History Film / RipVanWinkle

''Rip Van Winkle'' is an 1896 film starring Joseph Jefferson. This film, one of the earliest uses of film to tell a narrative story--maybe the earliest--was an adaptation of Jefferson's stage play, itself an adaptation of the Washington Irving [[Literature/RipVanWinkle short story]]. It was directed by film pioneer William K.L. Dickson.

* RobeAndWizardHat: The strange men that Rip drinks with in the forest, "Hudson's crew"--the original story suggests that they're the ghosts of Henry Hudson and his crew--are dressed this way.

* TheOldestOnesInTheBook: Literally, as far as narrative film goes. Joseph Jefferson was born in ''1829''. His is apparently the earliest birthday of any actor in the Internet Movie Database.

''Rip Van Winkle'' is an 1896 film starring Joseph Jefferson. This film, one of the earliest uses of film to tell a narrative story--maybe the earliest--was an adaptation of Jefferson's stage play, itself an adaptation of the Creator/WashingtonIrving [[Literature/RipVanWinkle short story]]. It was directed by film pioneer William K.L. Dickson.

* {{Blooper}}: In the segment where the "dwarfs" leave Van Winkle sleeping and slip away to crouch behind boulders or the hillside, in the last half-second one of the actors stands up again and takes his hat off. Possibly the [[UrExample first blooper ever]], which may have happened because ''nobody had thought up the idea of yelling "Cut!"'', yet.

''Rip Van Winkle'' is an 1896 film starring Joseph Jefferson. This film, one of the earliest uses of film to tell a narrative story--maybe the earliest--was an adaptation of Jefferson's stage play, itself an adaptation of the Creator/WashingtonIrving story. It was directed by film pioneer William K.L. Dickson.

''Rip Van Winkle'' is not really that interesting as a dramatic film, but it is important due to its status as one of the first narrative films made anywhere. It has a place in the NationalFilmRegistry.

* {{Blooper}}: In the segment where the "dwarfs" leave Van Winkle sleeping and slip away to crouch behind boulders or the hillside, in the last half-second one of the actors stands up again and takes his hat off. Presumably this is the UrExample, and may have happened because ''nobody had thought up the idea of yelling "Cut!" yet.''

* {{Blooper}}: In what's probably the UrExample, at the very end of the segment where the "dwarfs" leave Van Winkle sleeping and slip away behind boulders and the hillside, one of the actors stands up and takes his hat off. Presumably because ''nobody had thought up the idea of yelling "Cut!" yet.''

* TheOldestOnesInTheBook: Literally, as far as narrative film goes. Joseph Jefferson was born in ''1829''.

The film is seven short scenes depicting Rip Van Winkle wandering into the forest, meeting some strange people, drinking with them, then passing out and waking up after a twenty-year nap, now with a long white beard. Initially they were exhibited as part of vaudeville shows. In 1903 the Biograph film company released the seven short clips together as a single 4 1/2 minute film.

* DontGoIntoTheWoods: After throwing back a drink with a buddy, Rip is just standing around when a dwarf shows up with a keg, and suggests Rip follow him into the woods. Rip does so. It turns out to be a bad idea.