The Execution of Mary Stuart

• Robert Thomae: Maria Stuart
• Numerous extras

The Execution of Mary Stuart is a short film that was released in August 1895. The film was produced by Thomas Edison and is considered the first historical film in film history. Directed by Alfred Clark.

Action

Mary Stuart (Robert Thomae ) is out and beheaded in full view of many onlookers to the scaffold.

Background information

Following the film some viewers to have believed that they have seen here a real execution. This was not the case, Robert Thomae was previously replaced with a deceptively similar looking doll. It is at the first stop trick in the history of film.

The film is considered among film historians as the first historical film in film history. The film was for the documentation Edison: The Invention of reused the Movies from 2005.

The film was in the meantime the public domain Good.