George Albert Smith

George Albert Smith

Birth : 1864-01-04, Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Death : 1959-05-17

History

Along with his better-known French counterpart Georges Méliès, George Albert Smith, usually credited as G.A. Smith, was one of the first filmmakers to explore fictional and fantastic themes, often using surprisingly sophisticated special effects. His background was ideal – an established portrait photographer, he also had a long-standing interest in show business, running a tourist attraction in his native Brighton featuring a fortune teller. His films were among the first to feature such innovations as superimposition (Smith patented a double-exposure system in 1897), close-ups and scene transitions involving wipes and focus pulls. He also patented Kinemacolor – the world's first commercial cinema color system--in 1906, which was extremely successful for a time, despite the special equipment required to project it

Profile

George Albert Smith

Movies

Animated Doll and Toy Town Circus
Director
An early experiment in bringing colour to animation sees a bubble-blowing doll, a toy circus and a stubborn donkey revelling in two-tone glory.
Choice Bouquets
Director
A display of flower bouquets, rotating to show the Kinemacolour process.
Choosing the Wallpaper
Director
A woman is shown various wallpaper samples, in a short displaying the Kinemacolour process
A Visit to the Seaside
Producer
The first successful motion picture in natural color, filmed with Kinemacolor. It is an 8 minute short film directed by George Albert Smith of Brighton, showing people doing everyday activities. It is ranked of high historical importance. Kinemacolor later influenced and replaced by Technicolor, which was used from 1916 to 1952.
A Visit to the Seaside
Director
The first successful motion picture in natural color, filmed with Kinemacolor. It is an 8 minute short film directed by George Albert Smith of Brighton, showing people doing everyday activities. It is ranked of high historical importance. Kinemacolor later influenced and replaced by Technicolor, which was used from 1916 to 1952.
Woman Draped in Patterned Handkerchiefs
Director
Woman Draped in Patterned Handkerchiefs is a 1908 British short silent documentary film, directed by George Albert Smith as a showcase his new Kinemacolor system, which features a woman displaying assorted tartan cloths, both draped on her body and waved semaphore-style. The patterned handkerchiefs are, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, “presumably the same cloths featured in Tartans of Scottish Clans (1906), this time shown from various angles.”
Tartans of Scottish Clans
Director
It's common knowledge that Scotsmen are macho enough to pull off wearing a skirt - perhaps it's all that caber-tossing. This disarmingly simple film concentrates on the tartan cloths of various clans rather than the men who wore them, and is an early filmic reminder of their huge importance to both Scottish national identity and the thriving tourist industry north of the border. The film's unique selling point was that pioneering filmmaker G. A. Smith showed off the vibrant designs in Kinemacolor, among the earliest colour film processes that didn't involve meticulous hand-painting. And no dangly bits in sight.
Two Clowns
Director
A male and female clown drink, smoke, and flirt in this early Kinemacolor short.
Grand Display of Brock's Fireworks at the Crystal Palace
Director
An actuality of the Brock's fireworks factory to celebrate its 40th anniversary organizes. The final shot has two flaming portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, originally presented by Brock's at the coronation in 1902. The film is a cornucopia of colors, as it was originally a hand-painted film. The 2011 restoration has tried to revive the brilliance and the impact of colors through digital reproduction. The original film archival print is at the National Cinema Museum.
The Sick Kitten
Director
A simple scene of two rather flamboyantly-dressed Edwardian children attempting to feed a spoonful of medicine to a sick kitten. The film is important for being one of the earliest films to cut to a close-up, then back again to the same medium shot as before.
Dorothy's Dream
Director
Early story film about a girl's dreams
Mary Jane's Mishap
Director
Mary Jane tries to light the oven. When she's unsuccessful, she plays around, getting black boot polish on her face. She mugs before a mirror. Then, it's back to work. When the stove still won't light, she pours in paraffin, winks at the camera, and lights a match. Kaboom! Is there any rest for the foolish, even in the grave?
The Coronation of Edward VII
Camera Operator
King Edward VII's coronation ceremony.
Policeman and Burglar
Director
A bracing fight scene
A Photograph Taken From Our Area Window
Director
Close view of legs and feet passing a basement window.
The Death of Poor Joe
Director
A scene from Charles Dickens Bleak House.
The Little Doctors
Director
This film is considered lost
Visit to Pompeii
Director
George Albert Smith and Charles Urban snaffled the plum job of travelling to Italy to take a series of views of Italy for the Warwick Trading Company, including this one. The long panning shots of Pompeii linger respectfully, as a tourist would, before the camera finally raises its eye to the mighty volcano looming in the distance beyond.
Grandma's Reading Glass
Producer
A child borrows his grandmother's magnifying glass to look at a newspaper ad for Bovril, at a watch, and then at a bird. The child shows grandma what he is doing. The child looks next at grandma's eye, then at a kitten.
Grandma's Reading Glass
Director
A child borrows his grandmother's magnifying glass to look at a newspaper ad for Bovril, at a watch, and then at a bird. The child shows grandma what he is doing. The child looks next at grandma's eye, then at a kitten.
The Old Maid's Valentine
Director
An old spinster receives an unexpected Valentine's letter.
The House That Jack Built
Director
A cleverly conceived picture of a little boy and girl with building blocks. The little girl has erected a pretty structure, which the boy proceeds to demolish with pokes of his fingers. When the demolition of the house is completed, the film is shown in reverse, and the little building comes back to its original form in a most marvellous manner.
As Seen Through a Telescope
Producer
An elderly gentleman in a silk hat sits on a stool in front of a store on the main street of town. He has a telescope that focuses on the ankle of a young woman who is a short distance away. Her husband catches the gent looking. What will the two men do now?
