Santa Claus (1898)

(video by BFIfilms)

A movie made in 1898 by George Albert Smith: Santa Claus. Is it magic lantern or already a movie in its own rights? I would say it's still in between: the children are dreaming of Santa Claus, he's making his appearance in some kind of nineteenth century UFO in the upper corner of the screen, then by some magic he enters the room. Still thin, not the fat guy of today's commercials, still dressed in a robe, no boots, no trousers; definitely the Santa of our great-great-grandfathers' dreams.

George Albert Smith started as a magician, and this movie proves his genius: he was still in transition toward the cinematic specific, while resolutely designing the grammar of the new art.

Well, this is fine, but the question remains: this apparition of Santa, is it a dream, or a parallel action? You know, that's with the great movies: they have open endings, leaving the outcome for us.

George Albert Smith's studio at St. Ann's Well, Hove, Sussex.
Note the rails in the foreground, for moving the studio to catch the sunlight.
(http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~s-herbert/britpion.htm)

(Early Movies)