from American Memory, Library of Congress

There were other kinds of films in this early period, "novelty" films that told a short story. Like the "actualities," these films tended to use a single camera, a single viewing range, and no cuts, pans, zooms or close ups. In this sense, they were much like stage performances. They often borrowed ideas from stage magicians or vaudeville skits. But they could tell only very simple stories.

Early fimakers also quickly learned to make the camera do tricks--to have people appear and disappear, shrink and grow, or move backwards in time. This film, "Animated Luncheon," from 190, is a typical example. Here are some others.

The early films are suprisingly entertaining, given their simple approach to storytelling. But they are not much like modern fims. Telling a coherent story on film isn't nearly as easy as it might seem.

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