CAPTAIN DEASY'S DARING DRIVE (Original title)MARTINI MOTOR CAR: UPHILL (Archive title)MARTINI MOTOR CAR: DOWNHILL (Archive title)SCHULTZE CAN 6 (Acquisition title)SCHULTZE CAN 51A (Acquisition title)
Date: 1903 (Release)Country: Germany
Shotlist: DOCUMENTARY. The ascent [eleven shots, including three jump cuts] and descent [six shots] of the mountain railway from Caux to Rochers de Naye, Switzerland, by Captain Henry Deasy in a Martini motor car. [ASCENT] [SCHULTZE CAN 51A] The start of the railway line at Caux, with a wagonette bearing two cameras on the right, a railway coach with a small crowd standing by next to the station building (bearing the word `Caux') in the background, and to the left another railway coach with a man (cameraman) standing at the front; this coach moves forwards, pushed from behind by an engine (30). View of the Hôtel Caux-Palace; motor car approaches from the distance with driver and three passengers and passes to the right (43). Panning shot from left to right, from a view of mountains in the distance to the Caux railway station (53). Jump cut, small crowd now by the station beside the motor car; the car sets off towards the camera position with driver and passenger (Deasy and Cuénod) travelling along the railtrack (93). Jump cut, scene now showing wagonette with cameraman, two assistants and railway guard, plus the two cinematograph cameras (68mm and 35mm); the wagonette reverses towards the engine and coach waiting by the station building (120). Jump cut as engine and coach with wagonette attached to the front advances (134). View down mountainside as the motor car ascends along the railway line from right to left (164). View from behind the car as it ascends; after a pause the camera starts to track forward (191). Further tracking shot taken from behind the ascending car as it turns a corner (238). Further such view as the car ascends, with a house to the right (a woman with a still camera takes a picture); after a pause the camera starts to track forwards once more; on the slope to the left are several onlookers including still photographers (291). Static shot from hillside looking down as the car, travelling left to right, turns a corner and continues on its upward journey, watched by a small crowd (340ft/35mm). [DESCENT] [SCHULTZE CAN 6] Motor car in a stationary position on mountain railway track, with mountain scenery in background, filmed from rail-car further down the track. Car and rail-car start their descent. Five men are travelling in the car; two standing at the back, the driver, and two seated to his left (36). Further down the line, with a building in the previous shot now in the distance. Camera pans right to show scenery until car is half out of frame, then pans back (83). Car further down the line with two men (one a railway guard?) running alongside it on the right. Car turns a corner and driver doffs his hat (107). Further down the line with single man running alongside the car as the railway track curves (118). Further down the line, with the track now curving the other way, with a wall to the left-hand side (146). Further down as car passes under a steel bridge. Camera pans right to show wooded valley below (179ft/35mm). Note 1: Originally filmed in 68mm. In The Era advertisements cited below the film is advertised as being available in `standard Edison gauge' (i.e. 35mm) at a total length of 620ft, which included both ascent and descent. A 35mm camera is visible in shots one and five of the ascent, but the film taken by this does not survive and it is not known if it matched the 68mm exactly. The surviving combined 35mm footage (from 68mm originals) equals 519ft. The Era adds, `a satisfactory length can be made up showing best parts of ascent and descent, of 350ft'. The full title, as given in The Era, is CAPTAIN DEASY'S DARING DRIVE IN HIS TOURIST AUTOMOBILE ON THE BALLAST OF THE COGWHEEL RAILWAY FROM CAUX TO ROCHERS DE NAYE ABOVE THE LAKE OF GENEVA. The film was produced by the German branch of the Mutoscope and Biograph Syndicate; the original title is not known. One of the cameramen was Emile Lauste, whose diaries indicate that he was in Caux at this time. Note 2: The driver of the car was Captain (later Major) Henry Hugh Herbert Deasy (1866-1947), formerly a Tibetan explorer. He originally performed the feat on October 5th, repeating it on October 12th for the benefit of the cameras. The passenger for the ascent was Ernest Cuénod (the car's owner); the passengers for the descent were Cuénod, the car's maker Max de Martini, M. Eulenstein, owner of the Hôtel Caux-Palace, and an unnamed Daily Graphic journalist. The car was a 14 h.p. Martini RS. Refs: Roland Cosandey, `Automobile, train et caméras, ou la mesure du paysage', Ciné-Bulletin, November 1993, pp 18-20 Roland Cosandey, `"Sensational Films. Ascent of the Alps by Motor Car": Mutoscope and Biograph in Switzerland, 1903', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, vol 15 no 4, 1995, pp 475-493 [also KINtop 4] The Era, 17 October 1903, p 32 The Era, 24 October 1903, p 30
