History Film / TheKiss

Not to be confused with the 1929 Creator/GretaGarbo vehicle which was the last SilentMovie produced by a major studio before the Talkie era, nor with the 1988 Canadian horror flick.

* EroticFilm: This may be the first erotic film in existence, though the eroticism here is nothing more than a few kisses.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[FauxHorrific The shame of it all!]]'']]

* PornWithoutPlot: At least, if you'd asked someone at the time of release, that's how they'd have described it.

* ItsNotPornItsArt: This was probably the first example of a film being accused of being "porn" and the makers having to defend their decision on the fact that it were just two actors recreating a scene from a play.

* ExplicitContent: According to 19th century values this was a very explicit movie.

Only 18 seconds long, this early short film stars May Irwin and John Rice, re-enacting their kissing scene from the stage play ''Theatre/TheWidowJones''. It was the first film featuring a couple sharing such an intimate moment and as a result it caused a scandal at the time. So it can be seen as the TropeMaker of [[MediaScaremongering moral panic]] over indecency in film.

Only 18 seconds long, this early short film stars May Irwin and John Rice, re-enacting their kissing scene from the stage play ''Theatre/TheWidowJones''. It was the first film featuring a couple sharing such an intimate moment and as a result it caused a scandal at the time. So it can be seen as the TropeMaker of [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] over indecency in film.

Only 18 seconds long, this early short film stars May Irwin and John Rice, re-enacting their kissing scene from the stage play ''The Widow Jones''. It was the first film featuring a couple sharing such an intimate moment and as a result it caused a scandal at the time. So it can be seen as the TropeMaker of [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] over indecency in film.

* BadassMustache: The guy sports a pretty impressive mustache. He takes a moment to straighten it up out of the way before puckering up.

Not to be confused with the 1988 canadian horror flick ''TheKiss''

The Kiss is a 1896 short film directed by William Heise.

'''The Kiss''' is a 1896 movie directed by William Heise and starring a couple (May Irwin and John Rice) kissing one another. It was the first film featuring a couple sharing such an intimate moment and as a result it caused a scandal at the time. So it can be seen as the TropeMaker of [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] over indecency in film.

Later, the short was VindicatedByHistory as an important cinematic breakthrough. In 1999 the short was included in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry for being "historically, culturally and aesthetically significant."

* LaBelleEpoque: Filmed in the late 19th century.

* MoralGuardians: At the time many people felt this film was "disgusting" and even "pornographic". This may seem silly now, but one must understand that people had never seen such intimacy between two people on a big movie screen before.

* PornWithoutPlot: It was regarded as UsefulNotes/{{Pornography}} at the time and seeing that it is just a kiss and nothing more it does qualify as a story without a plot that gets right to the point of showing what the audience came to see.
* UsefulNotes/ThePreHollywoodEra: Made during this time period, in 1896.
* PublicDomain: Due to its age.

* ShoutOut: A still of this film can be seen in the opening theme of the first season of ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''.
* SilentMovie: There is no sound to be heard.
* TimeMarchesOn: Today this film would be labeled "All Ages".

Later the short has been VindicatedByHistory as an important cinematic breakthrough. In 1999 the short was included in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry for being "historically, culturally and aesthetically significant."

* FollowTheLeader: Many more movie kisses would soon follow.

* ThePreHollywoodEra: Made during this time period, in 1896.

* ShortFilm: It's only 18 seconds long.

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The film is in black-and-white.

'''The Kiss''' is a 1896 movie directed by William Heise and starring a couple (May Irwin and John Rice) kissing one another. It was the first film featuring a couple sharing such an intimate moment and as a result it caused a scandal at the time. So it can be seen as the TropeMaker of [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] over indecency in film)

In 1999 the short was included in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry for being "historically, culturally and aesthetically significant."

* MoralGuardians: At the time many people felt this film was "disgusting" and even "pornographic". This may seem silly now, but one must understand that people had never seen such intimacy between two people on a big movie screen before.