The story of Louis Le Prince, his mysterious disappearance and the world's first films.
Joined May 2017
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Irfan Shah retweeted
Ever wonder how Hollywood big-shots manage to steal credit from nobodies - and never get called out for it? Irfan Shah's devastatingly forensic dissection of arrogant pig™ Richard Curtis and his "cunning plan" might well be the definitive exposé.
@SkydMarxx Enter Jack Barth's Misfortunate Universe once more, in a new post on the 'true' story behind Working Title's 'Yesterday'... astudyinlight.substack.com/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
Fantastic analytical piece about the cinematic credit-hoggery of arrogant, superprivileged uberhack Richard Curtis. Best stuff is behind the paywall, so g'wan, treat yourself.
@screenrant @BFI
A celebration/vindication of the work of Jack Barth (
@SkydMarxx ) on Substack: astudyinlight.substack.com/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
Re-upping this for no particular reason.
For no particular reason, our latest @bookshop_org_UK list is #SallyRooney uk.bookshop.org/lists/sally-…?
Irfan Shah retweeted
LEARN more:
🎞️ The Missing Reel (1990) by Christopher Rawlence
🎞️ Histoire Comparée du Cinéma (1966) by Jaques Deslandes
🎞️ The First Film (2015) by Wilkinson / Shah
🎞️ The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures, Paul Fischer (2022)
🎞️ Or anything by Le Prince biographer Irfan Shah @TheShadowTraps
🎞️ Histoire du Cinéma’ (1967) by Jean Mitry
Irfan Shah retweeted
Here are pictured, two frames from the Roundhay Garden Scene film of 1888, from Laurie Snyder, great-great-granddaughter of L. A. A. Le Prince.
On the back is found, scribed by son Adolphe who stated that the single-lens camera used for the sequence was the second of two made (Scott, ‘Career of L.A.A. Le Prince Photographic Journal,’ 1931; reprinted in the ‘Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers’ p54).
The note reads, with the assistance from biographer Irfan Shah @TheShadowTraps :
“Portion of a series taken early in October 188(8) by the second one lens camera. Le Prince's mother in law in this picture died Oct 24th 1888. Le prince's eldest son is also in the picture as is his father in law. Taken from 10 to 12 a second. There was no trial of speed contemplated here. This series was taken at his father in law's home 'Roundhay Cottage, Roundhay Leeds.....”
CINEMA FLOORPLAN BEFORE 1890
Scott also explored the reasons Le Prince slipped into obscurity, and they’re a mix of bad luck, timing, and tragedy.
1. His disappearance halted everything. Le Prince vanished mysteriously in 1890 while travelling in France. Without him, his family had no way to finish the demonstrations, defend his patents, or commercialize his inventions. Scott saw this as the single most devastating blow to Le Prince’s legacy.
2. Patent battles were already brewing. Le Prince was preparing to file additional patents and stage public demonstrations in the United States. His disappearance meant:
🎞️ patents lapsed or were never finalized
🎞️ rivals filled the vacuum
🎞️ the Le Prince family had no inventor to testify in court
Scott argued that this allowed others to claim priority over the invention of motion pictures.
3. His materials were lost. Much of Le Prince’s notes that he carried on him were lost forever.
4. He lacked a commercial backer.
A screenshot below from ‘the first film’ (2015) Wilkinson / Shah showing a Le Prince sketch of his futuristic vision of a cinema theatre. In the possession of University of Leeds Special Collections, Brotherton Library, donated by the Le Prince estate custodian, great, great granddaughter Laurie Snyder.
Irfan Shah retweeted
Straying into Bronte country, this forgotten novel contains some of the most beautiful descriptions of Yorkshire we’ve read. @LeedsLit @BradfordLitFest We should bring the work of Halliwell Sutcliffe into the light.
#Yorkshire "A yellow sun rising clear of the flaked strips of cloud that hung about the middle blue of heaven, and a low wind shaking the budding heather-tips and wrinkling the surface of standing pools" Halliwell Sutcliffe amazon.co.uk/Shameless-Wayne…
Irfan Shah retweeted
Another Patreon post for my supporters. Enjoy! patreon.com/theshadowtraps/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
A bit earlier than expected, another new Patreon post. patreon.com/theshadowtraps/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
And this is a fascinating but grim tale about Curtis as well: astudyinlight.substack.com/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
The Misfortunate Universe of Jack Barth - my substack post and a piece of cinematic investigative journalism. substack.com/@astudyinlight/…
Irfan Shah retweeted
@screenrant @BFI
A celebration/vindication of the work of Jack Barth (
@SkydMarxx ) on Substack: astudyinlight.substack.com/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
The Shadow Traps material on lost film pioneer, Louis Le Prince is always worth a look. Support the project if you can!
My latest post on Patreon. Another post on its way in the next couple of days! patreon.com/theshadowtraps/p…
Irfan Shah retweeted
Tracie’s been working hard on light boxes for our Wuthering Heights Rediscovered exhibition at @bradfordlitfest on 11th July. Check our website for details.
Irfan Shah retweeted
We’ll be revealing one of the great lost screenplays at @bradfordlitfest on 11July so please watch this space! #wutheringheights
Irfan Shah retweeted
See how we piece together the lost 1920 film version of #WutheringHeights as part of @bradfordlitfest on July 11th!
Irfan Shah retweeted
A forgotten screenplay by Hitchcock scenarist, Eliot Stannard, is at the heart of our exhibition and talk for @BradfordLitFest on July 11th.
@LIFF @Markcousinsfilm A page from Eliot Stannard's screenplay for the lost 1920 adaptation of Wuthering Heights (image courtesy of @BronteParsonage) Please follow, as we explore the film in our travelling exhibition starting on June 6th as part of @LeedsLit .
Irfan Shah retweeted
An absolutely fascinating project.
@markcousinsfilm @DrMatthewSweet @christinalefou Flickering moments from the first ever film adaptation of Wuthering Heights (now lost.) Our travelling exhibition on the story begins on June 6th as part of @LeedsLit
Irfan Shah retweeted
A rediscovered Bronte book!
Perfect for lovers of lost literature: A piece on our website about Charlotte Bronte's A Book of Ryhmes [sic]. Published for the first time in 2025 by Yorkshire's Tartarus Press and with an introduction by Patti Smith. Find out more at wutheringheightsrediscovered…
Irfan Shah retweeted
It's a masterpiece. Sadly the YouTube quality is v poor. Kevin Brownlow has done more for film in this country than anyone- it would be an amazing tribute to him to clear the rights and broadcast /release it in a proper print once again .
One of the great documentaries about cinema and a must‑watch for any film history enthusiast.
All 13 episodes are available to watch in full on this YouTube playlist: youtube.com/watch?v=8mo3Z8Ik…
Irfan Shah retweeted
This is a fascinating project and we’ll reveal our own involvement in it soon! #wutheringheights #silentfilm
@LIFF @Markcousinsfilm A page from Eliot Stannard's screenplay for the lost 1920 adaptation of Wuthering Heights (image courtesy of @BronteParsonage) Please follow, as we explore the film in our travelling exhibition starting on June 6th as part of @LeedsLit .