Showcasing the British Film Institute’s Victorian Film Collection and the Mitchell and Kenyon Collection, Victorians on Film provides a glimpse into the lives of the late Victorians and Edwardians captured by some of Britain’s earliest film pioneers and innovators.

Restored by the British Film Institute and the Eye Filmmuseum, we have a selection of beautiful 68mm films made by the British, American, and Dutch branches of the Mutoscope and Biograph Company, including scenes from Britain, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.

Learn more about the content and development of Victorians on Film, including information on the British Film Institute and the Editorial Board members whose advice, contributions and guidance have made Victorians on Film possible.

The films included in Victorians on Film: Entertainment, Innovation & Everyday Life have been selected in close collaboration with collection specialists at the British Film Institute. The collections were selected to support a broad range of research themes across Victorian Studies, Edwardian Studies and Early Cinema Studies.

The Old Maid's Valentine, Original, 1900, An old lady is knitting with her cat on Valentine’s Day when she receives what she believes to be a Valentine’s card, but turns out to be a prank card., G.A.S. Films, The British Film Institute, Victorian Film Collection

Duke and Duchess of York at Conway, Original, 1899, The Duke and the Duchess of York arrive at Conway in a carriage, along with a procession of soldiers, and horses., The British Film Institute, Victorian Film Collection

Water Polo - Worthing Swimming Club, Original, 1898, Two teams play water polo in Worthing swimming club, waiting for the ball to be thrown in., British Mutoscope and Biograph Company, The British Film Institute, Early Large Format Films Collection, Victorian Film Collection

Numerous vessels at a regatta are captured by this film of the west coast of Scotland. Collection

Deck and Rigging of a Sailing Ship, Archive, 1900, Sailors rig the ship and can later be seen having climbed to the top of the rigging., The British Film Institute, Victorian Film Collection

Amann the Great Impersonator, Original, 1899, Ludwig Amann impersonates two key figures involved in the controversial Dreyfus Affair: Alfred Dreyfus and Émile Zola., British Mutoscope and Biograph Company, The British Film Institute, Early Large Format Films Collection, Victorian Film …