The Execution of Mary Stuart is a short film produced in 1895. The film depicts the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It is the first known film to use special effects, specifically the stop trick. The 18-second-long film was produced by Thomas Edison and directed by Alfred Clark and may have been the first film in history to use trained actors, as well as the first to use editing for the purposes of special effects. The film shows a blindfolded Mary (played by Mr. Robert L. Thomae, male actor in Shakespeare-Tradition also for female cast) being led to the execution block. The executioner raises his axe and an edit occurs during which the actor is replaced by a mannequin. The mannequin's head is chopped off and the executioner holds it in the air as the film ends. Availability This film is in the public domain. See also List of horror films of the 1890s External links The Execution of Mary Stuart for download "Alfred Clark, Narrative and Special Effects Pioneer" 1895 films 1895 horror films 1890s American films American black-and-white films American silent short films Films set in Tudor England Films about Mary, Queen of Scots Films about capital punishment Films set in Northamptonshire Articles containing video clips American horror films Films produced by Thomas Edison 1895 short films Decapitation Silent horror films