James H. White — Director (84)
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Discharging a Whitehead Torpedo (1900) IMDb TMDB
Discharging a Whitehead Torpedo
director: James H. White
Filmed off the coast of Rhode Island, this Edison short takes place on the U.S. torpedo boat Morris as we see some men loading up a torpedo that is eventually shot off. This film lasts only 75-seconds but it's almost as if the director wanted to save the best for last. The first sixty-seconds are pretty lifeless as we barely get to see what's going on but once the torpedo is shot off things pick up.
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Panorama of Place de l'Opéra (1900) IMDb TMDB
Panorama of Place de l'Opéra
director: James H. White
James White, the Edison Company's main filmmaker at the time, realized a burst of creativity during his visit to the 1900 Paris Exposition. It's uncertain who his cameraman was for this journey, but historian Charles Musser suggests that it might've been Alfred C. Abadie. In their Paris Exposition films, they introduced tilting (see 'Panorama of Eiffel Tower') and, although panning and panoramas had already been around for a while, they introduced some novel functions for them.
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Exploding a Whitehead Torpedo (1900) IMDb TMDB
Exploding a Whitehead Torpedo
director: James H. White
The title pretty much tells you all there is to know about this Edison film. It runs a very brief 27-seconds and shows a torpedo hitting its target and going off. I think the most fascinating thing about this is that we get a pretty close shot of the explosion and its aftermath. It was rather funny seeing this large explosion and especially seeing how long it took for everything that flew up in the air to land back down.
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English Lancers Charging (1900) IMDb TMDB
English Lancers Charging
director: James H. White
The stubborn resistance of the Boers is shown by the activity and persistency with which they fire the two large field pieces immediately in the foreground. It seems, indeed, a hopeless matter to attempt to capture and overthrow such an invulnerable position. The British lancers are seen advancing, urged on by their officers, with the Royal colors flying in the air.
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Watermelon Contest (1900) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Watermelon Contest
director: James H. White
Four men each hold a large slice of watermelon, and have a race to see who can finish eating first. All four move quickly, but one man seems to be pulling ahead of the others. Soon the contestants begin to hinder one another's efforts.
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Mr. Edison at Work in His Chemical Laboratory (1897) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Mr. Edison at Work in His Chemical Laboratory
director: James H. White actor: Thomas A. Edison
“This film is remarkable in several respects. In the first place, it is full life-size. Secondly, it is the only accurate recent portrait of the great inventor. The scene is an actual one, showing Mr. Edison in working dress engaged in an interesting chemical experiment in his great Laboratory. There is sufficient movement to lead the spectator through the several processes of mixing, pouring, testing, etc. as if he were side by side with the principal. The lights and shadows are vivid, and the apparatus and other accessories complete a startling picture that will appeal to every beholder.” (Edison Catalog)
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Cupid and Psyche (1897) IMDb TMDB Douban
Cupid and Psyche
director: James H. White
“By the Leanders. The dress of one consists of a pair of wings and a bow and arrow; the other represents a fairy. Bathers in all stages of dress and undress watch the graceful dance.” (Edison film catalog)
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Mess Call (1896) Douban
Mess Call
director: James H. White
other title: 军队食堂
美国无声纪录短片《军队食堂》（英语：Mess Call），由詹姆斯·H·怀特（James H. White）拍摄于1896年。拍摄地点：美国纽约州皮克斯基尔（Peekskill）。场景是：位于皮克斯基尔的美国国民自卫队训练营地上，正是用餐时间，一位爱迪生公司的电影拍摄者对着士兵们架起一架摄影机，这引起了他们的注意。很多用餐的士兵逐渐靠近机器，对着它说笑指点。
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Feeding the Doves (1896) WikiData IMDb TMDB Douban
Feeding the Doves
director: James H. White
other title: 喂鸽子
A woman and a young girl each carry containers of bird feed, and they toss occasional handfuls to the chickens and doves in the farmyard. Most of the chickens stay nearby, but the doves occasionally fly off and then return to eat more.
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Seminary Girls (1897) WikiData IMDb TMDB Douban
Seminary Girls
director: James H. White
other title: 神学院的女孩 / 神學院的女孩
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: A most amusing and life-like scene, in which a number of young ladies clad in their night robes, are seen engaged in a midnight frolic.
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Shooting Captured Insurgents (1898) IMDb TMDB Douban
Shooting Captured Insurgents
director: James H. White
“A file of Spanish soldiers line up the Cubans against a blank wall and fire a volley. The flash of rifles and drifting smoke make a very striking picture.” (Edison film catalog)
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Panorama of Paris Exposition, from the Seine (1900) IMDb TMDB Douban
Panorama of the Paris Exposition, from the Seine
director: James H. White
other title: Panorama of the Paris Exposition, from the Seine
This panoramic scene is taken from a Seine steamboat and gives a rapid view of the banks of the river. The launch steams under six bridges and past the Street of Nations. The United States Building is a prominent white domed structure, gay with national flags. The picture ends at the famous three million dollar bridge, the Pont Alexander III.
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Palace of Electricity (1900) IMDb TMDB Douban
Palace of Electricity
director: James H. White
A panoramic shot, making a full circle, at the 1900 Paris Exposition. It begins and ends looking at the front of the Palace of Electricity. As it pans, first we see a workman hosing down the promenade. Men and women walk past, all wearing hats. We see the base of the Eiffel Tower, which the Palace faces. A couple strolls. A mother and daughter walk passed, father is slightly ahead wearing a boater. Three men in uniform walk toward the camera as it comes to a stop facing the Palace.