''The Melbourne Cup'' was a film about the two mile horse race won by ''
Newhaven'' which took place on Tuesday, 3 November 1896.
Marius Sestier
Marius Ely Joseph Sestier (8 September 1861 – 8 November 1928) was a French cinematographer. Sestier was best known for his work in Australia, where he shot some of the country's first films.
Born in Sauzet, Drôme, Sestier was a pharmacist by ...
filmed the
1896 Melbourne Cup horse race, being in a series of films about the
Melbourne Cup Carnival The Spring Racing Carnival is the name of an Australian Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually in Melbourne during October and November.
The Carnival and its status in the wider community
Although racing in Australia is held every day excep ...
. The feature, which consisted of 10 one-minute films shown in chronological order, was premiered at the
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
The Princess Theatre, originally Princess's Theatre, is a 1452-seat theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1854 and rebuilt in 1886 to a design by noted Melbourne architect William Pitt, it is the oldest surviving entertain ...
on 19 November 1896.
One or more of the films was actually shot on ''Derby Day'', Saturday, 31 October 1896, when ''Newhaven'' won the
Victoria Derby
The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbour ...
.
[
It has been acclaimed as the main part of Australia’s first locally produced and successfully screened cinema program.][
]
Synopsis
Arrival of Train at the Hill platform on the Flemington Racecourse railway station
Flemington Racecourse railway station is located on the Flemington Racecourse line in Victoria, Australia. It serves Flemington Racecourse in the suburb of Flemington opening on 28 February 1861.
The station is only open on race days and dur ...
. Crowds on the Lawn near the Grandstand. The arrival of the Governor Lord Brassey. Horses in the Saddling Paddock. Finish of the Cup Day Hurdle Race. Weighing-out for the Cup. The race finish. Lady Brassey placing the Blue Ribbon on ''Newhaven'' (this was reported on the Saturday when ''Newhaven'' won the ''Victoria Derby'').
List of the Melbourne Cup Carnival film reels
#''Arrival of race goers at the Hill platform on the Flemington Racecourse railway station''
#''The lawn near the band stand''
#''The Arrival of his Excellency the Governor''
#''Horses in the Saddling Paddock''
#''Lady Brassey placing the Blue Ribbon on Newhaven''
#''Finish of the Cup Day Hurdle Race''
#''Weighing-out for the Cup''
#''The Melbourne Cup, the race finish''
#''Near the grandstand''
#''Afternoon Tea under the Awning''
#''Newhaven with his trainer W. Hickenbotham, and Jockey H. J. Gardiner''
References
External links
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1890s Australian films
1890s short documentary films
1896 films
Australian short documentary films
Australian horse racing films
Australian silent short films
Australian black-and-white films
Films about horses
Melbourne Cup
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