The Execution of Mary Stuart

Last updated
The Execution of Mary Stuart
MaryExecution.jpg
Screen capture of a digitized version of the film
Directed by Alfred Clark
Produced by Thomas Edison
StarringRobert Thomae
Cinematography William Heise
Distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company
Release date
August 28, 1895
Running time
18 seconds
CountryUnited States
Language Silent film
The earliest known use of the stop trick.

The Execution of Mary Stuart is an American silent trick film produced in 1895. The film depicts the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It is the first known film to use special effects, specifically the stop trick.

Contents

Production and content

The 18-second-long film was produced by Thomas Edison and directed by Alfred Clark and may have been the first film in history to use trained actors as well as the first to use editing for the purposes of special effects. The film shows a blindfolded Mary (played by Robert L. Thomas, a male actor playing the role of a woman, following a long theatrical tradition) being led to the execution block. The executioner raises his axe and an edit occurs during which the actor is replaced by a mannequin. The mannequin's head is chopped off and the executioner holds it in the air as the film ends.

Availability

This film is in the public domain.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substitution splice</span> Cinematic special effect

The substitution splice or stop trick is a cinematic special effect in which filmmakers achieve an appearance, disappearance, or transformation by altering one or more selected aspects of the mise-en-scène between two shots while maintaining the same framing and other aspects of the scene in both shots. The effect is usually polished by careful editing to establish a seamless cut and optimal moment of change. It has also been referred to as stop motion substitution or stop-action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special effect</span> Illusions or tricks to change appearance

Special effects are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the imagined events in a story or virtual world.

The following is an overview of the events of 1895 in film, including a list of films released and notable births.

Visual effects is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action footage or CGI elements to create realistic imagery is called VFX.

<i>Superman</i> (1978 film) 1978 film by Richard Donner

Superman is a 1978 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero Superman, played by Christopher Reeve. It is the first of four installments in the Superman film series starring Reeve as Superman. The film was directed by Richard Donner based on a screenplay by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. In addition to Reeve, the film features an ensemble cast including Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jackie Cooper, Trevor Howard, Marc McClure, Terence Stamp, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Jack O'Halloran, Maria Schell, and Sarah Douglas. It depicts the origin of Superman, including his infancy as Kal-El of Krypton, son of Jor-El (Brando), and his youthful years in the rural town of Smallville. Disguised as reporter Clark Kent, he adopts a mild-mannered disposition in Metropolis and develops a romance with Lois Lane (Kidder) while battling the villainous Lex Luthor (Hackman).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executioner</span> Person who executes a sentence of death

An executioner, also known as a hangman or headsman, is an official who effects a sentence of capital punishment on a condemned person.

<i>Wilson</i> (1944 film) 1944 film by Henry King

Wilson is a 1944 biographical film about Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. Shot in Technicolor and directed by Henry King, the film stars Alexander Knox, Charles Coburn, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Thomas Mitchell, Ruth Nelson, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, William Eythe and Mary Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Babington</span> English nobleman convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England

Anthony Babington was an English gentleman convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, for which he was hanged, drawn and quartered. The "Babington Plot" and Mary's involvement in it were the basis of the treason charges against her which led to her execution. He was a member of the Babington family.

<i>Smallville</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of Smallville, an American television series developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, began airing on October 16, 2001, on The WB television network. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to his developing superpowers in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman. The first season comprises 21 episodes and concluded its initial airing on May 21, 2002. Regular cast members during season one include Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Eric Johnson, Sam Jones III, Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, and John Schneider.

<i>Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper</i> 1974 feature film starring Alice Cooper

Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper is a 1974 feature film starring Alice Cooper. The movie primarily features live concert footage of the Alice Cooper band on their record-breaking Billion Dollar Babies tour, filmed in Texas in April 1973, with some footage from other tour stops, including the Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, intercut with 'comedy' scenes of a German film director chasing the "Cooper gang" for revenge after they abandoned his would-be masterpiece movie.

<i>Duality</i> (film) 2001 Star Wars fan film

Duality is a Star Wars fan film created by Mark Thomas and Dave Macomber that made its debut on the internet on February 10, 2001. It is one of the first fan films to exclusively use bluescreen footage composited onto virtual backgrounds.

<i>Batman</i> OnStar commercials American film

The Batman OnStar commercials were a series of six television commercials featuring comic book superhero Batman, created by ad-agency Campbell-Ewald and based on the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher Batman film series, airing from 2000 to the beginning of 2002. The commercials promoted the use of the automobile onboard guiding system OnStar. The commercials were successful, leading to a large increase in subscribers and a higher rate of subscriber renewals.

<i>Mine Own Executioner</i> 1947 British psychological thriller drama film

Mine Own Executioner is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival. The title is derived from a quotation of John Donne's "Devotions", which serves as an epigraph for the original book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georges Méliès</span> French filmmaker and illusionist (1861–1938)

Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès was a French magician, actor, and film director. He led many technical and narrative developments in the early days of cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantafestival</span> Italian film festival

The Mostra internazionale del film di fantascienza e del fantastico, commonly known as Fantafestival, is a film festival devoted to science fiction, fantasy and horror film that has been held annually in Italy since 1981.

<i>The Vanishing Lady</i> 1896 French film

The Vanishing Lady is an 1896 French silent trick film directed by Georges Méliès. It features Méliès and Jehanne d'Alcy performing a trick in the manner of a stage illusion, in which D'Alcy disappears into thin air. A skeleton appears in her place before she finally returns for a curtain call.

<i>Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai</i> 2015 Indian film

Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language political thriller film co-produced, written and directed by S. P. Jananathan, which stars Arya, Shaam, Vijay Sethupathi, and Karthika. Also produced by UTV Motion Pictures, the film features cinematography by N. K. Ekambaram and a score by Srikanth Deva, while the soundtrack was composed by newcomer Varshan. The film, which was earlier titled Purampokku, a term used for a piece of land that is common to all, revolves around the relevance of capital punishment in a democratic and free society. The film released on 15 May 2015 to mixed reviews. It also marked Karthika's last official acting performance, as she'd cited of not enjoying acting much and a bright chance to mark her future endeavours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Clark (director)</span> Pioneer of cinema and gramophone, business executive and collector of ceramics

Alfred Clark was a pioneer of music recording and cinema. As a cameraman and director of productions at Edison's first studio, he was the first to make moving pictures with innovations like continuity, plot, trained actors and special effects. In 1896, he joined Emile Berliner's Gramophone Company and then went to Europe where he became an important manager of companies like HMV and EMI. He was naturalized as a British citizen in 1928 and he became a leading member of the Oriental Ceramic Society in London, establishing a valuable collection including rare pieces which had been made for the emperors of the Tang and Song dynasty.

Suzanne M. Benson is a visual effects producer born in 1958. She studied visual effects at the University of Arizona. She is best known for her work in Creature, Aliens, Spy Hard and Street Fighter. In 1987, she became the first woman to win an Oscar for special effects work in recognition for her work on the 1986 film Aliens. The film also won a BAFTA for special effects and a Saturn Award.

Le Bourreau turc, sold in the United States as The Terrible Turkish Executioner, or It Served Him Right and in Britain as What Befell the Turkish Executioner, is a 1903 French silent trick film by Georges Méliès. It was sold by Méliès's Star Film Company and is numbered 534–535 in its catalogues.