Tram Journey through Southampton | 1900 | Non-Fiction, Travelogue

Title: Tram Journey through Southampton | 1900 | Non-Fiction, Travelogue Studio: British Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Release Date: 1900 Runtime: 1 Format: Silent; black-and-white Country: United Kingdom Language: Silent Genres: Non-Fiction; Travelogue. --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Approach along High Street 00:00:10 Entering the Bargate arch 00:00:25 Emerging beyond the gate 00:00:40 Street life and horse-drawn traffic 00:00:55 End of ride --- Summary: A forward-facing camera mounted on a tram glides through Southampton at the turn of the twentieth century, passing beneath the medieval Bargate and onto the bustling High Street. Pedestrians, horse-drawn vehicles, and shopfronts appear in fluid motion, offering an unfiltered glimpse of urban life at the dawn of the electric tram era. The film exemplifies the popular early “phantom ride” format, in which the viewpoint simulates travel for the audience, placing them virtually at the front of the vehicle. --- Background: “Phantom rides” were a sensation of early cinema, often produced and exhibited by companies such as the Mutoscope and Biograph concerns, whose large-format films from this era are today recognized for their exceptional historical value. The arch seen in the film is Southampton’s Bargate, a medieval gatehouse that framed the tram’s passage and remains a city landmark. --- Trivia: Electric trams were introduced in Southampton in 1900, the same year as this film, marking a major shift from horse traction to electric operation in the city. The structure the tram passes through is the Bargate, a Grade I listed gatehouse dating to the twelfth century. BFI describes the title as a “phantom ride” that animates Southampton High Street with late-Victorian street life, including horse-drawn traffic and period fashions. The film has featured in curated Biograph programs presented by silent-film festivals and archives, underscoring its place within the early large-format Biograph tradition. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Studio / Distributor: British Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Copyright Status: Public Domain --- Hashtags: PublicDomain SilentFilm Documentary Travelogue Southampton Tram Edwardian UKCinema This video was sourced from Internet Archive. Originally uploaded by cringeape20@gmail.com. https://archive.org/details/tram-journey-through-southampton-1900-directed-by-william-k.-l.-dickson