Product Details

• Actors: Bertrand Tavernier
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kino Video
• DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003
• Run Time: 61 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000F17D
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,512 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Eighty-five of the silent 50-second "actualities" made by the Lumieres between 1895 and 1897 have been mastered from original 35mm material and are presented here in this first ever authorized video presentation. An amazing journey through the birth of the motion picture. Narrated by film director and President of the Institut Lumiere Bertrand Tavernier (Coup de Torchon), with a piano score by Stuart Oderman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TREASURE!!!, October 24, 1999

By	rkass (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Imagine seeing beautiful moving images from the 1890's! It's fascinating to see the buildings, clothing, and vehicles of the time.

The prints are very clear, and the commentary by Bertrand Tavernier is amusing. This is clearly a production that was made with care and love.

I'm submitting this review in the hope that sales of this wonderful disc will increase, allowing Image Entertainmment and Kino Video to continue to produce such treasures.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but not perfect, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

What a wonderful and fun DVD! The images are fascinating, the narration is delightful and informative, but there is one annoying problem. Many times throughout they make reference to the 50 second length of all the films, but, unfortunately, on this recording they only last 40 seconds BECAUSE THEY WERE RECORDED AT THE WRONG SPEED! The Chapter numbers also don't match up with the table of contents. But over all, this is a very worthwhile and enjoyable DVD.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This DVD simplier documents the birth of the motion picture, September 10, 2001

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

If you are a true student of cinema and have any sort of affection for the early pioneers, then you have to add this DVD to your collection. "The Lumiere Brother's First Films" presents 85 of the films the brothers made 1895-97, all lasting under a minute in length. The Lumiere Institute restored each of these gems from the original 35mm film, which cover the tremendous breadth of their work, from their first dolly shot to their recording history in countries around the world. The films are narrated by Bertran Tavernier, President of the Lumiere Institute. Now if somebody would do the same thing for Edison, Melies and the other pioneers of film, I would be even happier. This DVD was released in 1996, the same year that 40 international filmmakers such as David Lynch, Spike Lee, Zhang Yimou were allowed to make their own one-minute Lumiere films using the restored original camera for "Lumiere & Company." Not as important as this collection, but certainly an interesting tribute.