Switzerland Series
Distributed under the title of ‘Switzerland’ or ‘Playground of Europe’, the film consists of a collection of scenes filmed in the Alps by Frank Ormiston-Smith between 1903 and 1905. The scenes belong to concrete moments in different ascents and treks in the Alps and are presented together without the intention to narrate a concrete ascent. These are some of the scenes: Snow avalanche on the Shreckhorn, Difficult ascent of a Rock Peak, A close call - Dangerous climbing, Descent of steep snow drift, Crossing a dangerous snow bridge, Fusillade of rocks on the Alps, Descending a steep rock-faced mountain side, Capt. Spelterini's balloon trip across the Jungfrau, Surmounting the summit of the Finsteraar-joch.
The Dangers of the Alps
The ascent of the Wetterhorn by Frank Ormiston-Smith accompanied by the guide Christian Bergener, Rev. H. J. Heard, Mr. E Burchell-Rodway from the Alpine Club, and the hotelier Herr Fritz Boss from Grindelwald. The film consists of 24 scenes including a final scene of the team on the summit. The film starts with the climbers and the guide leaving the Bear Hotel, at Grindelwald. Later the party arrives at the Wetterhorn Hotel, at the mountain base. They climb the Milchbach Ladders to gain the top of the glacier, cross the Seebach Platte and the upper glacier, and pass the night at the Mountain Inn. Next morning they overcome the Great Coulvu and gain the arete to finally reach the summit. Sections of the film are tinted to give the effects of dawn, sunset and rose-glow actually experienced during the climb.
Mein Herz kehrt heim ins Zillertal
Chamonix: Le mauvais pas
A group of tourists, including five women, croos the Mauvais Pas, a rocky passage equipped with a railing, next to the Mer de Glace Glacier. One of the men ascends from below using a long ice axe. The shot belongs to a collection of scenes that were presented together as a kind of travelogue film under the title of 'Voyages animés' in a diorama pavilion in the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1900. The mountaineering scenes in this series include four scenes in the Mer de Glace and one in the Meije glacier. These five scenes, under a minute long, are the first mountaineering images ever filmed. Several of the 'Voyages animés' scenes were included in the Lumière catalog in 1901 under the title of 'À travers la France'.
Ascent and Descent of the Dolomite Towers
Frank Ormiston-Smith, the pioneer mountaineering photograher and filmmaker, filmed in 1906 the ascent to several towers in the Cinque Torri area in the Dolomites, acomppanied by Bortolo Barbaria, Baldessare Verzi and Damiano Dibona, three well-known Ampezzo mountain guides. Among others, the team ascended Torri Inglese, and placed the camera on top of some of the towers by pulling it with a rope. The film, produced by the Urban Trading Company, was presented at the Alhambra Theater in London in November 1906. Ormiston-Smith is considered the father of mountain cinema. In 1902 he filmed the first major mountain film shown widely in cinemas: "The Ascent of Mont Blanc". The success of his films encouraged the production of alpine films in which mountaineering feats were shown, and inspired other pioneer filmmakers.
Chamonix: la mer de glace. Descente.
Four roped men descend through the seracs of the Mer de Glace. One of them falls and has to be hoisted. The shot belongs to a collection of scenes that were presented together as a kind of travelogue film under the title of 'Voyages animés' in a diorama pavilion in the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1900. The mountaineering scenes in this series include four scenes in the Mer de Glace and one in the Meije glacier. These five scenes, under a minute long, are the first mountaineering images ever filmed. Several of the 'Voyages animés' scenes were included in the Lumière catalog in 1901 under the title of 'À travers la France'.
The Wintry Alps
Scenes from a series filmed for Charles Urban by mountain expert Frank Ormiston-Smith, including The Battle of the Snow, Ski Jumping in the Alps, and Outing of the Ski Club.
Chamonix - La Mer de glace. Montée
Four roped men jump a crevasse and ascend through the seracs of the Mer de Glace using long ice axes. The shot belongs to a collection of scenes that were presented together as a kind of travelogue film under the title of 'Voyages animés' in a diorama pavilion in the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1900. The mountaineering scenes in this series include four scenes in the Mer de Glace and one in the Meije glacier. These five scenes, under a minute long, are the first mountaineering images ever filmed. Several of the 'Voyages animés' scenes were included in the Lumière catalog in 1901 under the title of 'À travers la France'.
Crossing the Mer de Glace, Chamounix
Released in 1901
Eagleswing Panorama of the Mer de Glace
1901 film of the Mer de Glace, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.
Eagleswing Panorama of Grindelwald
1901. Cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.
Eagleswing Panorama of the Wetterhorn
1901, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Panorama of Alpine Scenery
1901, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Accident on the Great Schreckhorn
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Fancy Skating on Bear Ice Rink
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
An Alpine Incident on the Great Schreckhorn
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Bobsleighing in the Alps
The first section shows the "crew" bestriding the bob-sledge and starting same down bill. The second section includes pictures of many sledge parties, singly and in groups, sliding past the camera.
Herd of Goat at Grimsel
The goats of the Grimsel are almost as famous as the Hospice itself, and form a most attractive picture among the bleak and desolate surroundings.
Lady Skaters' Hockey Match on Bear Rink
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Climbing the Final Arete
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith