The oldest movie listed on IMDb.
Made several years before Muybridge published his first sequences of the horse in motion.
One of the first chronophotographic sequences.
Janssen later suggested that his apparatus might become suitable for the study of animal movements once photographic materials would allow the very brief exposures necessary. His work directly influenced Etienne-Jules Marey who later managed to record animal movements with chronophotographic systems.
The 1874 passage of Venus over the face of the sun was very popular with scientists. Many expeditions to the best viewing points in the world were organized. At least 62 parties would visit 80 locations. In preparation, much effort was made to find the best techniques to get objective and permanent records of the event.