In the Land of Giants and Pygmies

Jean Painlevé is interested here, with the help of Eli Lotar, in crabs and shrimps. He is particularly interested in detailing their anatomy and observing their mating and fighting behavior.

A documentary from Erkki Karu, one of the earliest pioneers of Finnish cinema: This government-produced propaganda film introduces the nature, sports, military, agriculture and capital of Finland.

A train speeds through the country on its way to Berlin, then gradually slows down as it pulls into the station. It is very early in the morning, about 5:00 AM, and the great city is mostly quiet. But before long there are some signs of activity, and a few early risers are to be seen on the streets. Soon the new day is well underway. It's just a typical day in Berlin, but a day full of life and energy.

Woman Draped in Patterned Handkerchiefs is a 1908 British short silent documentary film, directed by George Albert Smith as a showcase his new Kinemacolor system, which features a woman displaying assorted tartan cloths, both draped on her body and waved semaphore-style. The patterned handkerchiefs are, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, “presumably the same cloths featured in Tartans of Scottish Clans (1906), this time shown from various angles.”

Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer is one of the first and most influential surf movies of all time. The film documents American surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August as they travel the world during California’s winter (which, back in 1965 was off-season for surfing) in search of the perfect wave and ultimately, an endless summer.

Do animals have feelings? Empathy even? A documentary with some insights due to advancing technology.

The subject is two grotesque-looking human beings who are sitting on the deck of a ship. The two weird individuals sit cross-legged and do the bidding of a man in oriental costume. The point of the film seems to be directed at the fact that the bone structure of the two subjects makes them look like monkeys or apes, and the spectators seem to be trying to get them to behave like monkeys, that is, scratch themselves, etc.

Inventor Jacob Ellehammer's first attempts at flying.

19th century carnival ride.

People gather at the exit of the St. Trophime cathedral in Arles.

Pedestrian and various vehicles traffic on Place Bellecour, in Lyon.

Horses and their riders make their way into the compact and agitated crowd of spectators.

The main market square in the heart of Brussels.

Coach W. Hickenbotham takes "Newhaven" out of his box and places the horse at the center of the paddock. Gardiner, the jockey, saddles up the horse, rides it and begins to spin, slowly.

Panorama during the ascent of the Eiffel Tower.

A street scene in Berlin near Hallesches Tor.

Panorama of the port of Algiers.

A street scene with a government building in the background.

Carrara, Italy. A train loaded with marble exits a tunnel.

A small boat is approaching waterfalls, shrouded in thick fog, in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland.