The Kiss In The Tunnel (1899): Love Sparks Editing

Sneak aboard "The Kiss In The Tunnel," a 1899 British silent comedy short by George Albert Smith that ignites cinema history. In this black-and-white gem, a couple steals a furtive kiss as their train plunges into darkness—a sly twist on the ‘phantom ride’ genre. Offered as a single shot by Warwick Trading Co., exhibitors spliced it into train footage like Cecil Hepworth’s "View from an Engine Front," birthing narrative editing, per historian Frank Gray. Michael Brooke of BFI notes the unreal lighting—everything’s visible—and the swaying, prop-strewn carriage, a painted flat. This one-minute spark thrills film buffs with its pioneering cut and cheeky charm.