Étienne Arnaud

Jean is a ten-year-old boy who runs away from boarding school because he thinks he is the cause of his parents' marital breakup. A famous opera singer offers him shelter in her home.

Being a tramp is not always a disadvantage. For example when there is a masquerade ball. Indeed wearing flea-ridden rags might just mean having donned a costume. This is what happens to two resourceful Brussels bums, La Cloche and Picolard, who manage to gain entry in a fancy-dress ball. Once there, La Cloche is mistaken by an oriental prince for a respected doctor. His mission will be to give care to a music-hall diva. Even more exciting, he is asked to vaccinate a whole troupe of showgirls. Trouble guaranteed.

The widow of a soldier in the 1914-1918 war, running an inn called "Au rendez-vous des veterans", is happy to see her daughter in love with an officer whose father was once in love with La Madelon.

Two mistresses snubbed by their respective lovers crash a military ball and their lovers then resort to an unusual strategy to win them back.

A girl is given an electrical charge, which causes metal objects to be attracted to her.

An early Gaumont short.

Robin Hood is a 1912 film made by Eclair Studios when it and many other early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based in Fort Lee, New Jersey at the beginning of the 20th century. The movie's costumes feature enormous versions of the familiar hats of Robin and his merry men, and uses the unusual effect of momentarily superimposing images different animals over each character to emphasize their good or evil qualities. The film was directed by Étienne Arnaud and Herbert Blaché, and written by Eustace Hale Ball. A restored copy of the 30-minute film exists and was exhibited in 2006 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

A husband, thinking his wife is unfaithful to her, has a confrontational scene with her, which causes her to have a heart attack and die. He sends his son away until, after a dozen years, he discovers she was true; whereupon he summons his son and, after a bit, they reconcile at her grave.

A young woman tells her parents and fiance (in flashback) about the recent sinking of the Titanic and her experiences as a passenger during the disaster. Her intended marriage now faces a new hazard because her fiance is a sailor and her parents have just been reminded of the dangers of the sea. Premiering in the United States just 29 days after the event, it is the earliest dramatization about the tragedy.

The famous pianist Tenorini has moved into the neighbourhood. He plays a song (a spring waltz from "Alexander's Ragtime Band") on the piano; it is such a joyful tune that everyone in the neighborhood starts to dance. When he finally stops everyone is exhausted.

The life of French poet André Chénier, precursor of the Romantic movement, who was guillotined during the Revolution aged only 31.

This film presents some of the principal episodes in the life of Christopher Columbus, including the discovery of America. Here we see the meeting with Queen Isabella of Spain and her promise to fit out a fleet. The next scene gives one an idea of the Spanish galleons at sea. Months seemed to have passed and no sight of land; the sailors are very impatient and in the end mutiny. Just at this moment land is sighted, and here we get a very fine view of the "lookout" in the "crow's nest." The next scene shows how Columbus had to fight his way with the natives, while these in the end were conquered by kindness. The next scene brings us back to Spain, where he has awakened great jealousy, and is charged with cruelty by some of his crew. Investigations are made and he is cast into prison. He sees from his cell, the great welcome Amerigo Vespucci receives, as having added a new world to the throne of Spain. The authorship of this film was also ascribed to Louis Feuillade.

Mozart feels compelled to finish a final requiem as he fears death is quickly approaching. Although the doctor has specifically ordered Mozart not to play or compose, Mozart begins a composition after listening to his student play the violin and having visions of three of his operas. After Mozart has finished his requiem a group of friends comes to visit him, and as they sing his last composition to him, Mozart dies.

The history of the fan.

Two lovers perform a fandango dance. A jealous quarrel follows and the heart-broken swain decides to end it all. He throws himself from the window of his room, but instead of falling to his death, the anchor of a passing balloon intercepts his flight and he is taken high into the clouds. Laughing at his plight, the moon arouses the anger of the desperate lover and a battle between the two ensues.

This subject portrays in a vivid manner the operations of a puppet in his efforts to see the sights.

The great men of letters and military conquest pose on subsequent pages of a very special history book.

When a bully steals their ball, a kind war veteran lends the saddened children a helping hand. And a leg or two…

A haunted-hotel film, reviving a joke from a 1900 comic strip showing a sleeper being ejected from an electric bed.

Criminals go on strike in protest at their treatment by the authorities, to the distress of the police and magistrates who find they have nothing to do.

A young woman's involuntary head twitch is misinterpreted, as she and her husband are pursued around Paris by an ever-growing group of adoring men.

Behind-the-scenes footage showing Alice Guy directing an early sound film.

"Alice Guy-Blaché liked Feuillade's scripts, and one of them, Le coup de vent, was filmed by Etienne Armaud in 1905. Two years later, Alice left Paris to follow her husband, who had just taken over the Berlin office of Gaumont, and she persuaded Gaumont to let Feuillade replace her. From 1907 he was in charge of hiring directors, buying scripts, choosing stars and at the same time directing his own films." From Decades Never Start on Time: A Richard Roud Anthology