The year 1912 in film involved some significant events. __TOC__

Events

* February – Babelsberg Studio outside

Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...

begins operation with shooting of ''

The Dance of the Dead ''The Dance of the Dead'' is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Plot ...

'' (''Der Totentanz'') by Danish director

Urban Gad Peter Urban Bruun Gad (12 February 1879 – 26 December 1947) was a Danish film director, stage actor, screenwriter, and author. He directed 40 films between 1910 and 1927. His wife Asta Nielsen starred in 30 of his films, also in his début th ...

starring Asta Nielsen (released September 7). * April 15 - The ''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, Unite ...

'', a British passenger liner, sinks in the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Afr ...

, killing more than 1,500 passengers. It is depicted in many works of popular culture, including films. * April 30 –

Universal Film Manufacturing Company Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

is founded in New York, the oldest surviving film studio in the United States. * May 8 –

Famous Players Film Company The Famous Players Film Company was a film company founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor in partnership with the Frohman brothers, powerful New York City theatre impresario. History Discussions to form the company were held at The Lambs, a famous ...

, the forerunner of

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

, is founded by

Adolph Zukor Adolph Zukor (; hu, Zukor Adolf; January 7, 1873 – June 10, 1976) was a Hungarian-American film producer best known as one of the three founders of Paramount Pictures.Obituary '' Variety'' (June 16, 1976), p. 76. He produced one of America' ...

. * May 18 – '' Shree Pundalik'' by Dadasaheb Torne, the first

Indian film The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, K ...

, is released. * June 8 –

New York Motion Picture Company The New York Motion Picture Company was a film production and distribution company from 1909 until 1914. It changed names to New York Picture Corporation in 1912. It released films through several different brand names, including 101 Bison, Kay- ...

is merged with Universal, giving Universal a studio in Edendale, Los Angeles. * July 4 –

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in th ...

, who has previously worked as an actor and comedy director with

D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...

, forms a new company with New York City entrepreneur Adam Kessel,

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Cha ...

. It will play an important role in developing

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such ...

comedy as the home to the Keystone Cops, English actor Charlie Chaplin, and others. * July 12 – ''

Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to: Queens regnant * Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland * Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022 ...

'' is the first film released by Famous Players. * July 26 –

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 ...

releases '' What Happened to Mary'', the first ever motion picture serial. *

Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These invention ...

introduces the Home Kinetoscope, a home film-projector which uses a 22 mm print consisting of three rows of frames. *

Pathé Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French businesses that were founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France starting in 1896. In the early 1900s, Pathé became the world's largest film equipment ...

releases Pathe Kok, their first entry into the amateur market, with a gauge of 28 mm. * Alexander F. Victor improves on the 17.5 mm format with his Duoscope, which uses two center perforations instead of the typical one. *

Bell & Howell Bell and Howell LLC is a U.S.-based services organization and former manufacturer of cameras, lenses, and motion picture machinery, founded in 1907 by two projectionists, and originally headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois. The company is now ...

introduce the first all-metal camera, the 2709 35mm.

Films released in 1912

*'' 1812'', Russian film directed by Vasili Goncharov *'' All for a Girl'', directed by Frederick A. Thompson * ''Andalusian Superstition'' (French/Pathe) written and directed by Segundo de Chomon; filmed in hand-tinted color *''

At the Foot of the Ladder ''At the Foot of the Ladder'' is a 1912 American silent short romantic comedy written by Lloyd Lonergan. The film starred Mignon Anderson, William Garwood, Carey L. Hastings, Harry Chamberlain, and Riley Chamberlain Riley Chamberlin (Novemb ...

'', produced by the

Thanhouser Company The Thanhouser Company (later the Thanhouser Film Corporation) was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser, his wife Gertrude and his brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan. It operated in New York City until 1920 ...

*'' Aurora Floyd'', directed by

Theodore Marston Theodore Marston (August 10, 1868 in Minnesota – October 2, 1920 in Los Angeles, California, United States) was an American silent film director and writer during the early silent period. He directed films including ''Aurora Floyd'' in 1912 ...

*''

Baby Hands James Cruze (born James Cruze Bosen; March 27, 1884 – August 3, 1942) was a silent film actor and film director. Early years Cruze's middle name came from the battle of Vera Cruz. He was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

'' *''

The Bandit of Tropico ''The Bandit of Tropico'' is a 1912 American silent short adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Ad ...

