Film archivist and historian Rob Stone has always been interested in silent film. With his five picks, he charts evolving storytelling capabilities in the medium’s earliest days and the darker side of the fading actuality, mostly as represented by one filmmaker!

Rob’s publishing company Split Reel specializes in books and other media highlighting lesser-known aspects of the entertainment industry, especially the silent era. He was also Moving Image Curator at the Library of Congress for over 15 years.

Visit the5bestfilmsofeveryyearever.com/list to submit your own top five for 1903!

Films and resources mentioned:

• Alice in Wonderland (1903) - Cecil Hepworth
• Electrocuting an Elephant (1903) - Edwin S. Porter
• Life of an American Fireman (1903) - Edwin S. Porter
• The Great Train Robbery (1903) - Edwin S. Porter
• What Happened in the Tunnel (1903) - Edwin S. Porter
• When Comedy Was King (1960) - Robert Youngson
• The Golden Age of Comedy (1957) - Robert Youngson
• Fire! (1901) - James Williamson
• The Lucky Dog (1921) - Jess Robbins
• Pokes & Jabbs: The Before, During and After of the Vim Films Corporation - Rob Stone
• Laurel or Hardy: The Solo Films of Stan Laurel & Oliver "Babe" Hardy - Rob Stone
• Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies - Randy Skretvedt
• Mack Sennett’s Fun Factory: A History and Filmography of His Studio and His Keystone and Mack Sennett Comedies, with Biographies of Players and Personnel - Brent E. Walker
• Victor Moore and His Klever Komedies - Steve Massa and Rob Stone
• Poverty Row Royalty: The Films of Producer Sigmund Neufeld and His Brother, Director Sam Newfield - Thomas Reeder
• Hometown Tinsel: The Life, Career, and Friendships of Virginia Karns - Jim Kerkhoff
• Story of Grover Jones - Rob Stone