An Animated Luncheon | 1900 | Comedy, Fantasy

Title: An Animated Luncheon | 1900 | Comedy, Fantasy Director: Edwin S. Porter Studio: Edison Manufacturing Company Release Date: February 1900 Runtime: 1 Format: Silent, black-and-white, 35mm; approx. 60–65 ft Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Comedy; Fantasy; Trick film --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Arrival at the café 00:00:15 Hats with a mind of their own 00:00:30 Eggs with surprises 00:00:45 Rarebit to rabbits --- Summary: In a fashionable café, a well-dressed couple sits down to dine. As their meal is served, everyday objects and dishes behave unexpectedly, revealing live animals where ordinary food was anticipated. Using stop-action trick effects, the brief film turns a simple luncheon into a sequence of playful transformations, inviting viewers to enjoy the spectacle rather than a conventional plot. --- Background: Produced and distributed by the Edison Manufacturing Company, this early trick film showcases the stop-action techniques popular at the turn of the century. Released in February 1900 and running roughly a minute, it reflects the era’s fascination with cinematic illusions and is often associated with Edwin S. Porter’s earliest period at Edison. Contemporary and later sources have noted parallels with French “fantastical meal” films of the same period, underscoring the rapid international exchange of ideas in early cinema. --- Trivia: The film was registered for copyright by Thomas A. Edison on February 28, 1900 . Surviving elements are preserved from paper prints held by the Library of Congress. Contemporary catalogs list the length at approximately 60–65 feet, which corresponds to around one minute of screen time. The use of stop-action to make hats, tableware, and food animate exemplifies the “trick film” style that flourished in 1896–1905. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: February 1900 Original Studio / Distributor: Edison Manufacturing Company Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: No --- Hashtags: AnAnimatedLuncheon EdwinSPorter Edison SilentFilm TrickFilm PublicDomain EarlyCinema 1900sCinema This video was sourced from Internet Archive. Originally uploaded by Edwin S. Porter. https://archive.org/details/an-animated-luncheon-1900-directed-by-edwin-s.-porter