'' *'' A Battle of Wits'' *'' The Beautiful Leukanida'' * ''Bebe and Spiritualism'' (French/ Gaumont) directed by Louis Feuillade, starring child star Rene Dary and Paul Manson; this was one of a series of 64 films that featured the popular Bebe ("Baby") film character *''

The Belle of Bar-Z Ranch ''The Belle of Bar-Z Ranch'' is a 1912 American silent short Western comedy film directed by Thomas Ricketts Thomas "Tommy" Ricketts VC (April 15, 1901 – February 10, 1967) was a Newfoundland soldier and recipient of the Victori ...

'', directed by Thomas Ricketts * ''Bertie's Book of Magic'' (British/ Hepworth) directed by Frank Wilson * ''Billy's Seance'' (Universal/ IMP) starring John R. Cumpson and Charles Arling; a spoof on "seance films". * ''The Brute'' (Champion Films) directed by Ulysses Davis, produced by Mark M. Dintenfass *'' A Business Buccaneer'' *''The Cameraman's Revenge'' *''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...

'', directed by Charles L. Gaskill and starring Helen Gardner; one of the earliest American feature films *''

Conductor 786 ''Conductor 786'' is a 1912 American silent short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated plac ...

'', produced by the Thanhouser Company * ''Conscience'' (Vitagraph), aka ''The Chamber of Horrors'', produced by Albert E. Smith, directed by Maurice Costello, starring Rose Tapely and Robert Gaillard. * ''Convicted by Hypnotism'' (French/ Eclair) aka ''A Double Life'', directed by Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset, starring Cecile Guyon and Charles Krauss *'' The County Fair'' *'' The Conquest of the Pole'', aka ''A la conquete du Pole'', 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 ...

(his last film). * ''Curse of the Hindoo Pearl'' (American Standard Films) based on the 1868 Wilkie Collins novel ''The Moonstone'' * ''Curse of the Lake'' (Vitagraph) *'' Custer's Last Fight'', directed by Francis Ford * ''Dante and Beatrice'' (Italian/ Ambrosio Prods.) *'' A Dash Through the Clouds'', directed by

, starring

Mabel Normand Amabel Ethelreid Normand (November 9, 1893 – February 23, 1930), better known as Mabel Normand, was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, director, and producer. She was a popular star and collaborator of Mack Sennett in their K ...

and American aviation pioneer Philip Parmelee. *'' The Deserter'', directed by Thomas H. Ince * ''The Diabolical Box'' (British/ Urbanora Films) *'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (Thanhouser) directed by

Lucius Henderson Lucius Junius Henderson (June 8, 1861 – February 18, 1947) was an American silent film director and actor of the early silent period involved in more than 70 film productions. Biography Born in Aledo, Illinois, Henderson was a classically tra ...

, starring

James Cruze James Cruze (born James Cruze Bosen; March 27, 1884 – August 3, 1942) was a silent film actor and film director. Early years Cruze's middle name came from the battle of Vera Cruz. He was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day S ...

and Marguerite Snow * ''A Drama of the Castle; or, Do the Dead Return?'' (French) written and directed by Abel Gance * ''El Fusilamiento de Jose Rizal'', directed by Albert Yearsley * ''The Fatal Pact'' (French/ Pathe) features a magic genie * ''The Fatal Pearl'' (Italian/ Aquila) * ''Faust'' (British) produced by Charles Urban, filmed in Kinemacolor; (a lost film today). * ''Feathertop'' (French/ U.S. co-production) produced by Eclair/ American Standard; starring Muriel Ostriche and Julia Stuart; based on the 1852 short story by

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that t ...

. *'' The Female of the Species'', directed by

, starring

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

*''The Fickle Spaniard'', directed by

, starring

*'' For His Son'', directed by

, starring Blanche Sweet *'' For the Cause of the South'', directed by

Bannister Merwin Henry Bannister Merwin (1873 – 22 February 1922), was an American poet, magazine editor, novelist, film director and screenwriter during the silent era. He wrote as many as 141 films between 1909 and 1921. He was associated with Edison St ...

, starring

Laura Sawyer Laura Sawyer (February 3, 1885 – September 7, 1970) was an American film actress on stage and in silent films. Early life Sawyer was born in Iron County, Missouri, the daughter of Alvah Hayden and Laurette Sawyer.Corpus Christi Times (Co ...

, Ben F. Wilson, Charles Ogle *''

Frankfurters and Quail ''Frankfurters and Quail'' is a 1912 American silent short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-design ...

