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- It's Christmas Eve. The miser Scrooge and his assistant Bob Cratchit finish their work in the office and go home. When Scrooge is going to open his front door, he sees the face of Marley's ghost in the door knocker. Inside he takes on his night dress, eats his supper, and falls asleep at the table. Marly's ghost shows Scrooge a vision of himself at a Christmas in the past. Then the ghost escorts him to the present Christmas, and the homes and families of Bob Cratchit and Fred, where Scrooge sees Bob and Fred drink to him in his absence. At last the ghost shows Scrooge the Christmas that might be. Here Scrooge has to face his own grave and the death of Tiny Tim. Confronted with this Scrooge regrets his callousness and egoism.
- A satire on the way that audiences unaccustomed to the cinema didn't know how to react to the moving images on a screen - in this film, an unsophisticated (and stereotypical) country yokel is alternately baffled and terrified, in the latter case by the apparent approach of a steam train
- A woman offers refreshments to the men painting her storefront. A policeman enters and flirts with the woman. A jealous painter dumps his paint on the officer. A chase ensues in which the officer keeps knocking over innocent bystanders.
- An actuality record of Blackfriars Bridge, London, taken from the southern end looking northwards over the Thames by R.W.Paul in July 1896. It was screened as part of his Alhambra Theatre programme shortly afterwards, certainly no later than 31 August, as it is included in a printed programme of that date (as 'Traffic on Blackfriars Bridge'). Two or three of the pedestrians seem aware of the camera's presence, though not to any particularly noticeable extent.
- Procession of representatives of the British Empire's far-flung territories, including Canada, though it had gained its independence in 1867. Shows the continued fealty to Britain even among former colonies that would continue well into the 20th century.
- A conjurer makes furniture return from the bailiff's.
- Many of the cyclists are women, and wearing skirts. Although women had been riding bicycles since the 1880s, it was only towards the end of the 1890s that they could do so comfortably without wearing trouser-like garments such as bloomers, as the design of early bicycles made riding in skirts impossible. This had been controversial for observers and cyclists alike, the former because they were convinced that women in 'male' outfits or even split skirts were immoral in some way, the latter because wearing such garments suggested a radical political outlook that they might not possess.The side of the road is lined with promenading onlookers, and the pace of the cyclists and pony-traps is gentle and leisurely, suggesting a Sunday outing of some kind.
- The insignia visible on the train identifies it as Queen Victoria's own personal conveyance, and the presence of the monarch (or at least a very senior member of the Royal Family) is suggested by the large crowds that have gathered to witness its arrival, as well as the formal police guard of honor. If this was indeed taken in 1896, this would make Royal Train one of the oldest films depicting the British monarchy, albeit on this occasion from a discreet distance. The following year, Paul would shoot the celebrations for Victoria's Diamond Jubilee from a great many vantage points.
- The film has two parts: the first shows the train arriving at Cais do Sodré provisional station, where uniformed porters and railways personnel are awaiting it; and the second part shows the same train arriving to Cascais station where a crowd of men and women in fashion clothes, some carrying umbrellas against the sun, literally fill in the station's platform, ready to embark.
- A child dreams her toys come to life.
- Interesting look at taste in fashion among busy pedestrians, and style in vehicle design, on what is still a landmark London thoroughfare more than a century later.
- Amongst the most interesting of these is that representing the scene of the music hall sports at Herne-Hill. The particular event depicted is the costume race, and the manner in which the competitors scramble into their fancy dresses and tear down the course causes the heartiest merriment.
- Here we present a picture that simply convulses an audience with laughter. The scene opens in the bedroom of a hotel. A traveler appears, evidently a "little worse for wear." After stretching and yawning, he proceeds to disrobe. He throws off his coat and vest, but to his surprise and anguish, he suddenly finds himself clothed in a continental uniform. He throws this off in anger, but immediately a policeman's costume flies on him. This is in turn thrown aside in great rage and he finds himself clothed in a soldier's uniform. At last, thinking himself successful, he makes for the bed and finds a skeleton complacently resting on his pillow. The bed suddenly disappears, leaving him seated on the floor, and great quantities of bed clothes rain down from the ceiling. The picture ends leaving the audience simply convulsed in laughter.
- Mephistopholes causes an artist's model to disappear.
- Women bringing water on their heads taken from the Nile.
- A large group of people are filmed disembarking from a river pleasure steamer onto a quayside. Many of them are seen close enough to be identified.
- 'Glengarry Glen Ross' meets 'Cabin Fever'. A middle aged, ex car salesman, battles his inner demons and a rare dermatological disorder, including a frightening case of eczema, as he journeys through a mid life career crisis. After company bosses restructure the business, and fearing he is being cheated and deceived by his sales colleagues and his employer, he embarks on a pathological path of pettiness and paranoia.
- Beguiling scene of adults frolicking on a small-scale roller coaster in an urban park.