History Mid

Early Film Innovators

• Louis Le Prince:

  • Credited with the oldest surviving film, predating other film pioneers.

  • His work remained largely unrecognized in mainstream cinema.

• Thomas Edison:

  • Influenced by Eadweard Muybridge and hires William Dixon to develop inventions related to film.

  • Created the Kinescope and Kenograph:

    • Kinescope involved a private viewing experience, leading to a stigma due to the nature of some early subjects filmed.

• Lumière Brothers:

  • Developed a superior film projection system that enabled public viewing on screens, promoting a shared cinematic experience.

  • Their innovations led to the success of early filmmakers like Alice Guy and Georges Méliès.

Early Film Techniques and Milestones

• Alice Guy:

  • Directed over a thousand short films, significant in early cinema history.

• Georges Méliès:

  • Known for theatrical performance and cinematic tricks, such as stopping and starting the camera.

  • Famous for the film A Trip to the Moon, which features hand-painted color versions.

  • Suffered financially as his works were exploited by others, notably Edison.

Development of Film Language

• Edwin S. Porter:

  • Worked under Edison; his contributions included camera movements and editing that established film language.

  • Directed The Great Train Robbery, which was critical for the success of Nickelodeons (movie theaters).

The Motion Picture Patent Company (MPPC)

• Formed due to patent wars among early filmmakers.

• MPPC's Practices:

  • Prioritized profit over quality, focusing on short one-reel films.

  • Stifled American filmmaking innovation compared to other countries.

• First Feature Film:

  • The Story of the Kelly Gang from Australia, representing a longer film format.

Emergence of Hollywood

• Shift Toward Hollywood:

  • Filmmakers sought freedom from MPPC's restrictions by moving to California, notably the suburb of Hollywood.

• Key Figures:

  • Cecil B. DeMille: First to direct feature-length films in Hollywood.

  • D.W. Griffith: Controversial figure due to his films' subject matter but influential in film techniques.

    • Notable works: Birth of a Nation and Intolerance.

  • Max Sennett: Focused on comedy and talent like Charlie Chaplin.

Stars of Silent Film Era

• Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks:

  • Power couple; Pickford was one of the first major female stars.

  • Fairbanks known for adventure films; their marriage catalyzed their careers.

• Oscar Micheaux:

  • First black director, faced challenges due to racial barriers in the industry.

Global Influence and Movement

• Post-World War I Developments:

  • Soviet Union started first film school; significant figures include Sergei Eisenstein who introduced montage theory.

• German Expressionism:

  • Notable films include The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, Metropolis.

  • Filmmakers like Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau later migrated to the U.S. due to the rise of the Nazi party.

Key Developments in the 1920s

• By 1920s, major studios in the U.S. emerged with iconic stars:

  • Lon Chaney (Man of a Thousand Faces), Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Greta Garbo.

• First Synchronized Sound Film:

  • The Jazz Singer, marking a significant evolution in film technology.