Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888)

Cinematography: Louis Le Prince
Location: Leeds Bridge, Leeds, UK
Date of Filming: Late October 1888
Filming Speed: 7fps

One of the first films ever made and definitely one of the oldest fragments of film to survive.
This was shot around the same time as the Roundhay Garden Scene (1888) by the Louis Le Prince using a single lens camera made by him.

The bridge in question is a cast iron bridge built in 1870. It is still in existence today.
The scene is not only important in the history of film but it also captures a time when the main form of transport on the roads was horse and cart. You can also see the type of dress the common man would be wearing on the street as they continue with their daily lives; and the buildings in the background, some of which may still be there today.

Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)

Cinematography: Louis Le Prince
Location: Roundhay, Leeds, UK
Date of Filming: 14 October 1888
Filming Speed: 7fps
Remastered: 1930

Cast

Annie Hartley
Adolphe Le Prince
Joseph Whitley
Sarah Whitley

The Roundhay Garden Scene footage is believed to be the oldest surviving film in the world. The snippet only lasts for just over two seconds, but was very likely to have been more like 10 or 20 seconds long.

Adolphe Le Prince was Louis Le Prince's son. Joseph and Sarah Whitley were Louis' mother-in-law and father-in-law. Annie Hartley is believed to be a friend of the family.

10 days after this was fimed, Sarah Whitley died at the age of 72.

Louis Le Prince also made two other films around this time, of which fragments still exist, called Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1988) and Accordian Player (1888).