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.
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 of the Jungfrau
The ascent of the Jungfrau by the Urban Alpine Expedition, headed by Frank Ormiston-Smith, the pioneer mountaineering photograher and filmmaker, on september 24th, 1903. The film consists of 15 scenes and illustrates the whole ascent from Grindelwald through the Fieschier Glacier and the Rothal Sattel and culminates with a panorama from the summit. It was produced by the Charles Urban Trading Co., one year after the huge success of 'The ascent of Mont Blanc'. Charles Urban left the Warwick Trading Company in 1903 to form his own film business, and took with him many of the film-makers who had worked for Warwick, including Ormiston-Smith, who went on to make many more mountaineering films.
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'.
Fancy Skating on Bear Ice Rink
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
Free and Easy Skating on Bear Rink
1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Ascending a Rock Chimney
A thrilling incident showing a climber ascending a cleft or chimney by hanging on with his finger tips and pushing his back and knees into opposite walls of rock.
Circular Panorama of Bear Rink
1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Climber and Guides Camping Out
1902, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Fun on the Skating Rink
1903, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith
Cattle Crossing Grindelwald Eismeer
A curious incident which happens in early summer when the cattle are taken to the high pastures for three months.
Lace Making in Alpine Village Street
The stalls with their keepers and stores of laces are being inspected by English and American tourists, who no doubt takeaway with them a goodly stock of the fragile fabrics to decorate Mayfair and Long Island.
Harvesting Hay on Bear Ice Rink
A scene of harvesting hay on the great winter playground. The group of busy reapers, with hand scythes, in the foreground, the Swiss maids who accompany them and help load the hay on the two-horsed wagons awaiting.
The Battle of the Snow
A crowd of a hundred boys rushing the position of another crowd, storming their adversaries with volleys of snowballs, finally driving the enemy from the crest of the hill, a position of vantage they held in the beginning of the fray.