Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Flash, Full length, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, Restored, NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 2
• Studio: A2ZCDS.com
• DVD Release Date: October 3, 2005
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BNMX2Y
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,424 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine collection of the earliest Edison movies, August 16, 2007

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: History of Motion Pictures: Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1891-98 (DVD)

Thomas Alva Edison used his genius to make many inventions; and he certainly made fine contributions to the embryonic start of motion pictures. This two DVD set features over 130 short films by Edison and the people who worked for him.

Amazon correctly notes that many of these films are very short--and they are right. Many of the earliest films on the first DVD last no longer than 23 seconds. There is a longer film, though, that lasts over a minute so we get some proof that Edison could indeed make longer pictures than just 23 seconds or so. The first DVD contains the earliest motion pictures with the very first one shot in 1891; this was of a young man swinging his clubs. Edison wanted the man to swing his clubs to prove that motion would be the focus of motion pictures; and although the film is in poor shape you can see that Edison accomplished this goal from the word go.

Other memorable shorts throughout the two DVD set would include the film that depicts the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. I notice that another reviewer knew that this was the first film ever to use actors--good input from that reviewer! I also liked the earlier films of schoolgirls having pillow fights in a seminary and the short films of parades with their floats were extremely interesting. We see Chinese parades, military parades and more.

The second DVD sports another large number of short films, some of which are well over one minute long. We see ships being launched and there is a good amount of footage shot in 1898 in or near Cuba during what must have been The Spanish-American War. It's interesting to see the men "initiate" a new recruit by subjecting him to a "blanket throw;" many men gather around in a circle and with their brute force turn a blanket into a type of trampoline while the new recruit must bounce around in it to survive the ride and become initiated into their fold. The men have a great time and you can see many of them laughing with pleasure!

There are other short films of ladies dancing; and I liked one short that had three Japanese women doing a traditional dance. On the first DVD there are at least two short films of Native Americans doing dances, too. Very impressive!

You may notice that the camera was stationary; therefore the only way Edison and his coworkers were able to capture things from more than one angle was to mount the camera in front of moving trains. These shorts are very nicely done.

The two DVDs lack any commentary and there are no extras; this disappoints me. I have to take off one star for that to make this a four star review. Sigh.

Overall, this two DVD set gives us the best possible look at the earliest films made by Edison and his coworkers. History buffs will love this and film buffs will cherish this as well for its obvious historical value. I highly recommend this two DVD set for people who want to get a look at what life was like at the last turn of the century, too.

Enjoy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Origin Of Movies, May 5, 2006

By 

Bart (Montpellier, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: History of Motion Pictures: Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1891-98 (DVD)

After Thomas Edison invented the movie projector he needed to make movies in order to show the world that the thing worked and that people would want to pay money to see moving images projected onto the wall.

Since no one had ever seen movies before Edison had no idea what people would want to see, so he and his cameraman filmed everything they could.

The results are the clips on this disk. Some are just people standing around. Some are events and others try to tell simple stories.

The films themselves are primitive, but it is interesting to see what Edison thought his invention should be used for.

5.0 out of 5 stars History of Motion Pictures: Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison, October 2, 2011

By 

WANDAE. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: History of Motion Pictures: Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1891-98 (DVD)

History of Motion Pictures: Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison. I REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING THIS FILM. IT IS VERY INFORMATIVE & INTERESTING.