Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Louis Le Prince was born on August 28, 1841 in Metz, Moselle, France and is credited as an inventor, film director and cinematographer. Credited works include Roundhay Garden Scene, Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge and Man Walking Around a Corner.
My Take
Louis Le Prince genuinely haunts me. A French inventor from Metz, he may have shot moving images before Edison or the Lumieres, with Roundhay Garden Scene arguably the first true motion picture. Then, in 1890, he boarded a train and simply vanished, declared dead years later. The cruelty of it astonishes me: a meticulous mind on the verge of recognition, swallowed by mystery just before claiming his place in history. I think the honest case can be made to call him a father of cinema. I want to keep telling his story, equal parts romance, injustice and unsolved riddle.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Louis Le Prince
- Name (Japanese)
- ルイ・ル・プランス
- Reading
- るい・る・ぷらんす
- Born
- August 28, 1841
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Ox
- Origin
- Metz, Moselle, France
- Occupation
- inventor / film director / cinematographer / chemist
2. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Roundhay Garden Scene | — | |
| Notable work | Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge | — | |
| Notable work | Man Walking Around a Corner | — |
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Louis Le Prince born?
Born August 28, 1841.
Where is Louis Le Prince from?
Louis Le Prince is from Metz, Moselle, France.
What does Louis Le Prince do?
Louis Le Prince works as inventor, film director, cinematographer, chemist.
What is Louis Le Prince known for?
Notable works include Roundhay Garden Scene, Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge, Man Walking Around a Corner.
Inventor — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from France →