Movielogr
Santa Claus (1898)
Directed by George Albert Smith
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Overview
Santa arrives at a house on Christmas Eve to deliver his presents for the children.
Length 1 minutes
Actors
Laura Bayley | Dorothy Smith | Harold Smith
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/20/2024 | Computer | Streaming | Video on Demand | 6 stars |
| (Average) 6 stars |
Viewing Notes
So nice I watched it twice… no, I watched it twice bc it’s only 1:17 seconds long. I love how Smith as Santa is like “whatever, kids. here’s a thing for your dumb socks and goodbye!”
From the BFI website:
G.A. Smith’s Santa Claus is what is termed a ‘trick film’, a brief short intended to showcase surprising visual effects. But the film is more than a neat example of cinematic sleight of hand: the shot of Santa superimposed over the main picture, which allows the audience to watch action occurring in 2 locations at once was a significant step in the evolution of on-screen storytelling.
Smith made the film with his family. He plays Santa; his wife, Laura Bayley, plays the maid; and their children, Harold and Dorothy, play the excited boy and girl she puts to bed on Christmas Eve. In the CGI age it’s difficult to understand the experience that seeing this film would have been for Victorian viewers, but it’s still possible to appreciate the ingenuity on show. Historical importance aside, what’s most remarkable about Santa Claus is how well it’s retained its charm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3ei1tseeM
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