This powerful picture is a superb portrait of the Monster created by Baron Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s famous Gothic novel. The face is faintly reminiscent of Boris Karloff’s cinema portrayal of the role, and the image itself accords perfectly with our archetypal idea of the Monster’s iconic appearance.

Frankenstein's Monster

Many more pictures of novels can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

This striking and historically accurate picture shows the sensational screening of the Lumiere film, L’Arrivee d’un Train A la Ciotat at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. It is a perfect pictorial representation of one of the famous films and great moments in the early history of cinema.

A Picture Palace of Edwardian Times by Peter Jackson

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This fascinating picture shows an early film director shouting instructions to his actors with a megaphone, something perfectly possible during the Silent Era when no sounds were recorded. His cameraman carefully swivels the camera on its tripod, training the lens on the ultimately silent histrionics. The well-observed light reflector is a realistic touch, along with the theatrical two-dimensional set and the iconic director’s chair.

An early film being made by Peter Jackson

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The best pictures of Elizabeth Barrett and her spaniel named Flush are striking images of the invalid poet and her pet.
The first picture is a portrait.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her cocker spaniel Flush by James E McConnell

The second picture shows Robert Browning meeting Elizabeth and her spaniel.

The Poet, the Invalid and the Spaniel by C L Doughty

The third picture shows a cigarette-card still from the film The Barretts of Wimpole Street.

Norma Shearer and 'Flush' in The Barretts of Wimpole Street

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The best pictures of film production show three directors at work.
The first director is Cecil B DeMille.

Cecil B DeMille directing his Biblical epic, 'The Ten Commandments'

The second picture shows an early film maker directing his actors with a megaphone.

Film-making at the turn of the century by Peter Jackson

The third picture shows Ingrid Bergman filming Anastasia.

Anatole Litvak directing Anastasia with Ingrid Bergman and Yul Bryner

Many more pictures of cinema can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of old London cinemas capture the atmosphere of the early days of silent film and its popularity in suburbs.
The first picture shows a flea-pit down the Old Kent Road.

Early Flea-Pit cinema, the Nelson Electric Theatre in the Old Kent Road, showing, clean moral pictures

The second picture shows a Moorish architectural gem in Lewisham.

Kings Hall Cinema, Lewisham

The third picture shows a long queue to see Charlie Chaplin in The Kid at the Majestic in Clapham.

Queue for Charlie Chaplin in The Kid at The Majestic, High Street, Clapham, in circa 1921

Many more pictures of cinema and film can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Auguste and Louis Lumiere show the famous film pioneers screening their amazing short reels.
The first picture shows the Lumiere brothers screening L’Arroseur Arrose.

Louis and Auguste Lumiere screen their comedy L'Arroseur Arrose (The Waterer Watered) in a shed in the suburbs of Lyon by Pat Nicolle

The second picture shows a screening of the Lumiere film, L’Arrivee d’un Train A la Ciotat at the Regent Street Polytechnic.

Watching Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (The Lumière Brothers, 1895) by Peter Jackson

The third picture shows early film posters advertising the first public showing of the Lumiere Brothers’ films.

The Lumiere Brothers gave the first public film shows in Paris and London in 1895 and 1896

Many more pictures of cinema can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Charlie Chaplin are archetypal images of the most famous film star of the Silent Era.
The first picture is a colourful version of the exclusively black-and-white film star in characteristic pose.

Charlie Chaplin

The second picture is also Chaplin in a classic pose.

Charlie Chaplin

The third picture shows the scene in Chaplin’s record-breaking box-office hit,The Kid, when the Tramp finds the abandoned baby (the kid) he will adopt.

Charlie Chaplin in 'The Kid' by Emilio Frejo

Many more pictures of cinema can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of Greta Garbo are portraits and stills from her films.
The first picture is a portrait of the legendary film star.

Greta Garbo

The second picture shows Garbo as Queen Christina.

Greta Garbo as Queen Christina

The third picture shows Garbo as Anna Karenina.

Greta Garbo as Anna Karenina

Many more pictures of film stars can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures of a straw hat show three very different images of this distinctive millinery.
The first picture shows the American silent film star and comedian Harold Lloyd wearing his trademark straw boater.

Harold Lloyd by John Keay

The second picture shows a young Victorian boy in a sailor suit and straw hat tending an elderly lady’s garden.

A Labour of Love

The third picture shows a contemporary woman and her children on a summer’s day in the country.

High summer

Many more pictures of hats can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.