'' *'' Friends'', directed by

, starring

and Lionel Barrymore *'' From the Manger to the Cross'', directed by

Sidney Olcott Sidney Olcott (born John Sidney Allcott, September 20, 1872 – December 16, 1949) was a Canadian-born film producer, director, actor and screenwriter. Biography Born John Sidney Allcott in Toronto, he became one of the first great direc ...

(One of the earliest American feature film.) * ''Gavroche and the Ghosts'', aka ''Gavroche and the Spirits'' (French/ Eclair) directed by

Romeo Bosetti Romeo Bosetti (18 January 1879 – 27 October 1948) was an Italian-born French actor and screenwriter. Bosetti was born in Romolus Joseph Bosetti Chiari, Italy and died in 1948 in Suresnes, France France (), officially the Fre ...

, starring Paul Bertho; one of a series of 40 short French silent films all featuring the comic character "Gavroche" *'' Geronimo's Last Raid'' * ''The Ghost of Sulphur Mountain'' (Star Film) directed by Gaston Méliès and Robert Goodman, starring Francis Ford * ''Ghosts'' (Essanay Films) starred Norman MacDonald and Joseph Allen Sr. * ''Ghosts'' (British/ Hepworth) directed by Hay Plumb, starring Harry Buss and Ivy Close *'' The Girl and Her Trust'', directed by

, starring Dorothy Bernard and Wilfred Lucas *''

The Half-Breed's Way ''The Half-Breed's Way'' is a 1912 American silent short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-design ...

'' * ''The Haunted House'' (French/ Pathe) * ''The Herncrake Witch'' (British/ Heron Films) written and directed by Mark Melford, starring Jakidawdra Melford and produced by Andrew Heron * ''The Hindoo Charm'' (Lubin Films) directed by Maurice Costello (also star), also starring Clara Kimball Young and James Young *'' The Honor of the Family'' * ''Hop o' My Thumb'' (French/ Gaumont) Based on the Perrault fairy tale *''Hot Stuff'', starring

, and Dell Henderson *'' How a Mosquito Operates'' * ''An Indian Legend'' (Broncho/ Mutual Films) produced by Thomas H. Ince, directed by Francis Ford *''

Indian Romeo and Juliet ''Indian Romeo and Juliet'' is a 1912 American drama film directed by Laurence Trimble and starring Florence Turner and Wallace Reid. The story is an adaption of ''Romeo and Juliet'' by William Shakespeare set in Mohawk and Huron tribes. Cast *F ...

'' *'' In Nacht und Eis'' *''

The Independence of Romania ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

'' The first Romanian feature film to run for two hours. * ''In the Grip of the Vampire'' (French/ Gaumont Films) written by Leonce Perret *'' The Invaders'' *''

It Happened Thus ''It Happened Thus'' is a 1912 American silent short romantic drama film, starring Charlotte Burton and Owen Moore. Cast * Charlotte Burton, as the older daughter * Fritzi Brunette Fritzi Brunette (born Florence Brunet; May 27, 1890 – Septem ...

'' * ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' (produced by Thomas Edison) *''Keystone Comedy'' * ''The Knight of the Snows'' (French/ Pathe & Star Films) written and directed by George Melies * ''La Vida de Jose Rizal'', directed by Edward M. Gross * ''La Vida y Muerte del Gran Martir Filipino, Dr. Jose Rizal'', directed by Albert Yearsley * ''The Lady of Shallot'' (British/ Hepworth) written and directed by

Elwin Neame Elwin may refer to: *Elwen, Cornish saint * Elwin, Illinois, United States, an unincorporated community *Hastings Elwin (1776-1852), British-Australian politician * Whitwell Elwin (1816 -1900), British clergyman and editor *Maurice Elwin Norman M ...

, based on the Lord Tennyson poem; starring Ivy Close. *''

The Land Beyond the Sunset ''The Land Beyond the Sunset'' is a 1912 short, silent drama film which tells the story of a young boy, oppressed by his grandmother, who goes on an outing in the country with a social welfare group. It stars Martin Fuller, Mrs. William Bechtel, ...

'' * ''The Legend of Cagliostro'' (Gaumont Films) * ''The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'' (French/ Eclair & American Standard Films) directed by Etienne Arnaud, starring Alec B. Francis and Muriel Ostriche, based on the story by

Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories " Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and " The Lege ...

