The Guardian reports that an English archivist has found a one-minute-long film, dating to 1901, that portrays a character from Charles Dickens’ novel “Bleak House.”
Here’s what you need to know:
“Bryony Dixon was researching early films of China when she noticed an entry in a catalogue referring to The Death of Poor Joe, which she realised could refer to a character in Dickens’ Bleak House.
Not expecting to find a film to match the catalogue entry – most movies this old have not survived – Dixon says she was astonished to discover the film was actually in the BFI’s collection, albeit under a different title.
The discovery was announced on Friday, just over a month after the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth was celebrated around the world.
“It’s wonderful to have discovered such a rare and unique film so close to Dickens’ bicentennial,” Dixon said. “Not only does it survive but it is the world’s earliest Dickensian film! It looks beautiful and is in excellent condition.”
Read the full story here.
