Film historian and author Mary Mallory has written five books about cinematic yesteryear. With her research of past traditions and underappreciated figures in mind, Mary selects some films that reflect the intermediality of early film and its basis in stage tricks, poetry, and even postcards, while others demonstrate new cinematic inventions.

Mary’s most recent book is First Women of Hollywood: Female Pioneers in the Early Motion Picture Business. She is also a lecturer for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and blogger for the LA Daily Mirror.

Visit the5bestfilmsofeveryyearever.com/list to submit your own top five for 1905!

Films mentioned:

• The Living Playing Cards (1905) - Georges Méliès
• New York Subway (1905) - Billy Bitzer
• Rescued by Rover (1905) - Cecil Hepworth and Lewin Fitzhamon
• The Night Before Christmas (1905) - Edwin S. Porter
• The Whole Dam Family and the Dam Dog (1905) - Edwin S. Porter
• The Great Train Robbery (1903) - Edwin S. Porter
• Gone with the Wind (1939) - Victor Fleming
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - Henry Selick