The primary photoprocesses in neutral and acid forms of oriented dried bacteriorhodopsin films were investigated by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. The excitation energy dependence of the signals was used to distinguish photochemistry from processes involving photophysics of photocycle intermediates. Both the kinetics and the quantum yield of all-trans excited state decay by retinal photoisomerization and subsequent J -> K transition were found to be very similar as in hydrated environments. Therefore, unlike slower photocycle phases, communication of the retinal with the environment does not play a role in retinal isomerization. Our results are important for understanding recent nonlinear optical applications of such films. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.