*'' Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth'' (released in the US as ''Queen Elizabeth''), first film released by

, starring Sarah Bernhardt *'' The Lesser Evil'', directed by

, starring Blanche Sweet * ''The Lion Tonic'' (Italian/ Cines) *'' The Little Girl Next Door'' * ''The Live Man's Tomb'' (Italian/ Itala Films) * ''Lucrezia Borgia'' (Italian/ Film d'Arte Films) directed by Gerolamo Lo Savio, written by Ugo Falena, starring Vittorio Lepanto as Lucrezia and Achille Vitti as Cesare. *''

Mabel's Lovers ''Mabel's Lovers'' is a 1912 American short silent comedy film starring Mabel Normand. The film was directed and produced by Mack Sennett. Cast * Mabel Normand as Mabel * Fred Mace as Mabel's suitor * Ford Sterling as Black - Another Suitor * ...

'', directed by

, starring

* ''Magical Matches'' (Urbanora Films) * ''A Magnetic Influence'' (British/ Urbanora Films) produced by Charles Urban; yet another adaptation of the novel ''Trilby'' *''Making An American Citizen'' * ''Man's Genesis'' (Biograph) written and directed by

, starring Robert Harron, Mae Marsh and Wilfred Lucas; this film was expanded in 1913 and re-released as ''The Primitive Man''. * ''The Mask of Horror'' (French/ Film Francais) written and directed by Abel Gance, starring Edouard de Max, Charles de Rochefort and Mathilde Thizeau (Gance's wife) *''The Massacre'', directed by

, starring Blanche Sweet and Lionel Barrymore *''

Maud Muller "Maud Muller" is a poem from 1856 written by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892). It is about a beautiful maid named Maud Muller. One day, while harvesting hay, she meets a judge from the local town. Each is smitten with the other. The judge t ...

'' *''The Mender Of Nets'', directed by

, starring

and

* ''Mephisto'' (British/ Charles Urban Prods.) filmed in Kinemacolor (a lost film today) *'' The Miracle'', the first full-color, full-length feature film (5,500 feet) *'' Das Mirakel'' * ''The Mummy and the Cowpuncher'' (Kalem Films) a 5-minute Western-Comedy starring

Ruth Roland Ruth Roland (August 26, 1892 – September 22, 1937) was an American stage and film actress and film producer. Early life and career Roland was born in San Francisco, California to Elizabeth Lillian Hauser and Jack Roland. Her father managed a t ...

and John E. Brennan *'' The Musketeers of Pig Alley'', directed by

, starring

Lillian Gish Lillian Diana Gish (October 14, 1893February 27, 1993) was an American actress, director, and screenwriter. Her film-acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912, in silent film shorts, to 1987. Gish was called the "First Lady of American Cinema" ...

*''The Mystery of Souls'' (Italian/ Itala Films) directed by Vincenzo Denizot, starring Alessandro Bernard and Lydia Quaranta; seems to have been inspired by the novel "Trilby". * ''Mystery of the Glass Coffin'' (Eclair/ Tyler Films) * ''The Mystical Maid of Jamasha Pass'', directed by

Allan Dwan Allan Dwan (born Joseph Aloysius Dwan; April 3, 1885 – December 28, 1981) was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter. Early life Born Joseph Aloysius Dwan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Dwan, was ...

(his first film), starring

J. Warren Kerrigan George Jack Warren Kerrigan (July 25, 1879 – June 9, 1947) was an American silent film actor and film director. Controversy In May 1917, Kerrigan was nearing the end of a four-month-long personal appearance publicity tour that had taken ...

and Jack Richardson. * ''Nan in Fairyland'' (British/ C&M Films) *'' A New Cure for Divorce'' *'' The New York Hat'', directed by

, starring

and Lionel Barrymore * ''Nursie and Knight'' (Thanhouser) dream sequence involves a dragon. *''The Old Actor'' *''

The Old Doctor's Humanity ''The Old Doctor's Humanity'' is a 1912 silent film short produced by the Éclair American Company and distributed by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. A copy is preserved in the Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is ...

'' *''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' (British/ Hepworth) directed by Thomas Bentley; based on the novel by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

*''Onesime, Clock-maker'', directed by Jean Durand * ''One Too Exciting Night'' (British/ Hepworth Films) produced by Cecil Hepworth * ''Paradise'' (Italian/ Psiche Film) based on the third act of Dante's ''Divine Comedy'' (sort of a sequel to ''Dante's Inferno'') * ''Parsifal'' (Italian/ Ambrosio) based on the opera by Wagner *''The Passer-By'', directed by

Oscar Apfel Oscar C. Apfel (January 17, 1878 – March 21, 1938) was an American film actor, director, screenwriter and producer. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1913 and 1939, and also directed 94 films between 1911 and 1927. Biography Apf ...

