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Death of Eva

  Scene summary from the 1903 Edison Catalogue:
Showing a bed chamber. Eva lies sick upon a couch with St. Clare and Aunt Ophelia by her side. Mrs. St. Clare enters and St. Clare tells her that Eva is dying. Eva points toward the sky, telling her father that she is going there, and falls back dead. Uncle Tom and Topsy, who were standing at the foot of the cot, kneel in prayer while the angel appears, takes the spirit of Eva and ascends.
Special Effects, 1903 Style: This scene includes an attempt to use film magic to bring the transcendent realm into the viewer's line of sight. Through the use of multiple exposures, the audience sees an angel carrying off Eva's soul to heaven (it's actually a doll), while her mere body remains bound to this world. In fact, the film shows the angel taking up Eva's soul twice — presumably to give viewers an extra chance to catch the effect.