Genre: Documentary
Subjects: Railway journeys, Mountain railways, Caux, Rochers de Naye, Motor cars
Releases
Date: 1903not specifiedRelease type: unknownFormat: 68mm film - Black and White - SilentLength: 519 Feet
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(13)
Accessible materials to view(7)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 343 FeetBFI identifier: C-557274
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 340 FeetStock date: 1995BFI identifier: C-823304
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-998855
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 5.12 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474543
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: MuteLength: 178 FeetBFI identifier: C-823310
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 2006BFI identifier: C-998857
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 1.39 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474544
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Video materials(2)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 5.12 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474543
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 1.39 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474544
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Film materials(11)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 343 FeetBFI identifier: C-557274
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 340 FeetStock date: 1995BFI identifier: C-823304
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: MuteLength: 178 FeetBFI identifier: C-823310
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-557273
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 344 FeetStock date: 1993BFI identifier: C-998850
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 179 FeetBFI identifier: C-541890
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 1994BFI identifier: C-998852
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-998855
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 2006BFI identifier: C-998857
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 70mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: SilentLength: 650 FeetStock date: 1896BFI identifier: C-522817
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 70mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: SilentLength: 320 FeetStock date: 1900BFI identifier: C-515709
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Date: 1903 (Release)Country: Germany
Shotlist: DOCUMENTARY. The ascent [eleven shots, including three jump cuts] and descent [six shots] of the mountain railway from Caux to Rochers de Naye, Switzerland, by Captain Henry Deasy in a Martini motor car. [ASCENT] [SCHULTZE CAN 51A] The start of the railway line at Caux, with a wagonette bearing two cameras on the right, a railway coach with a small crowd standing by next to the station building (bearing the word `Caux') in the background, and to the left another railway coach with a man (cameraman) standing at the front; this coach moves forwards, pushed from behind by an engine (30). View of the Hôtel Caux-Palace; motor car approaches from the distance with driver and three passengers and passes to the right (43). Panning shot from left to right, from a view of mountains in the distance to the Caux railway station (53). Jump cut, small crowd now by the station beside the motor car; the car sets off towards the camera position with driver and passenger (Deasy and Cuénod) travelling along the railtrack (93). Jump cut, scene now showing wagonette with cameraman, two assistants and railway guard, plus the two cinematograph cameras (68mm and 35mm); the wagonette reverses towards the engine and coach waiting by the station building (120). Jump cut as engine and coach with wagonette attached to the front advances (134). View down mountainside as the motor car ascends along the railway line from right to left (164). View from behind the car as it ascends; after a pause the camera starts to track forward (191). Further tracking shot taken from behind the ascending car as it turns a corner (238). Further such view as the car ascends, with a house to the right (a woman with a still camera takes a picture); after a pause the camera starts to track forwards once more; on the slope to the left are several onlookers including still photographers (291). Static shot from hillside looking down as the car, travelling left to right, turns a corner and continues on its upward journey, watched by a small crowd (340ft/35mm). [DESCENT] [SCHULTZE CAN 6] Motor car in a stationary position on mountain railway track, with mountain scenery in background, filmed from rail-car further down the track. Car and rail-car start their descent. Five men are travelling in the car; two standing at the back, the driver, and two seated to his left (36). Further down the line, with a building in the previous shot now in the