. Not the first moving camera shot or dolly shot, but notable for its use as dramatic emphasis. *''

Petticoat Camp ''Petticoat Camp'' is a 1912 American silent short comedy film starring William Garwood and Florence La Badie. Plot Only lasting 15 minutes, it is a light-hearted comedy about the battle between the sexes as several married couples go on a c ...

'' *''Pilgrim's Progress'' * ''The Plague-Stricken City'' (French/ Gaumont) the filmmakers tried to emulate the 1912 Italian silent film ''Masque of the Red Death'' herein, which in turn was based on the famous story by

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

*'' Please Help the Pore'' * ''Polidor at the Death Club'' (Italian/ Pasquali Films) one of dozens of silent films featuring the "Polidor" character all starring Ferdinando Guillaume; this film was a spoof on the

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as '' Treasure Island'', '' Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...

novel ''The Suicide Club'' *''

The Power of Melody ''The Power of Melody'' (also known as ''Delirium Tremens'') is a 1912 American silent short drama film starring Harry Van Meter, Vivian Rich, and Eugenie Forde. The film was written by pianist Paul Williams of Morristown, Indiana. Plot A dr ...

'' *''

A Primitive Man's Career to Civilization ''A Primitive Man's Career to Civilization'' was a UK film released in 1912, directed and written by Cherry Kearton. Shot on 35mm film in silent black and white, it was distributed by WTC. The film was produced in 1911 by the Ethnographic Soc ...

'' *'' Put Yourself in His Place'' * ''The Queen of Spades'' (French/ Eclipse) This film was actually an adaptation of

's 1878 novel ''The Suicide Club'', but the film also draws from the 1833

Alexander Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (; rus, links=no, Александр Сергеевич ПушкинIn pre-Revolutionary script, his name was written ., r=Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈpuʂkʲɪn, ...

novel '' Pikovaya dama'' as well. * ''The Raven'' (Eclair/ American Standard) a French-American co-production purporting to be the "true story" of

's life, starring Guy Oliver and Muriel Ostriche; inspired by the poem by

and incorporating images from eight of Poe's short stories (filmed in Fort Lee, Texas) * ''The Reincarnation of Karma'' (Vitagraph Films) directed by Van Dyke Brooke, starring Courtenay Foote and Rosemary Theby *''

Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, whic ...

'' *''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

'' (Second oldest American feature film. Currently the oldest completely intact American feature film.) *''

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is de ...

'' * ''St. George and the Dragon'' (Italian/ Milano Films) this film was hand-colored. * ''Satan'', aka ''Satana'', aka ''Satan, the Destroyer of Humanity'' (Italian/ Ambrosio Films) directed by Luigi Maggi, written by

Guido Volante Guido is a given name Latinised from the Old High German name Wido. It originated in Medieval Italy. Guido later became a male first name in Austria, Germany, the Low Countries, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Latin America and Switzerland ...

, starring Rina Alby, Antonio Grisanti and Mario Bonnard (as Satan); photography by Giovanni Vitrotti; inspired by

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem ''Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and polit ...

's ''Paradise Lost'' *'' Saved From the Titanic'' * ''The Sea's Shadow''/ ''Der Schatten des Meeres'', aka ''In the Shadow of the Sea'' (German) directed by

Curt A. Stark Kurt is a male given name of Germanic or Turkish origin. ''Kurt'' or ''Curt'' originated as short forms of the Germanic Conrad, depending on geographical usage, with meanings including counselor or advisor. In Turkish, Kurt means "Wolf" and is ...

(also star), also starring Lizzy Krueger, Henry Porten and Fran Retzlag; produced by

Otto Messter Otto is a masculine German given name and a surname. It originates as an Old High German short form (variants ''Audo'', ''Odo'', '' Udo'') of Germanic names beginning in ''aud-'', an element meaning "wealth, prosperity". The name is recorded ...

