Film Registry
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A short film from 1898, rediscovered in the Netherlands, will be officiallyincluded this Wednesday in the prestigious National Film Registry, the USgovernment’s heritage program that has selected 25 “culturally, historicallyor aesthetically significant films” annually since 1988. They represent across-section of American film history.
The selection of the film preserved by Eye Filmmuseum concerns the film madein 1898 Mardi Gras Carnival , the oldest moving images of a carnival paradein New Orleans, with beautiful floats – one of them in the shape of apineapple – and colorful costumes (but in black and white). It’s also theoldest film made in New Orleans, says Wayne Phillips, curator of the annualcarnival collection at the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans. He isdelighted that this particular film has been selected in the National FilmRegistry of the Library of Congress.
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“What’s really startling about it is that the Mardi Gras parade in 2022 lookspretty much the same as it did in 1898. For New Orleans residents, Mardi Grasis not just an annual, fun carnival parade with associated celebrations, but ameaningful cultural tradition which has existed in our city for almost threecenturies. Seeing this long-ago scene, which still looks familiar to us,demonstrates the long-standing, powerful tradition of our beloved Mardi Grasand its importance to our culture. The only pity is that the film is nolonger! But just seeing two minutes of moving images in the street where thecarnival parade still passes nearly 125 years later, captured on camera infront of a building that is still standing, has deep meaning for the city ofNew Orleans.”
Wayne Phillips, curator of the Louisiana State Museum’s annual carnivalcollection in New Orleans: “What’s really startling is that the Mardi Grasparade in 2022 looks pretty much the same as it did in 1898.” Eye Film Museum
Newsreels
At the beginning of this year, the Louisiana State Museum opened an exhibitionabout the 150th anniversary of Rex, the organization that organizes the annualcarnival. Then the museum started looking for film images to enrich theexhibition. The museum knew that old films probably existed but had not yetbeen able to find them. Their worldwide search led them to Eye Filmmuseum,which has had the film in its collection since the late 1990s. It waspreviously unknown to be the oldest film made in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras Carnival 1898 is part of the Mutoscope & Biograph collection,special 68mm films shot all over the world, of which Eye Filmmuseum owns about200. The newsreels have recently been digitally preserved and part of them canbe seen in the compilation film compiled two years ago The BrilliantBiograph: Earliest Moving Images of Europe (1897-1902). The special format –68mm (comparable to the current IMAX format) without perforations – maderestoration difficult until recently.
Eye Filmmuseum had the film in its collection since the late 1990s. Eye Film Museum
Last summer was Mardi Gras Carnival 1898 Screened once for free at theLouisiana State Museum. The film was received so enthusiastically that itbecame part of the exhibition to the delight of many visitors. Its inclusionin the leading National Film Registry will undoubtedly help spread this shortpiece of cinematic heritage, a fascinating time capsule.