distance. Camera pans right to show scenery until car is half out of frame, then pans back (83). Car further down the line with two men (one a railway guard?) running alongside it on the right. Car turns a corner and driver doffs his hat (107). Further down the line with single man running alongside the car as the railway track curves (118). Further down the line, with the track now curving the other way, with a wall to the left-hand side (146). Further down as car passes under a steel bridge. Camera pans right to show wooded valley below (179ft/35mm). Note 1: Originally filmed in 68mm. In The Era advertisements cited below the film is advertised as being available in `standard Edison gauge' (i.e. 35mm) at a total length of 620ft, which included both ascent and descent. A 35mm camera is visible in shots one and five of the ascent, but the film taken by this does not survive and it is not known if it matched the 68mm exactly. The surviving combined 35mm footage (from 68mm originals) equals 519ft. The Era adds, `a satisfactory length can be made up showing best parts of ascent and descent, of 350ft'. The full title, as given in The Era, is CAPTAIN DEASY'S DARING DRIVE IN HIS TOURIST AUTOMOBILE ON THE BALLAST OF THE COGWHEEL RAILWAY FROM CAUX TO ROCHERS DE NAYE ABOVE THE LAKE OF GENEVA. The film was produced by the German branch of the Mutoscope and Biograph Syndicate; the original title is not known. One of the cameramen was Emile Lauste, whose diaries indicate that he was in Caux at this time. Note 2: The driver of the car was Captain (later Major) Henry Hugh Herbert Deasy (1866-1947), formerly a Tibetan explorer. He originally performed the feat on October 5th, repeating it on October 12th for the benefit of the cameras. The passenger for the ascent was Ernest Cuénod (the car's owner); the passengers for the descent were Cuénod, the car's maker Max de Martini, M. Eulenstein, owner of the Hôtel Caux-Palace, and an unnamed Daily Graphic journalist. The car was a 14 h.p. Martini RS. Refs: Roland Cosandey, `Automobile, train et caméras, ou la mesure du paysage', Ciné-Bulletin, November 1993, pp 18-20 Roland Cosandey, `"Sensational Films. Ascent of the Alps by Motor Car": Mutoscope and Biograph in Switzerland, 1903', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, vol 15 no 4, 1995, pp 475-493 [also KINtop 4] The Era, 17 October 1903, p 32 The Era, 24 October 1903, p 30
Genre: Documentary
Subjects: Railway journeys, Mountain railways, Caux, Rochers de Naye, Motor cars
Releases
Date: 1903not specifiedRelease type: unknownFormat: 68mm film - Black and White - SilentLength: 519 Feet
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(13)
Accessible materials to view(7)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 343 FeetBFI identifier: C-557274
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 340 FeetStock date: 1995BFI identifier: C-823304
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-998855
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 5.12 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474543
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: MuteLength: 178 FeetBFI identifier: C-823310
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 2006BFI identifier: C-998857
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 1.39 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474544
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Video materials(2)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 5.12 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474543
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 1.39 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1474544
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Film materials(11)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 343 FeetBFI identifier: C-557274
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 340 FeetStock date: 1995BFI identifier: C-823304
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: MuteLength: 178 FeetBFI identifier: C-823310
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-557273
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 344 FeetStock date: 1993BFI identifier: C-998850
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SilentLength: 179 FeetBFI identifier: C-541890
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 1994BFI identifier: C-998852
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 348 FeetBFI identifier: C-998855
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm PositiveBase: CTASound: SilentLength: 178 FeetStock date: 2006BFI identifier: C-998857
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 70mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: SilentLength: 650 FeetStock date: 1896BFI identifier: C-522817
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 70mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: SilentLength: 320 FeetStock date: 1900BFI identifier: C-515709
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film