The Derby

1896 Documentary 1 minute Directed by Robert W. Paul

Open in new tab

About The Derby

Robert W. Paul filmed the finish of the 1896 Derby at Epsom, won by Persimmon, the Prince of Wales's horse. Horses pass the post with the grandstand behind them, and the crowd swarms onto the course. He printed the negative overnight and showed the film the next day, 4 June 1896, at the Alhambra in Leicester Square and the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly.

Cast & crew

More about The Derby

BFI Screenonline credits Paul as producer and photographer and lists a 35mm silent print of 38 feet. Wikidata lists 1 minute and names Paul as director. A BFI clip of the complete film is marked 0:30.

Themes

  • a horse-race finish
  • a crowd on the course
  • overnight news film
  • Epsom Derby
  • Persimmon
  • grandstand
  • Alhambra

Background

The race was the Epsom Derby of 1896. Persimmon belonged to the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.

In film history

BFI Screenonline points to the overnight turnaround, along with the race itself, as what makes the reel an early news film.

Making

Paul processed projectable prints overnight so the race could be on a London screen the next day.

Audiences

BFI Screenonline says the next-day audiences at Paul's two London halls were surprised and enthusiastic.

Look

Robert W. Paul photographed the finish from the right-hand side of the course, with the grandstand in the background.

Technique

The negative was developed and printed in time for projection on 4 June 1896, the day after the race.

Preservation

BFI Screenonline describes a 35mm print. The Science Museum Group lists a 35mm positive made by Paul, object 1947-324.

Notes

  • Science Museum Group dates the camera position to 3 June 1896, on the right-hand side of the course.
  • BFI Screenonline says this reel is often confused with different Derby footage in the 1929 compilation Royal Remembrances, generally tied to 1898.
  • Paul also shot a Derby film in 1895, which Screenonline treats as a separate title.
  • The Science Museum Group holds a 35mm positive, object 1947-324.

Scenes

  • Spectators and police run onto the course as soon as the horses have passed.

Also available

  • Wikimedia Commons (The Derby 1896 Robert W Paul Horse Racing.webm)
  • BFI DVD Early Cinema: Primitives and Pioneers
  • BFI DVD R.W. Paul: The Collected Films 1895-1908

More from Robert W. Paul

View all →