Film History 1895 to about 1914

Movies in America  They began in the East Coast of the United States  New York was the center for cinema at one time.  But there were problems with having the film industry there.  Inconsistent.

Problems and Solutions  As the cinema became popular there was a need to meet the demand.  So the film industry moved to….  HOLLYWOOD where it remains today.

First Film Studio  Hollywood – founded in 1909 by the Selig Polyscope company.  They rented the back lot of a Chinese laundry on Olive Street.  Today there are more than a dozen film companies, with the largest being Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal, Fox and Disney

Other fun facts  Studios were also in New Mexico and other parts of the country.  They too moved to the Los Angeles area due to cost issues.  The thinking was – why travel to these areas, when we can build sets that resemble these areas. (Hence Universal Studios).

The impact of Early Cinema  Was a past time and in today’s standards was considered Pop-culture.  One of modern industrial inventions.  Thomas Edison’s First Projected and screened moving picture in  With help from W.K.L Dickson, Edison adapted the phonograph.  This was done by “borrowing” ideas from the French.

Edison goes to France  In 1888  Etienne Marey builds a box type moving picture camera which uses an intermittent mechanism and strips of paper film.  In 1888 Edison travels to Paris and sees this device. The device uses flexible film.  Dickson acquires some Eastman Kodak film and starts to develop a new machine.

The Kinetograph is developed  This was developed in  1893: Dickson and Edison build a film studio in New Jersey.  First film “The Black Maria.”

Film further influenced by..  Henry Ford’s first motor vehicle in  This allowed for quick transportation modes.  Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone (1876(  Films continue to stay current no matter the era because they adapt to technology and make it part of the film – like texting bubbles today.

Motion Pictures Patents Co. Trust  Formed in 1908 by Edison.  This was the first film industry to monopolize the production and distribution of American movies.  Used Henry Ford’s efficiency model. (Distribution).  First films of MPPC Trust – The Great Train Robbery (1903).

MPPC Interests  They believed that most people that went to the movies were the elite.  Did not believe that the audience who went to films were immigrants, and working class patrons.  They didn’t believe they could sit and watch a film longer than 4 reels or 16 to 20 minutes.

Competitions from Independents  Independent film makers – Carl Laemmle, William Fox and Adoph Zukor.  Attributed to “inventing” Hollywood.  These three were first generation immigrants.

Filmmakers  Edwin S. Porter – he introduced story films for the Edison Manufacturing Company.  He is known for editing – taking scene shots from different times and places and piecing them together (Encyclopedia Britannica). His film, “The Great Train Robbery,” was acclaimed as the first successful film to establish continuous shots.

D.W. Griffith  First director-auteur. He is credited for creating many basic film techniques used today.  He screened his films to the working class.  Used movies as a means to bring about change and raise awareness.  1915 – “Birth of a Nation.” Captured violence and excitement of War (PBS).  He used extreme and dramatic camera angles, interweaved edits.  Film is attributed to raise of KKK, and riots in Black communities.

Intolerance (1916) - Griffith  A plea for understanding as social reformers sought censorship for the film “Birth of a Nation.”  Film introduced narrative complexity, and intertwined separate stories from different eras.  His films had sophisticated set designs.  (Source – PBS.org).

Mack Sennett  Former Vaudeville  He introduced “comedy”  His films had stunts, and exploited physical and geographic stereotypes.  Made films for Keystone Studios.

Influence of Films  Cautionary messages – Evils of modernity and urbanization.  Commentary on changing economy and political culture.  Nostalgia for simpler times.  Comedies – Showed an impatience with puritanical morality of 19 th century.

Silent Film

Silent Films  Accompanied Postwar Optimism and an economic boom.  Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties = Became the age when movie stars became popular.  Rudolph Valentino  Theda Bara  They were seen as those who could embody dangerous sexuality in an era that was known for urbanization, immigration and loosening of moral codes.

Actors  Wallace Reid, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and more…  Represented ideals – healthy, beauty and prosperity.  Actors became the reason why people went to the movies.  Couldn’t have a movie without a star.

1920s Studio Managers  Mostly Eastern European Jewish Immigrants found success operated the industry.  Laemmle (Universal)  William Fox (Fox)  Adolph Zukor (Paramount)  Marcus Loew (MGM)  Sam, Harry, Jack and Albert Warner (Warner Bros.)  These guys were businessmen – and not artists or Filmmakers.

Directors in the 1920s  D.W. Griffith  Cecil B. DeMille  Erich von Stroheim  F.W. Murnau  They all specialized in melodramas

Comedy Pioneers  Charlie Chaplin  Buster Keaton  Harold Lloyd  Laid the groundwork for contradictions between the American ideal and the realities of class difference; between freedoms and pleasures promised by modern life then; loss of traditional values

Opportunities for Women  Women could write and direct  June Mathis – “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” starring Rudolph Valentino (1921) directed by Rex Ingram.  Jeannie Macpherson – “The Cheat” (1915)  Frances Marion – won Oscars for “The Big House,” (1930) directed by George W. Hill. And King Vidor’s “The Champ.” (1931)

Women in Filmmaking  Alice Guy – or Alice Guy Blache – “The Making of an American Ciziten” (1912) – considered one of the first Female Directors if not THE first.  Louis Weber – “The Merchant of Venice,” (1914).  Dorothy Arzner – “The Wild Party,” (1929)

Women in the industry  As actors – celebrated for their beauty.  Took on traditional “house wife” roles.  Seen as the center for morals and values.  As Filmmakers (writers or directors) they were seen as having the insight to emotion.

Assignment for Thursday  Continue reading Chapter 9  If you did not have the book and still need to do the assignment from this past week (page 18 and19 of book) do so and have it ready to turn in on Thursday.