Earliest Dickens film - The Death of Poor Joe (1901)

http://www.bfi.org.uk/dickens
This recent rediscovery is believed to be the earliest surviving film inspired by the work of Charles Dickens, in this case the character of Jo the crossing sweep from 'Bleak House'. 'The Death of Poor Joe' was almost certainly made by pioneer filmmaker G.A. Smith and predates his 1901 adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol', 'Scrooge, or Marley's Ghost' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Mk-B...

All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collect...

• Category

  Film & Animation

[mcard1d]

Over 110 years old and it's still better quality than 90% of the crap that gets uploaded onto the site from mobile phones. Impressive!

[latham29]

Amazing quality. It's hard to believe that this is 111 years old! Interesting how the whole film is filmed from the same position. It's like they haven't invented the close up yet!

[GeneralArmorus]

inane comment. what's wrong with the rest of the crap? it's an altogether different thing! like comparing opera with pop music. apples & oranges!

[RobloxFuturo]

the fist short rediscoverd in 2012 (111 years)

[WorldBestBeatbox]

Where is the audio and why is black and white.. :)))

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

I'm so glad to see that BFI gives Smith the recognition he so richly deserves. It's great to see this interpretation of Dickens work, and in such great condition more then 110yrs later.

[ziggycat999]

A young man can't handling shoving snow for 10 cents??? Tsk,tsk!

[Aslı O.]

Amazing! So eerily beautiful and intriguing.

[Mr. Tulip]

At this Point (1901) Close Up wasn´t invented yet, yes. there wasnt even Storytelling in Film (which changed with "The Great Train Robbery 1903)

[David Lewis]

I'm just happy to see another George Albert Smith film on the web. Keep them coming!

[AleksVideosStudios]

Probably laying in their Grave?