. * ''The Secrets of House Number Five'' (Russian-French co-production/ Pathe Films) said to be one of the first films to feature vampires * ''The Serpents'' (Vitagraph) starring Ralph Ince and Edith Storey *''Sherlock Holmes'' Film Series (Eclair, British-French); a series of 8 Sherlock Holmes films directed by Georges Treville (who also played Holmes); includes "The Speckled Band", "Silver Blaze", "The Beryl Coronet", "The Musgrave Ritual", "The Reigate Squires", "The Stolen Papers", "The Boscombe Valley Muystery" and "The Copper Beeches" * ''The Silent Castle'' (French/ Gaumont) based on the fairy tale ''Sleeping Beauty'' * ''Simple Simon and the Devil'', aka ''Onesime and the Devil'' (French/ Gaumont) directed by Jean Durand, starring Ernest Bourbon and Gaston Modot; one of a series of 60 "Onesime" films made in France (the character's name was changed to "Simple Simon" in the U.S.) *'' A Six Cylinder Elopement'' * ''The Skivvy's Ghost'' (French/ Lux Film) * ''Sleeping Beauty'' (British/ Hepworth Films) directed by Elwin Neame, starring Ivy Close; based on the Charles Perrault fairy tale * ''A Son-in-Law's Nightmare'' (French/ Pathe) *''A Spanish Dilemma'', directed by

, starring

* ''The Spectre of Jago'' (Italian/ Aquila Films) starring Alberto Carlo Lolli *''The Speed Demon'', directed by

, starring Fred Mace * ''The Spell of the Hypnotist'' (Italian/ Helios Film) * ''A Spider in the Brain'' (Italian/ Itala Films) * ''A Spiritualistic Convert'' (French/ Pathe) * ''Spooks'' (French/ Pathe) a horror-comedy *'' Standing Room Only'' *''

The Star of Bethlehem The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2 where "wise men from the East" (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There, they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask hi ...

'' *'' The Street Singer'' * ''Supernatural Power'' (French/ Pathe) features a seance with spirits * ''The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether'', aka ''The Lunatics'' (French/ Eclair) directed by Maurice Tourneur, written by Andre de Lord, starring Henri Gouget and Henri Roussell; based on the

short story *'' The Tell-Tale Message'' * ''Les terreurs de Rigadin'' (French/Pathe) directed by George Monca, starring Charles Prince as "Rigadin"; this film was one in a series of over 100 "Rigadin" comedies made in France. * ''The Thief and the Porter's Head'' (Italian/ Milano Films) *'' The Thunderbolt'' *''Tomboy Bessie'', directed by

, starring

* ''Trilby'' (Austrian-Hungarian co-production) directed by Luise and Anton Kolm (with Jakob Fleck), starring Elsa Galafrés Hubermann and Paul Askonas, based on the 1894 novel by George du Maurier * ''Trilby'' (British/ Standard Films) based on the 1894 novel by George du Maurier * ''Undine'' (Thanhouser) directed by Lucius Henderson, starring Florence La Badie and Marguerite Snow; written by Lloyd Lonergan, based on the fairy tale “Undine” by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué; released 9/24/12; prints exist in museums. *'' An Unseen Enemy'', directed by

, debuts of Lillian and Dorothy Gish * ''The Vengeance of Edgar Poe'' (French/ Lux Film) directed by Gerard Bourgeois, written by Abel Gance and Bourgeois, starring Edouard de Max and Jean Worms; biopic that deals with Poe's real-life drug addiction. * ''The Vengeance of Egypt'' (French/ Gaumont) *'' The Voice of Conscience'' *'' The Water Nymph'', starring

and

. First Keystone comedy. *'' What Happened to Mary?'', starring Mary Fuller. * ''When Soul Meets Soul'' (Essanay Films) directed by Farrell MacDonald, starring

Francis X. Bushman Francis Xavier Bushman (January 10, 1883 – August 23, 1966) was an American film actor and director. His career as a matinee idol started in 1911 in the silent film ''His Friend's Wife.'' He gained a large female following and was one of the ...

(features a reincarnated mummy) *''When the Fire Bells Rang'' *''

When the Heart Calls ''When the Heart Calls'' is a 1912 American silent era short Western comedy film starring Lee Moran, Russell Bassett, Louise Glaum, and Victoria Forde. Directed by Al Christie and produced by the Nestor Company, it was distributed by t ...

'', starring

Lee Moran Lee Moran (June 23, 1888 – April 24, 1961) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. Moran was active in vaudeville before he began performing in films at Nestor Studios in 1909. He transcended the silent film era of motio ...

