The First Film
The First Film

Watch The First Film Online Free

- 70/100 based on 170 votes

In October 1888 Louis Le Prince produced the world's first films in Leeds,England. These were shot on cameras patented in both America and the UK. Once he had perfected his projection machine Le Prince arranged to demonstrate his discovery to the American public and thus the world. On 16th September 1890, just weeks before he was due to sail to New York Louis Aime Augustine Le Prince stepped onto the Dijon to Paris train and was never seen again. No body was ever found so leg... (Full plot summary below)

Watch MOVIES for FREE on Prime Video

Enjoy FREE movies and series with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!

Share this

The First Film Online Streaming

Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.

Rent The First Film on DVD

Rent The First Film on Blu-ray

Today's Featured Movies:

Big FishBig Fish
Raging BullRaging Bull
Resident EvilResident Evil
ApocalyptoApocalypto
The LighthouseThe Lighthouse
The Elephant ManThe Elephant Man
Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World
50/5050/50
The ApartmentThe Apartment
Fight ClubFight Club
For a Few Dollars MoreFor a Few Dollars More
Knives OutKnives Out
Adaptation.Adaptation.
DodgeBall: A True Underdog StoryDodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Midnight in ParisMidnight in Paris

You Might Also Like:

Sorry, we can't find any suggestions at the moment.

Actors in The First Film:

David Wilkinson
Tom Courtenay
Katharine Round
Tony Pierce-Roberts
Ronald Harwood
Joe Eszterhas

Full Plot Details

In October 1888 Louis Le Prince produced the world's first films in Leeds,England. These were shot on cameras patented in both America and the UK. Once he had perfected his projection machine Le Prince arranged to demonstrate his discovery to the American public and thus the world. On 16th September 1890, just weeks before he was due to sail to New York Louis Aime Augustine Le Prince stepped onto the Dijon to Paris train and was never seen again. No body was ever found so legally no one could fight the Le Prince claim that he invented a camera that recorded the very first moving image. As a result, several years later, Thomas Edison and the Lumiere Brothers were to claim the glory and the prize of being acknowledged as the first people to pioneer film. Louis Le Prince was never added to history books. But for one lone voice, who worked with him, Le Prince's name and his pioneering work was forgotten.

Review & Comments

Leave your thoughts about The First Film.

Movie Reviews

CineVue - 8/10 by Martyn ConterioThe First Film should be a worthy resource for cinema history enthusiasts and students alike.
Radio Times - 8/10 by David ParkinsonThis is a meticulously researched investigation into the achievements and mysterious disappearance of Le Prince, who vanished without trace while travelling on the Dijon-Paris express in September 1890.
Shadows on the Wall - 7/10 by Rich ClineA personal 30-year quest by filmmaker Wilkinson to get to the bottom of an astonishing omission from film history, this documentary plays out like an urgent mystery.
Empire Magazine - 6/10 by Ian FreerA sincere, fascinating look at the birth of cinema.
Total Film - 6/10 by Simon KinnearDespite diligent research and expert help, the excitable presenter readily gives in to mythmaking, especially when conjecturing on Le Princes uncertain end.
Observer (UK) - 6/10 by Mark KermodeA flickering story that blends intrigue, industrial espionage, and possibly even murder.
Times (UK) - 6/10 by Wendy IdeDespite a crippling lack of solid information and a fair amount of speculation, the documentary mounts a solid case for Le Prince, an inventor and artist, to be recognised as the true father of film.
Guardian - 6/10 by Peter BradshawWilliamson makes a clear case that Le Prince was a prototypical film artist, and a genuine pioneer.
Independent (UK) - 2/10 by Geoffrey MacnabThe doc isn't especially cinematic but you can't help but admire the dogged passion with which Wilkinson has pursued his subject.
User Review - 8/10 by Jan vIn short: Fascinating research about the invention of film making, different from common knowledge Saw this at the Ghent film festival 2015. It shows interesting research and it is certainly thought provoking. Nevertheless, we know of more examples where several inventors claim to be the real and only one, e.g. printing claimed by Gutenberg (Germany) as well as Coster (Netherlands) and Martens (Belgium). Moreover, when does an inventor believe that his product is perfect enough to show the public? Trying to be too perfect may let him miss the chance to be the first, even when his model proves to be the better one after all. Also, we know that some inventions were frowned upon by authorities and hence suppressed, or became the victim of saboteurs. All such considerations count. A fact of life is that most inventions are just a child of their time, hence it is no miracle that some seem to go public nearly simultaneously. Anyway, just as the filmmaker (present before and after the screening) stated: This is a hard sell. Just to stand up against "everyone knows (...)", and the feeling that history lessons, the library and WikiPedia cannot all be wrong. So why bother. His film is a mixed collection of evidence, some convincing some just circumstantial, all of that adding up to his conviction. It is interesting to watch, while pondering by myself which other well-known inventions are wrongly attributed. Regretfully, I cannot imagine that some film distributor considers the matter worthwhile enough for a world wide release, yet the way the evidence is presented and the film maker's enthusiasm deserves more attention than I expect it to receive.

Browse Movie Genres

Other Links

The First Film

Watch Online For Free | Free Movies | Movie Genres | Most Viewed | Top Rated | Latest Releases

About Us • Affiliates • Terms of Use • Disclaimer • Cookies • Privacy Policy • Copyright • DMCA Compliance • Contact Us • Language Settings

Copyright © 2004 - 2016 Watch Online For Free or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

Imagery, artwork, logos, service marks, and trademarks used on this page are the intellectual property of their respective companies.

Related Websites: Amazon Prime Free Trial - DVD Rental Free Trial - Free Prime Video Trial - Movie Trailers