The Execution of Mary Stuartis an Americansilenttrick filmproduced in 1895. The film depicts the execution ofMary, Queen of Scots.It is the first known film to usespecial effects,specifically thestop trick.[1]
The Execution of Mary Stuart | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alfred Clark |
Produced by | Thomas Edison |
Starring | Robert Thomae |
Cinematography | William Heise |
Distributed by | Edison Manufacturing Company |
Release date |
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Running time | 18 seconds |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent film |
Production and content
editThe 18-second-long film was produced byThomas Edisonand 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 along 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.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Sarat, Austin; Madeline, Chan; Maia, Cole; Melissa, Lang; Nicholas, Schcolnik; Jasjaap, Sidhu; Siegel, Nica (2015). "Scenes of Execution: Spectatorship, Political Responsibility, and State Killing in American Film".Punishment in Popular Culture.New York University Press. p. 199.
- ^Musser, Charles (1991).Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company.University of California Press. p. 56.
External links
edit- The Execution of Mary StuartatIMDb
- The Execution of Mary Stuartis available for free viewing and download at theInternet Archive
- The Execution of Mary StuartatAllMovie
- The Execution of Mary Stuartfor download
- "Alfred Clark, Narrative and Special Effects Pioneer"
- The Execution of Mary StuartonYouTube