bullet from his heart.

A 19th century wire-walker performs his stage act on a woman's clothesline. An early comedy by pioneer director Robert W. Paul.

Silent documentary short

Britain's first drama (i.e. non documentary) film.

The first part of the film shows an actuality street scene of traffic in the Strand. Behind the traffic we can see the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre on the Strand, advertising its latest show 'My Girl'. The second part is a different film altogether, spliced onto the first and is R W Paul’s Turn Out of a Fire Brigade filmed in November 1896 in Newcastle at the Westgate Road fire station. The film date is 1896.

A comic short in which a tramp attempts to ride a bicycle, tumbling repeatedly before giving up in despair. A skilled rider then takes the stage, performing rope-jumping tricks while balanced on the wheel. Often attributed to British film pioneer R.W. Paul. Although Thomas Edison has sometimes been mistakenly named as director, he was never credited as director on any films.

A Swiss tourist knocks the head off a negro waiter.

Directed by Robert W. Paul.

A tiny fragment of an actuality film of Tom Merry (William Mechem), a 'lightning sketch' caricaturist performing his act for the camera and producing a large profile caricature of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The loss of the rest of the film has bequeathed us 6 seconds that are of Mechem standing next to the completed portrait and sadly, that is all there is. An early film made by Birt Acres for R.W. Paul. (see release information for further detail).

The surf pounds against a breakwater on which are visible several people standing. The wall looks to be about 20 feet above sea level and extend at least 100 feet into the water. A large wave rolls picturesquely along the wall toward the shore. Smaller waves follow. Then the scene changes to river water flowing. We see both shores: in the foreground a log and tree branch are visible; on the far shore, there appears to be a low wall with trees beyond it. The camera is stationary in both shots.

A magician performs tricks. First with a top hat, then with his audience.

No synopsis available yet.

Husband comes home late and wakes the wife. Based on a popular stage play.

Dangled precariously off a boat, a baby falls into the river. Many people on the bank quickly scramble to its rescue.

Aristocracy, army, elephants and more mark the start of the 1903 Durbar.

Directed by Robert W. Paul.

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