Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)

The earliest celluloid film was shot by Louise Le Prince using the Le Prince single-lens camera made in 1888. It was taken in the garden of the Whitley family house in Oakwood Grange Road, ... See full summary »

Director:

Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince

Stars:

Harriet Hartley, Adolphe Le Prince, Joseph Whitley

Cast

Credited cast:
Harriet Hartley	...	Herself (unconfirmed)
Adolphe Le Prince	...	Himself
Joseph Whitley	...	Himself
Sarah Whitley	...	Herself

Storyline

The earliest celluloid film was shot by Louise Le Prince using the Le Prince single-lens camera made in 1888. It was taken in the garden of the Whitley family house in Oakwood Grange Road, Roundhay, a suburb of Leeds, Yorkshire, Great Britain, possibly on October 14, 1888. It shows Adolphe Le Prince (Le Prince's son), Mrs. Sarah Whitley, (Le Prince's mother-in-law), Joseph Whitley and Miss Harriet Hartley. The 'actors' are shown walking around in circles, laughing to themselves and keeping within the area framed by the camera. It lasts for less than 2 seconds and includes 24 frames.

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Plot Keywords:

garden | 1880s | hat | partially lost film | place name in title | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Short

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Release Date:

14 October 1888 (USA)

Also Known As:

Roundhay-i kerti jelenet

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Whitley Partners

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adolphe Le Prince's mother-in-law, who died in October of 1888, appears in the film, which is why there is some certainty regarding its chronology.

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Connections

Referenced in American Pickers: Fill'er Up (2010)

User Reviews

Excellent

One of the most inspiring things to watch. I have dedicated a movie to Louis le Prince and the Roundhay Garden scene, which can been seen at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fdqqC-KqlQ

I hope everyone can watch an enjoy it! Thanks to Leeds Museums and Galleries for the loan of their mock camera - if any one is interested in Louis le Prince, at the Armley Museum in Leeds they have the most wonderful exhibition of old cameras and detailed account of all the oldest film makers and cinematography! Really worth going to see! I think the roundhay garden scene is really quite a wonderful piece, and I wish there was more of it left to see!