What was the first special effect and when was the first remake filmed: a selection of movie facts (7 photos)

A few curious records from the entertainment industry.





First special effect in film

In 1895, the silent short film "The Execution of Mary Stuart" (also known as "The Execution of Mary of Scotland") was filmed at the Edison Studios in West Orange, IL. It made cinematic history as the first film to use combination filming. A groundbreaking technique for its time, the stop-motion technique created the illusion of the queen's instantaneous beheading. The spectacle was so realistic that the uninitiated viewers of this 17-second "blockbuster" were convinced the actress had actually died.

The secret of the stunt was simple. The camera stopped rolling as soon as the executioner raised the axe over the queen, then replaced Mary Stuart with a dummy (the actors remained motionless), after which the executioner chopped off the doll's head.

"The Execution of Mary Stuart" is also considered the first staged film with professional actors.

This film is most often watched by characters in other films.



"Night of the Living Dead"

The film that most often appears within other films—for example, playing on television in the background—is "Night of the Living Dead" (1968). As of 2024, 129 films have been listed in the IMDb database that include clips from this iconic zombie horror film by George Romero.

Due to an administrative error, the horror film was never properly registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, so it fell into the public domain immediately after its theatrical release. This allows filmmakers to screen fragments of the film without paying royalties or seeking permission.

Highest-Grossing Entertainment





According to data released by Disney Theatrical Group and the Broadway League, the stage musical version of The Lion King, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, has grossed at least $9.1 billion since its Broadway premiere on November 25, 1997.

Taymor's production is the highest-grossing entertainment production in history, surpassing any single film, book, video game, or other similar project, not adjusted for inflation.

The production has been seen by over 100 million people in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Its total box office revenue includes $1.64 billion earned on Broadway as of January 2020 (where it is the highest-grossing show in history), plus receipts from international productions and numerous touring shows.

For comparison, the highest-grossing film of all time, Avengers: Endgame (2018), grossed $2.7 billion, while the entire Star Wars franchise earned $10.3 billion worldwide as of March 1, 2020.

Most Popular Title



The most common film title is Broken. As of January 2024, 34 feature films are listed under this title on IMDb. Next come "Hero" (33 films) and "Mother" (30). It's important to note that this list does not include films that are entirely or almost entirely adaptations of the same well-known story. For example, there are 34 films titled "Hamlet," 31 "Macbeth," and 28 "Carmen."

Most Quoted Film



"Psycho"

The most frequently cited film is Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960). According to the IMDB database, 580 films reference this iconic psychological horror film by Alfred Hitchcock.

The most frequently referenced film in cinema is the famous shower murder scene. The directors emulate Hitchcock's signature camera angles, tense music, and the cut from a motionless eye to water pouring into a sink.

First Remake



"The Haunted Castle"

The first remake in cinema history was "The Haunted Castle," an 1897 short horror film directed by French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès. It was a remake of "The Devil's Castle," which Méliès had released a year earlier. For "The Haunted Castle," Méliès condensed the original three-minute film to a more easily screenable 45 seconds, focusing on and enhancing the most spectacular stunts. The films were shot on the same sets. The film was also hand-colored by artist Elisabeth Thuillet, using vibrant colors to make the action stand out against the backdrop.

Most Expensive Costume



Ginger Rogers in "Lady in the Dark"

Hollywood studios typically don't disclose a film's budget in detail, so it's difficult to confidently name the most expensive costume. Various famous outfits have been declared the most expensive at different times, but the most compelling contender for the record is considered to be the sequined, fur-trimmed costume that legendary eight-time Oscar winner Edith Head (parodied in "The Incredibles") created for Ginger Rogers in "Lady in the Dark" (1944).

Two versions were made for filming: a version for close-ups and a lighter version for dancing. The dresses cost $35,000. Adjusted for inflation, that's approximately $620,000 in 2023 dollars.