Le Prince De Galles (1902) FULL MOVIE

 

The 1902 film Le Prince de Galles (The Prince of Wales) is an early silent documentary produced by the Lumière organization. While it is less famous than their narrative experiments like L'Arroseur Arrosé, it stands as a significant historical artifact documenting the transition of British royalty during the dawn of the Edwardian era.

Le Prince de Galles (1902)

Director: Louis Lumière (Producer/Director)

Cast: King Edward VII (appearing as himself)

Release Date: August 30, 1902 Country of Origin: France

Plot Summary

General Overview: The film is an "actuality" short—a documentary-style recording of a real-life event without a scripted narrative. It captures the Prince of Wales (who had recently become King Edward VII) during the festivities or public appearances surrounding his coronation.

Detailed Description: The camera is positioned at a fixed vantage point, typical of early Lumière "Vues." The footage depicts the King (formerly the Prince of Wales, hence the title) in formal attire, likely during a procession or a public greeting in London or a French coastal city. The film captures the movement of the royal figure and his entourage, showcasing the pomp and circumstance of the era. Though only about a minute long, it provides a rare, candid motion-picture record of a monarch who was one of the most photographed and filmed figures of his time.

Production and Context

The film was part of a series of "Vues" (Views) taken by the Lumière operators to document the Coronation of King Edward VII. Although the coronation was originally scheduled for June 1902, it was postponed to August due to the King's health. The Lumière catalog officially listed the sale of these "Views taken at the coronation of the King of England" starting August 30, 1902.

Interesting Facts and Trivia

• Title Confusion: Although titled Le Prince de Galles (The Prince of Wales), the subject had technically been King since January 1901. The Lumière catalog retained the title likely because he was still widely known by his former title in France.

• The Lumière "Brand": By 1902, the Lumière brothers had largely moved away from directing films themselves, focusing instead on the commercial sale of their Cinématographe cameras and film catalogs. This film is one of the later entries in their official collection.

• Royal Subject: Edward VII was a great fan of the new medium of cinema. He was one of the first monarchs to recognize its power for public relations, often allowing himself to be filmed during official duties.

• Technological Preservation: Like many Lumière films, it was shot on 35mm film with a single-lens camera that, which laid the groundwork for modern newsreels and documentaries.

• International Distribution: The 1902 release demonstrates the Lumière company's sophisticated global distribution network, capturing British events for a predominantly French and European audience.

• Historical Documentation: It remains one of the earliest high-quality motion picture records of a sitting British monarch.

References and Footnote Sources

1. Catalogue Lumière: Le Prince de Galles, entry #1041. [Online resource for Lumière filmography].

2. Rittaud-Hutinet, J. (1985). Le Cinéma des origines: Les Frères Lumière et leurs opérateurs. Editions du Champ Vallon.

3. Aubert, M., & Seguin, J.-C. (1996). La Production cinématographique des Frères Lumière. Bifi/Éditions du Centre Pompidou.

4. IMDb Archive: Le prince de Galles (1902).

5. British Film Institute (BFI): Records on early "Actuality" films and the documentation of the 1902 Coronation.