History of Film – Comprehensive Review (Modules 4-4E)

A comprehensive set of 60 Q&A flashcards covering key concepts, milestones, technologies, movements, and genre definitions from the Pre-Cinematic Age to the Digital Revolution, aligned with Modules 4-4E of the History of Film lecture notes.

What visual phenomenon makes motion pictures possible by allowing the eye to blend rapidly projected images?

Persistence of Vision

Which 1839 photographic process by Louis Daguerre helped pave the way for cinema?

The Daguerreotype

Who proved in 1878 that a galloping horse lifts all four hooves off the ground, and what was the photographic series called?

Eadweard Muybridge; “The Horse in Motion”

What 1882 invention by Étienne-Jules Marey recorded multiple images on a single plate to study movement?

The Chronophotographic Gun

Name the camera and individual viewing device developed by Edison and W. K. L. Dickson in the early 1890s.

Kinetograph (camera) and Kinetoscope (viewer)

What was the purpose of Edison’s “Black Maria” studio?

A rotating shed that maximized sunlight for filming early motion pictures.

Which 1894 short film shows an employee sneezing and is one of the earliest surviving Edison films?

“Fred Ott’s Sneeze”

What multifunctional device did the Lumière Brothers unveil in 1895 that served as camera, projector, and printer?

The Cinématographe

On what date did the Lumière Brothers hold the first public commercial film screening?

28 December 1895

Which short by the Lumières depicting employees exiting a factory was screened at that 1895 event?

“Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory”

What term described short non-fiction films of everyday events shown in early venues like vaudeville halls?

“Actualities”

Early storefront theaters that charged a nickel for admission were called .

Nickelodeons

What basic distinction in early film history contrasts one-off spectacles with story-driven works?

Novelty vs. Narrative

Which 1902 film by Georges Méliès pioneered special effects and fantasy storytelling?

“A Trip to the Moon”

Which 1903 Edwin S. Porter film advanced narrative and editing with cross-cutting and multiple camera angles?

“The Great Train Robbery”

Name the controversial 1915 film by D. W. Griffith noted for innovative editing and large-scale production.

“The Birth of a Nation”

Which Griffith follow-up (1916) was a colossal epic responding to criticisms of his earlier film?

“Intolerance”

What editing practice cuts between simultaneous actions in different places to create suspense or clarity?

Parallel Action (or Cross-cutting)

Define ‘mise-en-scène’ in the context of film.

Everything arranged in front of the camera—setting, lighting, costume, and actor movement.

What business model integrated production, distribution, and exhibition under one studio roof?

Vertical Integration (The Studio System)

What informal marketing method turned performers like Chaplin and Pickford into massive box-office draws?

The Star System

Which U.S. region became the center of film production due to weather, varied scenery, and distance from Edison’s patents?

Hollywood, California

What 1927 feature is considered the first commercially successful “talkie”?

“The Jazz Singer”

Name one major technological challenge filmmakers faced when sound was introduced.

Noisy cameras had to be blimped / Sensitive microphones limited actor movement / Synchronization issues (any one is acceptable).

Which color process introduced in the 1930s brought vibrant three-strip color to classics like “The Wizard of Oz”?

Technicolor

What self-censorship guidelines governed Hollywood content from the mid-1930s to the 1960s?

The Production Code (Hays Code)

Which 1941 Orson Welles film is renowned for deep-focus cinematography and complex sound design?

“Citizen Kane”

Identify three popular genres of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Examples include Musicals, Gangster Films, Screwball Comedies, Film Noir (any three).

What 1948 Supreme Court case ended studio ownership of theaters and forced divestiture?

The Paramount Decrees

Which post-war technology lured audiences away from theaters, forcing Hollywood to innovate?

Television

Name one widescreen or immersive format developed in the 1950s to compete with TV.

CinemaScope, VistaVision, Cinerama, or 3D (any one).

Which film movement championed auteur directors in 1950s-60s France, breaking classical rules?

The French New Wave

Give one hallmark director and film associated with Italian Neorealism.

Examples: Vittorio De Sica – “Bicycle Thieves” or Roberto Rossellini – “Rome, Open City”.

Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 film that introduced the ‘Rashomon effect’ of conflicting testimonies is titled .

“Rashomon”

Which 1967 film starring Warren Beatty signaled the start of New Hollywood’s edgier style?

“Bonnie and Clyde”

Name the 1972 crime saga that epitomized New Hollywood’s auteur-driven era.

“The Godfather”

What 1975 Steven Spielberg thriller is credited with inventing the modern summer blockbuster model?

“Jaws”

Which 1977 George Lucas film further solidified blockbuster strategies and merchandising?

“Star Wars”

Define ‘franchise filmmaking.’

Creating interconnected sequels, spin-offs, and related media designed for long-term brand profitability.

What pioneering 1982 film mixed live action with extensive computer-generated imagery inside a video-game world?

“Tron”

Which 1993 movie showcased realistic CGI dinosaurs, revolutionizing visual effects?

“Jurassic Park”

What was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, released in 1995?

“Toy Story”

Which company began as a DVD-by-mail service in 1997 and launched streaming in 2007, disrupting distribution?

Netflix

Name three major national cinemas that have become global forces outside Hollywood.

Examples: Bollywood (India), Korean Cinema, Chinese Cinema (others possible).

Which shared cinematic universe from Marvel Studios exemplifies 21st-century franchise dominance?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

What is the standard minimum running time that generally distinguishes a ‘feature film’?

Around 60 minutes (commonly 90–180 minutes).

Films shorter than roughly 40–50 minutes are categorized as .

Short Films

How does a documentary differ from narrative fiction film?

It aims to present factual information about real people, events, or issues using real footage and interviews.

What broad film type intentionally departs from conventional narrative to explore abstract ideas?

Experimental / Avant-Garde Film

Which genre focuses on high-energy sequences, stunts, and physical conflict?

Action

A film centered on exploration and quests in exotic locales belongs to which genre?

Adventure

Which genre’s primary goal is to provoke laughter through humorous situations and dialogue?

Comedy

Name the genre that emphasizes emotional realism and character-driven stories.

Drama

Which genre aims to frighten or disturb through suspense, gore, or the supernatural?

Horror

What genre explores speculative futures, technology, or extraterrestrial life?

Science Fiction

Films set in magical worlds with mythical creatures belong to which genre?

Fantasy

What genre revolves around building suspense and tension, often with twists?

Thriller

Stories about criminals, heists, or detectives are classified under which genre?

Crime

Which genre is traditionally set in the American frontier of the 19th century?

Western

A film that integrates songs performed by characters to advance plot or develop character is called a .

Musical

Which genre centers on unraveling a puzzle or crime, often featuring a detective?

Mystery

Films mainly about romantic relationships and emotional bonds fall under which genre?

Romance

What genre dramatizes the life of a real individual, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”?

Biographical Film (Biopic)

Which genre focuses on armed conflict and the experiences of soldiers, e.g., “Saving Private Ryan”?

War