L'antique Tolède (1912) watch online HD

In the beginning and at the end of his career, director Segundo de Chomón made quite a few documentary-style films showing various sites in Spain--especially in the region of Castille. In between, he made a ton of fantasy films for the Pathé company--and many of them were based on techniques originated by the great Georges Méliès. The difference between the two styles is dramatic.

"L'Antique Tolède" is one of these documentary pieces set in the middle of his native country nowhere near Castille. In this silent film, you see lots of views of the town as well as quite a bit of it that seemed to be in ruins--and I have no idea how much all of this looks like Toledo today. It's all mildly interesting but also a tad boring due to its composition (though he did use a moving camera occasionally) unless you are a historian wanting to take a peak at the city a little over a hundred years ago.

Segundo de Chomon was one of the more innovative directors that Pathe had, first in doing movies that imitated and then drove Melies out of business, then in working in the newly established film grammar. His career flourished through about 1918, during which time his output ranged from minute-long trick films to fully evolved features. Effectively, he outlasted almost all of his contemporaries; even after his directorial career ended he still had a lively afterlife as a cinematographer until a year before his death.

This movie, however, is not groundbreaking. It is simply a compilation of views of Toledo, but fascinating ones, nonetheless, showing bridges, walls and other architectural highlights that appear to date from as early as the 8th century. Still, if you're at all interested in these sights and can't get to Toledo yourself....