, Russell Bassett and Louise Glaum * ''Whiffle's Nightmare'', aka ''Le cauchemar de Rigadin'' (French/ Pathe) directed by George Monca, starring Charles Prince as Rigadin. *'' With Our King and Queen Through India'' *''

With the Mounted Police ''With the Mounted Police'' is a 1912 American silent short romantic thriller film written by Lloyd Lonergan. The films stars William Garwood as a Mounted Police Officer and Mignon Anderson Mignon Anderson (March 31, 1892 – February 25, 1 ...

'' * ''The Woman in White'' (Universal Pictures) starring Janet Salzberg, Charles Perley and Alexander F. Frank; based on the famous 1859 Wilkie Collins novel of the same name. * ''The Woman in White'' (Thanhouser Films) written by Lloyd Lonergan, starring Marguerite Snow and

; based on the famous 1859 Wilkie Collins novel of the same name. * ''Yotsuya Kaidan'' (translation: ''The Ghost of Yotsuya'') (Japanese/ Nikkatsu Films) directed by Shozo Makino, starring Matsunosuke Onoe; based on the famous 1825 kabuki play of the same name. *''

The Young Millionaire ''The Young Millionaire'' is a 1912 short silent film drama. The film starred Earle Foxe and Alice Joyce who were acting together in their third film that year, having already starred in ''The Street Singer'' and '' The County Fair''. It was the t ...

Births

*January 8 – José Ferrer, Puerto Rican-American actor and director (died

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment building in Amsterdam after two of its engines ...

) *January 13 – Paul Birch, American actor (died 1969) *February 4 –

James Craig James or Jim Craig may refer to: Entertainment * James Humbert Craig (1877–1944), Irish painter * James Craig (actor) (1912–1985), American actor * James Craig (''General Hospital''), fictional character on television, a.k.a. Jerry Jacks * ...

, American actor (died 1985) *February 5 – Willard Parker, American actor (died

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 800, causing the plane to crash and killing everyone on b ...

) *February 19 –

Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin (February 19, 1912 – November 15, 1997) was an American composer and musical director. He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York. He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley. In film, he won t ...

, American film composer (died

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...

) *February 19 – Dorothy Janis, American actress (died

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

) *February 21 – Arline Judge, American actress (died

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of President of the United States, United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom K ...

) *February 26 – Dane Clark, American actor (died

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

) *March 22 – Karl Malden, American actor (died 2009) *April 5 – Gordon Jones, American actor (died

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

) *April 8 – Sonja Henie, Norwegian Olympic ice-skater, actress (died 1969) *April 11 - John Larkin, American actor (died

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lyndo ...

) *April 12 - Walt Gorney, Austrian-American actor (died

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

) *April 16 – Catherine Scorsese, American actress (died

) *April 18 – Wendy Barrie, English actress (died 1978) *April 29 – Richard Carlson, American actor and director (died

1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democrati ...

) *May 9 – Pedro Armendáriz, Mexican actor (died

) *May 18 –

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signi ...

, American singer, actor (died

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a multi-national coalition in an invasion of Afghanistan ...

) *May 23 ** Marius Goring, English actor (died 1998) ** John Payne, American actor (died 1989) *May 29 – Iris Adrian, American actress (died

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson Ma ...

) *May 31 – Dave O'Brien, American actor, director, writer (died 1969) *June 1 – Doris Wishman, American filmmaker (died 2002) *June 26 – Jay Silverheels, Canadian actor (''Tonto'') (died 1980) *July 4 – Viviane Romance, French actress (died

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the ...

) *July 5 – Ilona Massey, Hungarian-born American actress (died 1974) *August 1 – Henry Jones, American actor (died

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school s ...

) *August 12 – Samuel Fuller, American director (died 1997) *August 15 – Wendy Hiller, English actress (died

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, disintegrated during reentry into Atmosphere of Earth, Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an 2002– ...

) *August 23 – Gene Kelly, American actor (died

) *August 25 -

Ted Key Ted Key (born Theodore Keyser; August 25, 1912 – May 3, 2008)
''The New York Times'', May 8, 2008 was a ...

, writer (died 2008) *August 29 – Barry Sullivan, American actor (died 1974) *September 5 ** Kristina Söderbaum, Swedish-born German actress (died 2001) ** Frank Thomas, American animator (died 2004) *September 10 – Mary Walter, Filipina actress (died 1993) *September 21 –

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, director, and painter, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the '' Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He wrote, pro ...

, American animator (died 2002) *September 23 – Martha Scott, American actress (died 2003) *September 29 – Michelangelo Antonioni, Italian director (died

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ...

