[PARIS 1900 EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE WORLD'S FAIR LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PAPER PRINTS]

Year Published: 1900

Creator: Biograph Company.

Description:

This silent black-and-white film presents a compilation of archival footage documenting Paris at the turn of the century, during the 1900 Exposition Universelle. The footage, originally captured by the Biograph Company (1895-1916) and Thomas Edison’s team in 1904, includes scenes of iconic Parisian sites such as Place de la Concorde, the River Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Élysées. Edison, intrigued by the Exposition’s moving walkway, "Rue de l'Avenir," dispatched producer James Henry White to capture the event, resulting in many of the film’s featured scenes. Restored from the Library of Congress Paper Film Collection, this footage was selected for preservation in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' film archives.

The 1900 Exposition Universelle, held from April 14 to November 12, celebrated the technological and cultural achievements of the century while showcasing future innovations. The expo was held at the esplanade of Les Invalides, the Champ de Mars, the Trocadéro and at the banks of the Seine

Film opens, archival notes (0:09). Biograph Company/ American Mutoscope and Biograph Company footage c.1904 of Paris from the seine (0:18). Steam-powered vessels make their way up the Seine pulling barges, silhouette of Eiffel Tower seen in the distance (0:30). Statue of Liberty at Pont de Grenelle on the southern end of Île aux Cygnes (0:49). Clearer view of Eiffel Tower as videographer approaches the structure on boat along Seine (1:23). ​​Le Pont des Arts and Institut de France come into view (2:26). Le Pont Neuf, oldest standing bridge across the river Seine (3:02). Backside view of Notre Dame on L'île de la Cité (3:27). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Place de la Concorde c. 1900 (3:57). Shot begins on one of the two Fontaines de la Concorde before rotating to show various horse-drawn carriages transporting passengers across the public square, pedestrians out for a stroll, Main Entrance (Porte Monumentale) to Paris Exposition by architect René Binet (4:14). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Champs-Élysées c. 1900 (5:26). Silhouette of Arc de Triomphe appears in the distance, two-way traffic of horse-drawn carriages and carts along the avenue (5:42). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Place de l’Opera c. 1900 (6:30). Horse-bus/ horse-drawn omnibus turns corner on busy avenue lined with shops, bustling traffic, pedestrians scurry to cross road while evading horses and carriages (6:45). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of the Moving Boardwalk (Rue de l'Avenir) c. 1900 (7:58). Men in suits and trendy boater hats walk along Rue de l'Avenir, electric moving walkway; Women in hats, parasols, train dresses, fans, gigots sleeves, lace, pearls, ribbons attempt to get on the moving walkway (8:14). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of the Paris Exposition seen from the Seine c. 1900 (9:34). Views of the different nations’ pavilions along the left bank of Seine “La Rue des nations,” perhaps backside view of Petit Palais (9:51). British pavilion, Belgian pavilion, Norwegian pavilion, German pavilion, and Spanish pavilion. (12:12). The American Pavilion (13:11). Palace of National Manufactures along Esplanade des Invalides and Pont Alexandre III (14:12). Film ends (14:52).

Complete Record: This silent black-and-white film presents a compilation of archival footage documenting Paris at the turn of the century, during the 1900 Exposition Universelle. The footage, originally captured by the Biograph Company (1895-1916) and Thomas Edison’s team in 1904, includes scenes of iconic Parisian sites such as Place de la Concorde, the River Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Élysées. Edison, intrigued by the Exposition’s moving walkway, "Rue de l'Avenir," dispatched producer James Henry White to capture the event, resulting in many of the film’s featured scenes. Restored from the Library of Congress Paper Film Collection, this footage was selected for preservation in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' film archives. The 1900 Exposition Universelle, held from April 14 to November 12, celebrated the technological and cultural achievements of the century while showcasing future innovations. The expo was held at the esplanade of Les Invalides, the Champ de Mars, the Trocadéro and at the banks of the Seine Film opens, archival notes (0:09). Biograph Company/ American Mutoscope and Biograph Company footage c.1904 of Paris from the seine (0:18). Steam-powered vessels make their way up the Seine pulling barges, silhouette of Eiffel Tower seen in the distance (0:30). Statue of Liberty at Pont de Grenelle on the southern end of Île aux Cygnes (0:49). Clearer view of Eiffel Tower as videographer approaches the structure on boat along Seine (1:23). ​​Le Pont des Arts and Institut de France come into view (2:26). Le Pont Neuf, oldest standing bridge across the river Seine (3:02). Backside view of Notre Dame on L'île de la Cité (3:27). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Place de la Concorde c. 1900 (3:57). Shot begins on one of the two Fontaines de la Concorde before rotating to show various horse-drawn carriages transporting passengers across the public square, pedestrians out for a stroll, Main Entrance (Porte Monumentale) to Paris Exposition by architect René Binet (4:14). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Champs-Élysées c. 1900 (5:26). Silhouette of Arc de Triomphe appears in the distance, two-way traffic of horse-drawn carriages and carts along the avenue (5:42). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of Place de l’Opera c. 1900 (6:30). Horse-bus/ horse-drawn omnibus turns corner on busy avenue lined with shops, bustling traffic, pedestrians scurry to cross road while evading horses and carriages (6:45). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of the Moving Boardwalk (Rue de l'Avenir) c. 1900 (7:58). Men in suits and trendy boater hats walk along Rue de l'Avenir, electric moving walkway; Women in hats, parasols, train dresses, fans, gigots sleeves, lace, pearls, ribbons attempt to get on the moving walkway (8:14). Panoramic footage captured by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) of the Paris Exposition seen from the Seine c. 1900 (9:34). Views of the different nations’ pavilions along the left bank of Seine “La Rue des nations,” perhaps backside view of Petit Palais (9:51). British pavilion, Belgian pavilion, Norwegian pavilion, German pavilion, and Spanish pavilion. (12:12). The American Pavilion (13:11). Palace of National Manufactures along Esplanade des Invalides and Pont Alexandre III (14:12). Film ends (14:52).