El beso

In a medium closeup shot of the first kiss ever recorded on screen, actors May Irwin and John C. Rice perform the controversial final scene of the stage musical play "The Widow Jones". Sometimes referred to as "The May Irwin Kiss" or "The Rice/Irwin Kiss", this tantalizing re-enactment depicts two fervent lovers cuddle, talk passionately at a hair's breadth--and just before the love-smitten gentleman decides to go in--he swiftly brushes his well-groomed mustache to give his chosen one an innocent peck, rather than a hot-blooded kiss. Of course, things have significantly changed since 1896, and what is now viewed as innocuous, it was scandalous back then.