Roundhay Garden Scene - The first surviving motion picture!

The cinema of the United Kingdom is one of the productive industries of the world that contributed a lot to the modern cinema. Despite facing negatives, booms, and recessions, the film industry of the United Kingdom developed on par to compete with the booming American film industry. Initially, the British films had the influence from the French Lumière brothers in 1895, and their show first came to London in 1896. Moreover, the ongoing debates raise doubts on the cultural and economic influences of both American and European films on the British films. Nevertheless, the British film industry produced the greatest actors, directors of the world including Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Powell and Pressburger, Sir David Lean, Sir Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Audrey Hepburn et cetera.

We could speak anything on the richness of the British cinema. Recently, I guess two days back, suddenly a thought flashed in my mind. It is – 'How would it be if I start collecting and blogging about the British films starting from pre 1900s?'. At the spur of the moment, I surfed through Internet and collected some information regarding the development of British cinema and also about the films. I thought of starting with the roots of British cinema. The result is the post about the first ever surviving motion film of the United Kingdom.

Interestingly, the earliest surviving motion picture is 'Roundhay Garden Scene' released, presumably, on October 14 1888 directed by Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince. The short film features some of the members of the family of Louis Le Prince. Harriet Hartley, Adolphe Le Prince, Joseph Whitley, and Sarah Whitley featured in the film.

Amazingly, the film is shot by using single lens camera. The whole scene is supposedly filmed at Oakwood Grande, Roundhay, Leeds. The running time of the film is two seconds in which the characters are seen laughing and walking around the garden. Moreover, the whole film was shot at 12 frames

I am indeed surprised to watch a film that lasts for just two seconds. Nevertheless, I am pleased to watch the first British motion film that is extant.

You all can have the pleasure of watching the film on YouTube

I am glad that I shared this first-silent-motion film of the United Kingdom. Stay tuned with the blog.
I am sure you would be interested to blog with me about the Brit films. Hope you enjoyed!!!