The Gay Shoe Clerk
Dir: Edwin S. Porter
1903
***
Edwin S. Porter's The Gay Shoe Clerk represents a first in technique as it is the first to feature matched shot editing with a close-up shot and a longer establishing shot used in combination with each other. It's also noted as being one of the first remakes although not the first. It's extremely similar to George Albert Smith's 1900 film As seen through a telescope. Personally I prefer As seen through a telescope but foot fetishists might disagree. The humour is of the time but the editing is now a standard. It is interesting to see the subject of Voyeurism being one of the first explored in the pioneering age of film, it would be great to know what the directors intentions were.

Dream of a Rarebit Fiend
Dir: Edwin S. Porter
1906
*****
Based on the comic strip by Winsor McKay, it is easy to see why Edwin S. Porter's 1906 short, Dream of a Rarebit Fiend was the most popular film of its time. The dream sequence is brilliantly achieved and every special effect you can think of is tried and tested and executed triumphantly. It is hard to imagine what people thought when they first saw this back in 1906 but for what it's worth, I'm in awe of it these 100 years later. Edwin S. Porter deserves more credit than he is remembered for.

The Great Train Robbery
Dir: Edwin S. Porter
1903
*****
One of the most famous films of the silent era and indeed the first western (filmed when the West was still like in the Westerns, so I wonder if it actually counts). Over a hundred years later and it's still exciting, the last shot of the bandit shooting at the screen is still powerful, iconic and timelessly brilliant. Interesting how Edwin S. Porter broke the rules before the rules even existed in many respects, you never look into the camera but here it drew the audience in like nothing else.