BFI Player releases earliest moving images of Europe
Rare historic film of Europe from as early as 1897 has been released on the British Film Institute’s (BFI’s) online player.
BFI National Archive has collaborated with Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to produce The Brilliant Biograph, a 52-minute compilation of newly restored rare 68mm footage dating from 1897 to 1902.
The compilation includes the first-ever moving images of important events such as the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and the launch of the transatlantic liner RMS Oceanic, as well as footage of street scenes ranging from Venice’s Grand Canal to Southampton High Street. There are also spectacular performances by acrobats and dance troupes; and a display of firepower from the battleship Odin.
All of the films were photographed using the unique large-format 68mm Mutograph camera, which provided images at a much higher resolution than 35mm cameras.
The selection was partly inspired by the large-format film-restoration methodology developed by the BFI National Archive and Haghefilm for the BFI’s Great Victorian Moving Picture Show in 2018.
The Brilliant Biograph is available to watch for free on the BFI’s website at player.bfi. org.uk/free/film/watch-the-brilliantbiograph-2020-online.