Alexandre Promio

A train, with a camera mounted near the front, pulls out of the Jerusalem station. It passes groups, first of Europeans, then Palestinian Arabs, then Palestinian Jews. Dress, hats, and facial hair are each distinctive group to group. Except for the station itself, the buildings visible in the background are ruins - no more than crumbling walls. (imdb)

A male lion, right next to bars that are about 6 or 8 inches apart, keenly watches a uniformed zoo attendant toss small morsels of food into the cage. The lion alternates between finding the food on the cage floor and reaching through the bars to swipe at the man, who stays alarmingly close to the beast. In the background are the large rocks and brick wall at the back of the lion's habitat.

A stationary camera captures the hustle and bustle of Manhattan on Broadway at Union Square in Greenwich Village. As streetcars pass with rapid regularity, two police officers make sure that pedestrians who are crossing the street do so safely. Horse-drawn carriages pass as well. The men wear hats and ties; the lads wear caps; the women are in long skirts.

A stationary camera looks across Niagara Falls.

A train going toward Brooklyn Bridge.

A parade of Chicago policemen.

One toddler and about ten children, not yet adolescents, use a shovel, rakes, and nets to scour an eddy by the sea as fully-dressed women (hats and all) and a few men look on and give advice. The boys are in short pants; the girls have pulled up their skirts and petticoats and stuck in their sashes. Not a clam is to be seen, although one lass checks her net a couple of times. The children's outfits (trim hats on each child and lace on each girl) suggest wealth and high society.

A stationary camera looks across a busy corner toward a store front marked "The Divan." The words "des fees" are beneath. A cortege of Arabs, about 20 persons in the party, walk past; the dignitaries are in front, attended by men with horns and drums. Coming in the other direction are local Swiss, who pay little attention, and a group of native-garbed Africans. The dozen or so well-dressed denizens of Geneva who are sitting on the steps of the Divan take it all in. (imdb)

A bill poster comes upon a blank wall, and immediately puts up a poster advertising a movie show at one location. (imdb)

Stationary camera pointed at a city street.

Although titled "a general view of the pyramids" it's actually a profile of the Sphinx with a couple of pyramids behind it. (imdb)

Panorama of the Nile river.

More 19th century city life.

Panoramic view of Venice.

Panoramic view of Constantinople.

Small glimpse of city life in Jerusalem.

A Lumiere brothers' take on the famous legend.

Another Lumiere train film.

Sailors picking up their laundry?

A juggling act.

A Lumiere "exotic" street scene.

A line of women carrying buckets on their heads.

Soldiers dancing.

Panorama of Constantinople from the river.

Short clip of a football match.

Street scene in Brooklyn.

Another street scene from the Lumiere company

Another street scene of daily life.

A large wedding procession.

Matadors exiting carriages.

Lumiere street scene.

Street scene in Stockholm.

Geneva (Exhibition 1896): back to the barn

This street scene from Bethlehem shows a crowd of locals jumping on something in the middle of camera range. What are they seeking? The implication seems to be that they are beggars jumping on a handful of alms tossed onto the spot and the effect is simultaneously funny and sad.

Lumiere bullfighting film.

Lumière Brothers filming at Piccadilly Circus, London.

A street scene from Spain.

A shot of traffic, Sainte-Gudule in Bruxelles.

A shot of traffic, Place de Brouckère in Bruxelles.

A shot of traffic in front of La Bourse in Bruxelles.

A shot of a ship that is being unloaded.

A shot of a caravan of camels, Jerusalem.

A little boat on a lake explodes.

A short black and white film in which a fixed camera records a busy New York street, Broadway.

The marketplace of Fort-de-France, Martinique.

The Dublin fire brigade rushes past. Lumière catalogue No. 711.

A moving image of the docks of Liverpool. Lumière Catalogue No. 707.

A moving image of the docks of Liverpool. Lumière Catalogue No. 704.

Lumière Catalogue No. 705. A view of the warehouses and docks taken from a local train in Liverpool, ending at the Princess Dock station.

Lumière Catalogue No. 706. A moving shot taken from the electric train in Liverpool. Its vantage reveals ships and lumberyards.

Jesus, surrounded by Joseph, Mary and Mary Magdalene, rests in the forest. He wakes up to the noise of the arrival of Herod accompanied by Judas. The latter points to Herod whom he sold to him. Entrance of the soldiers who take Jesus and shackle him. (Catalogue Lumière)

They bring Christ to Herod accompanied by Joseph and Marie-Magdeleine. Jesus is tied to the column in the center of the courtroom, then, on Herod's order, a soldier strikes Christ at the refusal to answer the questioner. The Virgin and Mary Magdalene kiss the robe of Jesus while Joseph implores in vain the pity of Herod. (Catalogue Lumière)

A soldier, on Herod's order, places on the forehead of Christ a crown of thorns, while two other soldiers bring the cross which they force Jesus to take care of, leading him to the place where he must be crucified. (Catalogue Lumière)

At the beginning of this painting, soldiers are busy crucifying two thieves condemned to be crucified alongside Jesus. Christ comes loaded with his cross. He is stripped of his clothes and placed on the cross. (imdb)

Panorama of arid and deserted hills. (Catalogue Lumière)

Panorama of a dry and rocky landscape; the train quickly passes in front of a station. (Catalogue Lumière)

The waters of the river boil between the rocks, upstream from the falls. (Catalogue Lumière)

Pedestrian, cab, cart and tram traffic at the crossroads of two avenues. (Catalogue Lumière)

The scene takes place in front of a cafe. Two workers absolutely want to be served drink; the boss is obliged to call an agent who has great difficulty in expelling the two drunkards to his aid. (Catalogue Lumière)

Pelicans frolic around and in a basin. A guard comes to throw food at them. (Catalogue Lumière)

Circulation de passants qui déambulent devant les échoppes de la rue. (Catalogue Lumière)

Animation of the square. (Catalogue Lumière)

A pump is dragged by horses, which gallop across a street, the crowd throngs after it. Passage of various fire engines in front of the crowd which then invades the street.

The Swedish Royal family arrives at the General Art and Industrial Exposition at Djurgården in Stockholm on 15 May 1897. (imdb)

Two men in historical costumes get into a quarrel, then guards separate them.

The Queen's Lanciers regiment of Spain approaches the camera in formation on horseback

This reconstruction refers to a meeting that allegedly took place on 25 November 1804 at Fontainebleau between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon to discuss the coronation.