Movies from 1903

Tramps stick a hot poker in a barrel labelled beer but containing gunpowder.

An ignorant teacher beats a pupil and is caned by his new assistant.

The peculiarity of this waterfall, with its narrow funnel-shaped opening, from which, on to the jagged rocks the torrent dashes, is here portrayed in all its pristine grandeur and beauty.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith

Tuesdays are days of great excitement in the quiet old town of Berne, when the whole population is bent on getting very much for very little.

A curious incident which happens in early summer when the cattle are taken to the high pastures for three months.

One of the first Swedish sound films, the audio has been lost though.

TMDb does not have a summary for this one yet.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.

The spectacular railroad panorama in the Alps, taken from a train passing through various tunnels, and over the great Wassen Loops.

Much nerve is required by those who participate in this sport as some of the curves of the course are most acute and dangerous, especially at the speed which is indulged in. Several accidents are recorded. The last portion shows another dangerous pastime, viz., Jumping into space from a raised platform, with the American Toboggan.

This opens with a view of the upper falls and great viaduct of the mountain railway, showing ascending and descending cars, and then a close view of the magnificent upper Reichenbach Falls, which by our operator having secured the picture with our new Rotary-Maxim Bioscope, gives a picture, which, for excellence, range, and completeness, could not be secured by any of the less up-to-date methods. The concluding full view of the grand cascade is truly magnificent and awe inspiring.

The capital of Switzerland is an interesting town, and the national life is perhaps best seen in its streets.

Interlaken, as its name implies, is dependent to a large extent on the two beautiful lakes for much of its popularity. An interesting short panorama from steamer arriving at this noted resort.

This film gives a fine panoramic view of this wonderful railway track through immense gorges and cuttings and snow baulks of from 15 to 20 feet high on either hand. Large squads of men are met at short intervals on this trip, busily and deftly clearing away the huge snow accumulations - in fact cutting the railway path through solid snow-wreaths. Then we see the Railway Hotel on the summit of the Wenger Alp and other group of snow diggers displaying great activity, and filling car load after car load with the frozen snow until at the signal for stopping time, they rush wildly and gladly away, waving their shovels aloft in triumph at the day's work accomplished.

The world-famed Simmenthal cattle, bred by Herr Rebmann, are seen leaving the valley for the summer pastures on the Grimmalp. The herds are accompanied by the farmer and his assistants, and followed by a bevy of charmingly picturesque Swiss milkmaids carrying milk bins and other dairy impediments. Then the arrival at the farm makes up a scene of great animation, concluding with a "close-up view" of milking in the near foreground.

Interlaken, as its name implies, is dependent to a large extent on the two beautiful lakes for much of its popularity. An interesting short panorama from steamer arriving at this noted resort.

A scene of harvesting hay on the great winter playground. The group of busy reapers, with hand scythes, in the foreground, the Swiss maids who accompany them and help load the hay on the two-horsed wagons awaiting.

This includes the arrival of the old stage, the mail coach and diligence, and a motor car.

The goats of the Grimsel are almost as famous as the Hospice itself, and form a most attractive picture among the bleak and desolate surroundings.

In spring, the Swiss herdsman collects his cattle and drives the herds up the mountains to higher pasture. Here is shown a quiet valley, with mountain streams in foreground, surrounded by towering peaks. The cattle are driven over a stone bridge spanning the stream, towards the camera.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith

The stalls with their keepers and stores of laces are being inspected by English and American tourists, who no doubt takeaway with them a goodly stock of the fragile fabrics to decorate Mayfair and Long Island.

"This shows the flock of goats being brought home -or rather following the shepherds home from the hillside Then the milking of the goats In the young men attendants and the churning of the milk by the milkmaids. One of the latter, either accidentally or designedly, takes, with a deft touch of her foot, the stool from underneath a milker, who thus ignominiously tumbles, milk pail and all. and also involves a tilled churn standing near by, in the disaster."

Taken from the front of a descending car, the track and the way in which the fertile valleys open out on either side, with the huge snow-capped mountains in the back ground, and the fine stereoscopic effect of the ever changing scene depicted in this film render it a truly telling picture.

A pretty feature of life at the Handeck Inn on the renowned Grimsel route.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.

The chief event of the day at Grimsel Hospice.

A film being photographed from the front of the engine. A grand view of the snow-clad peaks of this fine range of mountains is depicted from an ever-changing aspect.

A game of ice-hockey in progress in the Alps.

A quiet village scene of pleasing restfulness, permitting us to see how the Swiss villagers maintain their reputation as regular Churchgoers. The old street and church are the only remains of the former village of Meiringen, which was destroyed by fire ten years ago.

Several bouts are shown in this picture, and as the contestants frequently lift each other into mid air, and then throw, the effect is exciting and realistic. A splendid film, particularly for an audience of sporting proclivities. Wrestling is quite a national sport in Switzerland, and Interlaken possesses a wrestling club whose members are among the most expert.

Showing hundreds of boys, girls and adults on skis descending a steep snow-covered bank.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith

Likely an unethical appropiation of Georges Méliès's film from 1902. "Although [Gulliver en el país de los gigantes] has been much talked about, there is little evidence of its existence." -Wikipedia (Google-translated from Catalán)

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith

The ascent of the Jungfrau by the Urban Alpine Expedition, headed by Frank Ormiston-Smith, the pioneer mountaineering photograher and filmmaker, on september 24th, 1903. The film consists of 15 scenes and illustrates the whole ascent from Grindelwald through the Fieschier Glacier and the Rothal Sattel and culminates with a panorama from the summit. It was produced by the Charles Urban Trading Co., one year after the huge success of 'The ascent of Mont Blanc'. Charles Urban left the Warwick Trading Company in 1903 to form his own film business, and took with him many of the film-makers who had worked for Warwick, including Ormiston-Smith, who went on to make many more mountaineering films.

1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith