Les amours de la reine Élisabeth

This 1912 mini-masterpiece laid the groundwork for future feature-length films (even though it wasn't the first). The film will appear to many as just parts of a play that were filmed, which begin and end with intertitles that explain all the action before it happens on the screen. However, unlike future films, this one doesn't have any dialogue on cards. Altogether though, the characters are played well by their actors, Sarah Bernhardt portrays Elizabeth at a high level of supremacy, and this film is short, sweet and very easy to understand. I highly recommend it, but I also guarantee you, that finding it will take some time.