Person
George Albert Smith
Directing · 1864–1959 · Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK
Biography
Along with his better-known French counterpart Georges Méliès, George Albert Smith, usually credited as G.A. Smith, was one of the first filmmakers to explore fictional and fantastic themes, often using surprisingly sophisticated special effects. His background was ideal – an established portrait photographer, he also had a long-standing interest in show business, running a tourist attraction in his native Brighton featuring a fortune teller. His films were among the first to feature such innovations as superimposition (Smith patented a double-exposure system in 1897), close-ups and scene transitions involving wipes and focus pulls. He also patented Kinemacolor – the world's first commercial cinema color system--in 1906, which was extremely successful for a time, despite the special equipment required to project it
Known for
The Death of Poor Joe
Director
The X-Ray Fiend
Director
Faust and Mephistopheles
Director
The Coronation of Edward VII
Camera Operator
A Visit to the Seaside
Director
Santa Claus
Director
Let Me Dream Again
Director
As Seen Through a Telescope
Director of Photography
Grandma's Reading Glass
Producer
Tartans of Scottish Clans
Director
Filmography
- 2023Early British Films from the Filmoteca de Catalunya 1897-1909Director
- 1912Animated Doll and Toy Town CircusDirector
- 1910Choice BouquetsDirector
- 1910Fording the RiverDirector
- 1909Choosing the WallpaperDirector
- 1908A Visit to the SeasideDirector
- 1908Woman Draped in Patterned HandkerchiefsDirector
- 1906Tartans of Scottish ClansDirector
- 1906Two ClownsDirector
- 1904Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying MachinesDirector
- 1904Venice and the Grand CanalDirector
- 1904Grand Display of Brock's Fireworks at the Crystal PalaceDirector
- 1903The Sick KittenDirector
- 1903Dorothy's DreamDirector
- 1903Mary Jane's MishapDirector
- 1903Old London Street ScenesDirector
- 1902Mother Goose Nursery RhymesDirector
- 1902The Coronation of Edward VIICamera Operator
- 1902At Last! That Awful ToothDirector
- 1902Tommy and the Mouse in the Art SchoolDirector
- 1902Policeman and BurglarDirector
- 1901The Death of Poor JoeDirector
- 1901Photograph Taken From An Area WindowDirector
- 1901The Little Doctor And The Sick KittenDirector
- 1901Visit to PompeiiDirector
- 1900Grandma's Reading GlassProducer
- 1900The Old Maid's ValentineDirector
- 1900The House That Jack BuiltDirector
- 1900As Seen Through a TelescopeDirector of Photography
- 1900Spiders on a WebDirector
- 1900Let Me Dream AgainDirector
- 1900A Quick Shave and Brush UpDirector
- 1900Grandma Threading Her NeedleDirector
- 1900The Rival ClothiersDirector
- 1900Two Old SportsDirector
- 1900The Dull RazorDirector
- 1900Scandal Over the TeacupsDirector
- 1899The Kiss in the TunnelHusband
- 1899The Inexhaustible CabDirector
- 1898Ally SloperDirector
- 1898Santa ClausDirector
- 1898The Corsican BrothersDirector
- 1898CinderellaDirector
- 1898Early Fashions on Brighton PierDirector
- 1898Faust and MephistophelesDirector
- 1898Photographing a GhostDirector
- 1897Making SausagesDirector
- 1897The Sign WriterDirector
- 1897The X-Ray FiendDirector
- 1897Comic ShavingDirector
- 1897Train Entering Hove StationDirector
- 1897Comic FaceDirector
- 1897Weary WillieDirector
- 1897The Maid in the GardenDirector
- 1897Hanging Out the ClothesDirector
- 1897The Miller and the SweepDirector
- 1897Brighton Seagoing Electric CarDirector
- —Down Exeter InclineDirector
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