The first films made their homes in the fairground and the music hall, and the first filmmakers - a number of them originally showmen or magic lanternists - were more than happy to supply the laughs, the drama and the thrills that audiences demanded.

Comic skits, sight gags and dramatic scenes were hugely popular. They may have been overwhelmingly outnumbered by non-fiction subjects, but it was these entertainment films that inspired early filmmakers to many of their greatest innovations, from 'facials' (the first close-ups) to 'tricks', the inventive prototype for modern special effects. And we can see traces among these films of themes, ideas and approaches that would fuel British filmmakers for generations to come.