Early Film Smiles
The earliest filmed smiles — Edison's "Fred Ott's Sneeze," the first laughs caught on celluloid, classic Hollywood beams.
Part of Smiles
5 moments in this segment.
- — Fred Ott's Sneeze. One of the earliest motion pictures ever made — Edison's assistant Fred Ott sneezing. The first copyrighted motion picture in the US, January 1894.
- — The OKeh Laughing Record. 1922's "Okeh Laughing Record" — a tuba duet derailed by uncontrollable laughter. A best-selling novelty record for two decades. The original viral laughter.
- — Shirley Temple — Animal Crackers. 6-year-old Shirley Temple singing "Animal Crackers in My Soup" in Curly Top (1935). The brightest smile of the Depression years.
- — Gene Kelly — Singin' in the Rain. Gene Kelly splashing through puddles, grinning through fever (he had a 103° temperature during the shoot). One of the most-quoted joy scenes ever filmed.
- — Audrey Hepburn — Roman Holiday. Audrey Hepburn's coronation-of-fun smile in Roman Holiday (1953). Won Best Actress for her first leading role.
