Reputed to be the first film shot in Australia by Australians, THE MELBOURNE cup is a pretty sophisticated movie for 1896. It consists of three separate scenes: in the first, by the grandstand, in which everyone peers curiously at the camera; in the second, by the paddock, in which peoples' attention is split between the camera and the horse; and, in the third, at the rail, where everyone watches the horses running, except for one man in a straw boater who watches the camera for a bit. To me he looks like Snub Pollard, well-groomed for a social event, but that's probably due more to the boater and any sort of mustache, rather than reality.
Quite apparently, there was a lot more mixing of social classes at the Melbourne Cup than at the events that English movie makers were filming about this time.
Quite apparently, there was a lot more mixing of social classes at the Melbourne Cup than at the events that English movie makers were filming about this time.
