Rip Passing Over the Mountain

Rip's Toast (1896)

Rip Meeting the Dwarf (1896)

Exit of Rip and the Dwarf (1896)

Rip Leaving Sleepy Hollow (1896)

Rip's Toast to Hudson and Crew (1896)

Rip's Twenty Years' Sleep (1896)

Awakening of Rip (1896)

Rip Passing Over Hill (1896)

The American Mutoscope Company is responsible for the above eight films, which feature actor Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle, the famous character we all know. These eight films were originally made in 1896 and sold separately as different films but in 1903 the studio edited them together to make Rip Van Winkle. Looking at them separately is pretty interesting but knowing more of their history would be good. I'm guessing the eight films were released at different times so I guess you could call these an early attempt at what would become a serial. Jefferson is pretty good in his role as Rip, although he doesn't have too much to do except look jolly in some of the films or greet the dwarf in others. The Awakening of Rip is pretty good as we get to see the actor made up as an old man and he doesn't look too bad considering when the film was made. All eight run 20-25 seconds total so with that in mind these are an interesting bit of history.