As Seen Through a Telescope
Director of Photography
An elderly gentleman in a silk hat sits on a stool in front of a store on the main street of town. He has a telescope that focuses on the ankle of a young woman who is a short distance away. Her husband catches the gent looking. What will the two men do now?
As Seen Through a Telescope
Director
An elderly gentleman in a silk hat sits on a stool in front of a store on the main street of town. He has a telescope that focuses on the ankle of a young woman who is a short distance away. Her husband catches the gent looking. What will the two men do now?
Spiders on a Web
Director
Consisting of a single shot, Spiders on a Web is one of the earliest British examples of close-up natural history photography. Made by one of the pioneers of the British film industry, G.A. Smith, this short film details spiders trapped in an enclosure, and despite the title, does not actually feature a web.
A Quick Shave and Brush Up
Director
A man attempts to shave with a blunt razor.
Let Me Dream Again
Director
Possibly the first film to utilize the technique of focus pulling. A man kisses a beautiful and lively woman, then the image blurs and dissolves into a clear image of the man waking up to his nagging wife.
The Dull Razor
Director
A man shaves, back to the camera, face reflected in a mirror.
Two Old Sports
Director
A conversation between two gents perks up when the see a picture in a magazine. A 'facial' comedy by GA Smith.
Scandal Over the Teacups
Director
Well did you ever? Two women share juicy stories, and enjoyably shocked reaction, over tea.
The Kiss in the Tunnel
Director of Photography
A humorous subject intended to be run as a part of a railroad scene during the period in which the train is passing through a tunnel.
The Kiss in the Tunnel
Producer
A humorous subject intended to be run as a part of a railroad scene during the period in which the train is passing through a tunnel.
The Kiss in the Tunnel
Husband
A humorous subject intended to be run as a part of a railroad scene during the period in which the train is passing through a tunnel.
The Kiss in the Tunnel
Director
A humorous subject intended to be run as a part of a railroad scene during the period in which the train is passing through a tunnel.
The Inexhaustible Cab
Director
A cab is hailed in front of a palatial mansion by a gentleman who wishes a score of people driven to another part of the city. A clown jumps out and a satisfactory agreement is made between the clown and the gentleman, and a score or so of persons are hustled in one at a time until the clown succeeds in piling in the whole lot except Bridget, who is carrying a child. The persistent clown, in order to assist the nurse, who tips the scale at 400 pounds, takes the child from her. After caressing it he tosses it on top of the cab. He then picks up a board and uses it with good effect on the extremities of the fat woman, until she is forced into the cab, which drives away with its load of humanity.
Santa Claus
Director
Santa arrives at a house on Christmas Eve to deliver his presents for the children.
Cinderella
Director
An adaptation of the folk tale.
The Corsican Brothers
Director
The ghost of a man's twin shows him a vision of how he was killed in a duel.
Early Fashions on Brighton Pier
Director
George Smith's picture of the crowds out for a stroll on what I imagine is Brighton Pier.
Faust and Mephistopheles
Director
Satan conjures a vision of a girl, for whom an old man signs a pact and is made young. This is a lost film from George Albert Smith
Photographing a Ghost
Director
Photographer tries to take a picture of a ghost, but it won't keep still and then vanishes.
The Haunted Castle
Producer
George Albert Smith's remake of Georges Méliès - Le Manoir du diable (The Haunted Castle) from 1896. This film is lost or never existed. Copies of it online are actually a Méliès film.
The Haunted Castle
Director
George Albert Smith's remake of Georges Méliès - Le Manoir du diable (The Haunted Castle) from 1896. This film is lost or never existed. Copies of it online are actually a Méliès film.
Making Sausages
Director
Butcher's crew make sausage from dogs and cats… and old boots…
The Sign Writer
Director
Man paints 'This house to let' and then the film is reversed.
The X-Ray Fiend
Production Design
A romantic couple are transformed into skeletons via X-Rays. The film combines two very recent innovations: Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, and Georges Méliès' accidental realisation of the special-effects potential of the jump-cut in 1896.
The X-Ray Fiend
Producer
A romantic couple are transformed into skeletons via X-Rays. The film combines two very recent innovations: Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, and Georges Méliès' accidental realisation of the special-effects potential of the jump-cut in 1896.
The X-Ray Fiend
Writer
A romantic couple are transformed into skeletons via X-Rays. The film combines two very recent innovations: Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, and Georges Méliès' accidental realisation of the special-effects potential of the jump-cut in 1896.
The X-Ray Fiend
Director
A romantic couple are transformed into skeletons via X-Rays. The film combines two very recent innovations: Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, and Georges Méliès' accidental realisation of the special-effects potential of the jump-cut in 1896.
Comic Shaving
Director
A man comes in for a shave in this film of a popular stage act.
Weary Willie
Director
Tramp hired to beat the carpet accidentally beats the housewife.
Comic Face
Director
An old man gets progressively livelier - and drunker - as he downs his bottle of beer. Finally, he cocks a snook - and doesn't bother to uncock it as he continues to drink.
The Maid in the Garden
Director
Master kisses maid behind a blanket on the clothes line and is seen by his wife.
Hanging Out the Clothes
Producer
Lovers are comically interrupted
Hanging Out the Clothes
Director
Lovers are comically interrupted
The Miller and the Sweep
Director
In front of a flour mill, two men fight. One is the miller, and he's swinging a bag of flour in the scuffle. The other is a chimney sweep, and he's swinging what may be a bag of flour, but when it breaks open, it's clearly something else. Well into the havoc, spectators gather and give chase to the flour-covered sweep and the "well-sooted" miller.
Brighton Seagoing Electric Car
Director
Short film about the Brighton Seagoing Electric Car.
Tommy and the Mouse in the Art School
Director
A boy releases a mouse and frightens a model.