Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Flash, Full length, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, Restored, NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: A2ZCDS.com
• DVD Release Date: October 3, 2005
• Run Time: 56 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BNMX2O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,357 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Studio

Ever wondered about the secret behind Thomas Edison’s success as an inventor or how President Calvin Coolidge spent his vacation? This DVD has the answer for you. Surprisingly, little "Al" Edison, who was the last of seven children in his family, did not learn to talk until he was almost four years of age. Immediately thereafter, he began pleading with every adult he met to explain the workings of just about everything he encountered. If they said they didn't know, he would look them straight in the eye with his deeply set and vibrant blue-green eyes and ask them "why?" The first decade in the history of motion pictures unquestionably belongs to the incomparable inventor and scientific genius Thomas Edison. Having more or less perfected the equipment necessary for producing and viewing motion pictures, Edison turned his attention to producing films. Beginning with humble less-than-a minute shorts of "actualities", Edison turned his cameras on to more thematic scripts, which involved simple story lines, and were either humorous comedies or informative films (news clips). Characterized by simplicity, clarity and at times intrigue (magic shows) Edison’s early films gained rapid acceptance among audiences and created a revered position for him in the world of motion pictures. Edison’s restless mind seldom allowed him to dwell on one scientific challenge. It isn’t surprising then, to note that after producing over 300 short clips, Edison’s interest in motion pictures seemed to have dwindled. Nor is it surprising to learn that he sold his film studio in 1918, turning his attention to more alluring scientific pursuits. By then several other moviemakers were in business producing feature length silent movies. Edison, however, did chase his dream of putting sound on films long after he gave up active silent movie production. Featured on this DVD are seven rare and historic films produced by the Thomas Edison Company between 1918 and 1926.

Product Description

This DVD is a great treasury of Thomas Edison’s genius. It is also invaluable in terms of its historic significance. Anybody viewing this DVD should count himself or herself pretty fortunate. There are many reasons for this assertion. Firstly, it is sad, but just as true that most of the films from the 1910s and 1920s no longer exist. The ones on this DVD are among those that have providentially been preserved by private collectors, or the Library of Congress. Secondly, You have a thrilling 13+ minute documentary about Edison himself, which explains, at least partly, the reasons behind his success as an inventor. Thirdly, preserved on this DVD are some of the earliest advertisements on film. Although the ravages of time have left their marks on some of the clips, most of them are well preserved. The absence of sound only adds to the antiquity of these films. The early emphasis on moral values is also amply manifest in The Good Sport. All in all, this is a great collection of films made by and about a great and inspiring personality and I spent a fruitful and enjoyable hour relishing its contents.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An hour of Edison's later work in film, January 5, 2007

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
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This review is from: History of Motion Pictures - Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1918-26 DVD (DVD)

This DVD provides just under an hour's worth of Edison's later works on films including a short film on the inventor himself. The visual quality of the films is surprisingly good considering their age and what I have encountered in other films from that era. Features included are:

The Good Sport - This 1918 Edison short film features the story a young but penniless inventor Faraday who marries the daughter of a rich old man, despite objections. The film depicts the hardships the young couple had to endure before Faraday's invention fetched him a princely sum of 100,000 dollars and a lot of fame and respect as well. The moral of this short narrative is pretty obvious - never give up.

A Day with Thomas A. Edison - Thomas Edison was a busy man. Even towards the end of his illustrious life, Edison followed a strict work regimen, which took him to his office, factories and his laboratory. This 1922 film follows the great inventor on a typical workday. Seen here are some of the most accomplished scientists who were on Edison's payroll.

Visiting' 'Round at Coolidge Corners - This biographical short covers a day in the life of President Calvin Coolidge during his annual visit to his farm and his father's country home. It was made in 1924 and is as slick a piece of campaign film as ever came out of any studio. President Coolidge is presented as a simple man of the people who helps his cousin with the haying when he is in the neighborhood, works in the building he was born in and lives in the same house his father was born in - just another fellow like you and me.

There are also some early advertisements for the electric refrigerator, Flash Cleaner, Onward Flour, and an advertisement for the Warner corset that lasts almost four minutes.

You are probably going to have to be a film history buff with an interest in Edison and his work in early film to appreciate this DVD, but if you are, it is quite a treasure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Tuning HIs Technique, July 17, 2006

By 

Bart (Montpellier, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: History of Motion Pictures - Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1918-26 DVD (DVD)

I've purchased several of the Edison early film reels and this is by far the most "modern" of the bunch. What I mean by that is that there is less of the experimental film techniques that Edison used when he was first trying out his equipment and more of an emphasis on professional storytelling and image placement. They were only shot about six months after the original Edison films, so it's interesting to see how Edison deviloped his skills in a very short period of time. The restoration values are pretty good, considering that these movies are well over 100 years old.

5.0 out of 5 stars History of Motion Pictures - Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1918-26 DVD, 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 1918-26 DVD (DVD)

History of Motion Pictures - Early Films by Thomas Alva Edison 1918-26 DVD. THIS FILM WAS INTERESTING & VERY INFORMATIVE. I REALLY ENJOYED IT.