The following is an overview of the events of 1898 in film, including a list of films released and notable births. The

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cl ...

was a popular subject. Several films made by Col. William N. Selig dealt with the subject of war preparations at

Camp Tanner Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to desc ...

Springfield, Illinois Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat and largest city of Sangamon County. The city's population was 114,394 at the 2020 census, which makes it the state's seventh most-populous city, the second largest ...

, including ''Soldiers at Play'', ''Wash Day in Camp'' and ''First Regiment Marching''. __TOC__

Events

*May 19 – Vitagraph is founded in New York. *August 27 –

Alfred John West Alfred John West F.R.G.S. (1857–1937) was a British award-winning marine photographer in the Gosport firm of G. West and Son from 1881 (for an early reference seExhibition Catalogue of the Photographic Society of Great Britain and from 1897 a ...

gives a Royal Command Performance to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...

of film from the cruise of HMS ''Crescent'' at Osborne House. *

Birt Acres Birt Acres (23 July 1854 – 27 December 1918) was an American and British photographer and film pioneer. Among his contributions to the early film industry are the first working 35 mm camera in Britain (Wales), and ''Birtac'', the firs ...

invents the first amateur format, Birtac, by splitting 35 mm film into two halves of 17.5 mm.

Films released in 1898

* ''The Accursed Cavern'', directed by George Melies *''

The Astronomer's Dream ''The Astronomer's Dream, or the Man in the Moon'' (french: La Lune à un mètre, literally "The Moon from One Meter Off") is an 1898 French short silent film by Georges Méliès. Based on one of his stage magic acts, and starring Méliès himsel ...

'', directed by

Georges Méliès Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès (; ; 8 December 1861 – 21 January 1938) was a French illusionist, actor, and film director. He led many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. Méliès was well known for the use o ...

; re-released in 1899 as ''A Trip to the Moon'' *''

The Ball Game ''The Ball Game'' is an 1898 American short black-and-white silent documentary sports film produced and distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. It was directed by William Heise. Synopsis The film contains footage of an 1898 baseball game ...

'' *'' The Cavalier's Dream'', directed by Edwin S. Porter * ''The Cave of the Demons'', directed by George Melies *'' Come Along, Do!'', directed by Robert W. Paul. First multi-scene film in cinema

n this film 2 scenes are edited together for the first time in cinema N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...

*''Corbett and Sharkey Fight'' * ''The Corsican Brothers'', produced by G.A.S. Films (British) * ''The Damnation of Faust'', directed by George Melies *''Dewar's It's Scotch'', the first advertising movie, produced by the

Edison Studios Edison Studios was an American film production organization, owned by companies controlled by inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas Edison. The studio made close to 1,200 films, as part of the Edison Manufacturing Company (1894–1911) and then ...

*''

Don Juan Tenorio ''Don Juan Tenorio: Drama religioso-fantástico en dos partes'' (Don Juan Tenorio: Religious-Fantasy Drama in Two Parts) is a play written in 1844 by José Zorrilla. It is the more romantic of the two principal Spanish-language literary interpr ...

'', the first Mexican film with a plot, directed by Salvador Toscano *''Eiffel Tower'', directed by

Louis Lumière Louis Jean Lumière (5 October 1864 Besançon – 6 June 1948, Bandol) was a French engineer and industrialist who played a key role in the development of photography and cinema. Early life and education Lumière was one of four children ...

. First (sort of) crane shot in cinema

t was taken from the ascending elevator in the Eiffel Tower T, or t, is the twentieth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''tee'' (pronounced ), plural ''tees''. It is de ...

* ''Ella Lola, a la Trilby'', produced by the Edison Co. * ''Faust and Mephistopheles'', directed by George Albert Smith *'' The Four Troublesome Heads'', directed by

*'' The Humpty Dumpty Circus'', directed by J. Stuart Blackton * ''Jizo the Spook'', Japanese (aka ''Bake Jizo'') *'' The Magician'', directed by

* ''The Mesmerist'', directed by George Albert Smith. *''

The Miller and the Sweep ''The Miller and the Sweep'' is a 1898 British short black-and-white silent comedy film, directed by George Albert Smith, featuring a miller carrying a bag of flour fighting with a chimney sweep carrying a bag of soot in front of a windmi ...

'', directed by

George Albert Smith George Albert Smith Sr. (April 4, 1870 – April 4, 1951) was an American religious leader who served as the eighth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Early life Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territo ...

*''

The Nearsighted School Teacher ''The Nearsighted School Teacher'' was an early short comedy film released in 1898. It stars Augusta Selmer as a young lady. Plot In this case it is the schoolmaster who comes to grief. He is seated at this desk busily engrossed in private b ...

'' * ''A Novice at X-Rays'', directed by George Melies *''Pack Train On Chilkoot Pass'', film shows landscape in Chilkoot Pass, Alaska or British Columbia *'' Photographing a Ghost'', directed by

*''

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

'', directed by

. May include the first example of parallel action in a motion picture * ''Shinen no sosei'' (aka ''Resurrection of a Ghost''), Japanese *''

Surrender of General Toral ''Surrender of General Toral'' is an 1898 film which featured appearances by military leaders Joseph Wheeler and William Rufus Shafter William Rufus Shafter (October 16, 1835 – November 12, 1906) was a Union Army officer during the Ameri ...

'' *''Smích a pláč'' (Laugh and Tears), directed by Josef Šváb-Malostranský, the first Czech film

Debuts

* Josef Šváb-Malostranský * Johnston Forbes-Robertson – Macbeth * Salvador Toscano

Events

Films released in 1898

Debuts

Births

Date unknown

External links

References