The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1897)

overview : Likely in June 1897, a group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

Release Date : Oct 10, 1897

Runtime : 1m

Genre : Documentary  

Companies : Lumière

Countries : France

Keywords : france, cinema on cinema, beginning, train, early cinema, short film