It began in 1895, when Leon Gaumont, a young engineer with a passion for photographic technology, was inspired by the Lumieres Cinematographe to enter the new world of film. A century later, Gaumont's company produces, distributes, and exports film worldwide. Its rich legacy includes such talents as Alice Guy, the first woman film director, Louis Feuillade and his inventive serials Les Vampires, the rebel director Jean Vigo, and the sultry star Martine Carol, and recent Gaumont films such as Cousin Cousine, Betty Blue, My Father's Glory and La Femme Nikita have won international acclaim. Here, in a lively text and vivid illustrations, is the history of Gaumont, the oldest movie company in the world.