Hepworth Manufacturing Company

A scientist dreams of prehistoric monsters. He awakes in a cavern. A dinosaur chases him, even though he tries to shoot it with his revolver. The chase continues onto the surface. The professor meets a group of prehistoric women, who flee when other monsters appear. The professor's wife finds him sleeping in the laboratory, surrounded by fossils, and wakes him with water from a siphon. This short film is only viewable at the BFI, and its generally believed to be the first film depiction of dinosaurs, here accomplished through the use of simple pantomime costumes.

Cecil Hepworth’s Vivaphone film features Hay Plumb singing George Robins’ optimistic 1906 ditty concerning the mischievous responses of a poor family to regular visits from the bailiffs.

Footage of Edward VII in the funeral procession of his mother, Queen Victoria.

The lacemakers of Honiton, a small town in Devon, who have made bobbin lace since the 16th century.

A drunkard has a vision of everything turning into bottles.

A legless beggar with a sign around his neck saying "cripple" pushes himself slowly and laboriously on a trolley along the pavement, soliciting alms from sympathetic passers-by. A policeman gradually approaches from the distance. Feeling suspicious, he taps the beggar on the shoulder, whereupon the beggar leaps up in a panic and runs away on his perfectly functional legs. The policeman trips over the trolley before recovering his footing and setting off in pursuit.

A newspaper brought to life.

A young woman is abducted and forced to beg from passers-by.

Scenes from the coronation of George V. Included on the BFI DVD "A Royal Occasion".

Film of Edward VII's coronation. Appears on the BFI DVD "A Royal Occasion".

A man plays a trick to gain a woman's affection.

Nothing to do with potties... Baby gets a good wash. In this charming Hepworth actuality film a crisply uniformed, no-nonsense nurse bounces a baby girl on her lap before submerging the unsuspecting infant into a tub of soapy water. The baby is surprisingly content to be so vigorously sponged and rinsed but somewhat less happy when extracted from the suds and deposited onto a set of unwelcoming metal weighing scales. Once back on a familiar lap, however, the baby delights in being dried, powdered and expertly pampered. (Catherine McGahan)

Early 20th century film footage of Japan.

Six scenes: A child knocks clothes into fire; alarm at station; engines emerge; engines rush down street; arrival; fireman breaks through wall and saves child.

A countryman buys a stubborn donkey and has trouble.

A tour of central London locations, including Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. An important document for Edwardian London.

Early 20th century film footage of Japan.

Film of a royal visit to Ireland, by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Appears on the BFI DVD "A Royal Occasion"