The first natural colour film production occurred in 1908 when George Albert Smith directed "A Visit to the Seaside" in the UK. The film holds a special place in history because it represents the first commercially available natural colour motion picture.
The Kinemacolor process used red and green filters during filming and projection to display the images. The screen displayed waves and sand, and beachgoers through the limited colour capabilities of the technology.
Before the advent of Kinemacolor, filmmakers used hand-colouring and tinting techniques, which proved time-consuming and costly. The short film demonstrated camera-based colour capture, which led to the development of later colour movies, including Becky Sharp from 1935.
The short film depicts a few minutes of people spending time at the seaside. The short film presents a delightful view of life from more than 100 years ago through its basic yet endearing depiction.
References:
Wikipedia. A Visit to the Seaside. Retrieved August 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Visit_to_the_Seaside
StudioBinder. What Was the First Color Movie? Retrieved August 16, 2025, https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-was-the-first-color-movie/