) *October 10 - Rudy Bond, American actor (died

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., Un ...

) *October 11 – Betty Noyes American singer/dubber (died 1987) *October 12 – Peer Guldbrandsen, Danish screenwriter, actor, film director and producer (died

) *October 13 –

Cornel Wilde Cornel Wilde (born Kornél Lajos Weisz; October 13, 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker. Wilde's acting career began in 1935, when he made his debut on Broadway. In 1936 he began making small, uncredited ap ...

, Hungarian-born American actor (died 1989) *October 31 – ** Dale Evans, American actress (died 2001) ** Ollie Johnston, American animator (died 2008) *November 5 –

Paul Dehn Paul Edward Dehn (pronounced "Dain"; 5 November 1912 – 30 September 1976) was a British screenwriter, best known for '' Goldfinger'', '' The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'', ''Planet of the Apes'' sequels and ''Murder on the Orient Express''. ...

, English screenwriter and poet (died 1976) *November 8 –

June Havoc June Havoc (born Ellen Evangeline Hovick; November 8, 1912 – March 28, 2010) was a Canadian American actress, dancer, stage director and memoirist. Havoc was a child vaudeville performer under the tutelage of her mother Rose Thompson Hovick, ...

, American actress (died

) *November 21 – Eleanor Powell, American dancer, actress (died

) *November 24 – Garson Kanin, American writer (died

) *December 11 – Carlo Ponti, Italian producer (died 2007)

Deaths

* March 30 – Karl May, writer, ''

Apache Gold ''Apache Gold'' (german: Winnetou, later retitled to ''Winnetou – 1. Teil''), also known as ''Winnetou the Warrior'', is a 1963 Western film directed by Harald Reinl. It is based on the story of Winnetou, a fictional Native-American Apache h ...

'' (born 1842) * April 15 – Jacques Futrelle, writer, '' The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'', (perished in the ''

'') (born 1875) * April 20 –

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who is celebrated for his 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and busin ...

, writer, ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taki ...

'' (born 1847) * May 14 –

August Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (, ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than sixty ...

, writer, '' Miss Julie'' (born 1849) * May 19 – Bolesław Prus, writer, ''

Faraon ''Pharaoh'' ( pl, Faraon) is the fourth and last major novel by the Polish writer Bolesław Prus (1847–1912). Composed over a year's time in 1894–95, serialized in 1895–96, and published in book form in 1897, it was the sole historical ...

'' (born 1847) * June 1 –

Philip Parmalee Philip Orin Parmelee (March 8, 1887 – June 1, 1912) was an American aviation pioneer trained by the Wright brothers and credited with several early world aviation records and "firsts" in flight. He turned a keen interest in small engines into ...

, actor (with

in '' A Dash Through the Clouds''); pioneer aviator for the Wright brothers (born 1887) * July 1 – Harriet Quimby, writer (seven scenarios for D.W. Griffith); actress in one film; pioneer American aviator (born 1875) * December 14 – Harry Cashman, comedy producer and actor for the Chicago-based Essanay company.

Film debuts

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Barrymore family, Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage ...

– The Dream of a Moving Picture Director (as Jack Barrymore) * Frank Borzage – On Secret Service (short) * Charlotte Burton – The Would-Be Heir (short) *

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

– The Honor of the Family (short) (unconfirmed) * Dorothy Gish – An Unseen Enemy (short) *

– An Unseen Enemy (short) * Louise Glaum – Brave Heart's Hidden Love (short) * Mildred Harris – The Post Telegrapher (short) * Cleo Madison – A Business Buccaneer (short) * Mary Miles Minter – The Nurse (short) (as Juliet Shelby) * Antonio Moreno – Iola's Promise (short) *

Warner Oland Warner Oland (born Johan Verner Ölund; October 3, 1879 – August 6, 1938) was a Swedish-American actor. His career included time on Broadway and numerous film appearances. He is most remembered for playing several Chinese and Chinese-American ...

–

Pilgrim's Progress ''The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come'' is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature and a progenitor of the ...

* Olga Petrova – Departure of a Grand Old Man (short) *

Victor Sjöström Victor David Sjöström (; 20 September 1879 – 3 January 1960), also known in the United States as Victor Seastrom, was a pioneering Swedish film director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in Sweden, before moving to Hollywood in ...

– director, A Ruined Life; actor, The Gardener * Frederick Warde –

References

{{1912 films Film by year