Scenes and Incidents, Russo-Japanese Peace Conference, Portsmouth, N. H. (1905) watch online HD

If ever a film was in need of some narration this was it. Screened in four parts, lasting a total of approximately twelve minutes, it shows a bunch of old boys, some in full military regalia, others in top hats and suits travelling by boat from one dock to another. From there they make up part of a parade as they travel to a hotel. The men are Russian and Japanese envoys gathered by President Teddy Roosevelt to hammer out a peace deal to bring the Russo-Japanese war to an end. It's surprising how many people line the streets and mill around the entrance to the hotel to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries. Today, the crowds would be non-existent - apart perhaps from a small crowd of protesters and a bank of media photographers and cameramen. This isn't very interesting, although it does feature an early example of a panning shot.