Two years ago, we reviewed “L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat;” a fifty-second French short silent documentary that was released January 25, 1896, making it one of the oldest movies ever created. As we approach the 2020 Holiday season, I found myself pontificating as to the oldest Christmas movie ever recorded. I was directed to a piece from September, 1898 simply called “Santa Claus.”
With a running time of 76 seconds, “Santa Claus” is the creation of UK film pioneer George Albert Smith. It stars Laura Bayley, herself an early icon in the world of cinema. Bayley’s character puts her two children to bed and with some pretty cool effects considering the age, St. Nick himself drops down the chimney and delivers them gifts.
The historical component of something like this always leaves me giddy with thought. In an era where movies as we know them didn’t exist, George Albert Smith created something for no other reason than to demonstrate that he could do it. One can lose themselves philosophizing about the age of the characters on the film – the two children would have been born in the late 1880s. Laura Bayley lived to be 76 years old – and she has been gone since 1938. The picture itself was released nearly fifty years before George Bailey took the streets of Bedford Falls.
I wish sit down and share a pint with George Albert Smith. I’d love to know his take on the art he was creating 122 years ago, and certainly what his thoughts would be if he watched a movie of the present. “Santa Claus” is a quick glimpse into the beauty of the history of cinema. It should be appreciated for its impact at the time, as well as its place as a relic of yesteryear.
You can watch the film below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmSJ5SAXHws
