''The Twins' Tea Party'' is an

1896 Events January–March * January 2 – The Jameson Raid comes to an end, as Jameson surrenders to the Boers. * January 4 – Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state. * January 5 – An Austrian newspaper reports that Wil ...

British

short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...

silent actuality film, produced and directed by Robert W. Paul, The film, "was one of the very first 'facials'," which according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline was, "a popular genre in early British cinema that exploited what to 1896 audiences was the astonishing novelty of being able to see moving images of recognisable people in medium close-up as they reacted to a particular situation." John Barnes, author of The Beginnings of the Cinema in England, adds that, "this charming one-shot film of two infant girls reluctantly sharing tea was one of the most popular items exhibited in R.W. Paul's programmes at the

Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...

in 1896." The film was remade in 1898, and distributed under the title ''Tea: The Twins' Tea Party''. This version was promoted as "an improved edition of the favourite 'Twins' Tea Party.'"

Plot

The film features twin girls squabbling over a piece of cake at a tea party. One girl slaps the other a few times, arguing over the cake. Then, when the other girl cries, the first girl feels sorry and makes up, hugging and kissing her.

Release and reception

The film was first shown at the

, London in August 1896, as part of a programme of films by R. W. Paul. A review in ''The Era'' stated: "The droll gestures of two children at a nursery tea-party evoke much merriment." The film was later distributed in America by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., whose film catalogue described it as containing "the most perfect and child-like facial expressions we have yet had the pleasure of seeing."

References

External links

* British black-and-white films British silent short films 1896 comedy films 1896 films One-shot films Films about twin sisters British comedy short films 1896 short films 1890s British films Films directed by Robert W. Paul Silent comedy films Films about parties {{short-silent-comedy-film-stub