The Little Match Girl (1914) | BFI National Archive

This silent reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s bleak fairy tale will bring a tear to every eye. Though the surviving copy has Dutch intertitles, the moving parable of a young girl exploited by her drunkard father and left to freeze on the snowy streets needs little explanation. Much more elaborate than British cinema pioneer James Williamson’s beautiful 1902 adaptation, this version was produced by the Neptune Film Company and features colour tinting and special effects to illuminate the little match girl’s retreat into a world of fantasy and comfort. This video is part of the Orphan Works collection. When the rights-holder for a film cannot be found, that film is classified as an Orphan Work. Find out more about Orphan Works: This is in line with the EU Orphan Works Directive of 2012. The results of our search for the rights holder of this film can be found in the EU Orphan Works Database: