History of FilmHistory of Film

Mrs. JollyMrs. JollyGrand Valley High Grand Valley High

SchoolSchool

Early History of CinemaEarly History of Cinema*Optical toys, shadow shows, 'magic *Optical toys, shadow shows, 'magic

lanterns,' and visual tricks have existed lanterns,' and visual tricks have existed for thousands of years. Many inventors for thousands of years. Many inventors observed the visual phenomenon that a observed the visual phenomenon that a series of individual still pictures set into series of individual still pictures set into motion creating the illusion of movement motion creating the illusion of movement - a concept termed - a concept termed persistence of visionpersistence of vision..

*First Machine that showed animated *First Machine that showed animated pictures was the “zoopraxiscope” in pictures was the “zoopraxiscope” in 1867.1867.

Moving drawings or photographs Moving drawings or photographs viewed through a slitviewed through a slit

The Birth of US CinemaThe Birth of US CinemaThomas Edison & William DicksonThomas Edison & William Dickson

Goal was to creating a device to record Goal was to creating a device to record moving pictures.moving pictures.

Kinetiscope (1894)Kinetiscope (1894)floor-standing, box-like floor-standing, box-like

viewing device. Basically a viewing device. Basically a bulky, bulky, coin-operated, movie "peep coin-operated, movie "peep show" show" cabinet for a single cabinet for a single customer customer

The Lumiere BrothersThe Lumiere Brothers They created their own combo movie camera They created their own combo movie camera and projectorand projector

A more portable, hand-held and lightweight A more portable, hand-held and lightweight device that could be cranked by hand and could device that could be cranked by hand and could project movie images to several spectators.project movie images to several spectators.

Was dubbed the Was dubbed the CinematographeCinematographe and and patented in February, 1895. The multi-purpose patented in February, 1895. The multi-purpose device (combining camera, printer and device (combining camera, printer and projecting capabilities in the same housing) was projecting capabilities in the same housing) was more profitable because more than a single more profitable because more than a single spectator could watch the film on a large spectator could watch the film on a large screen. screen.

They used a film width of 35mm, and a speed They used a film width of 35mm, and a speed of 16 frames per second - an industry norm until of 16 frames per second - an industry norm until the talkies. the talkies.

First Permanent Movie First Permanent Movie Theatres Theatres

Films were increasingly being shown as part of Films were increasingly being shown as part of vaudeville shows, variety shows, and at fairgrounds or vaudeville shows, variety shows, and at fairgrounds or carnivals. carnivals.

Audiences would soon need larger theaters to watch Audiences would soon need larger theaters to watch screens with projected images from screens with projected images from VitascopesVitascopes after the after the turn of the century, using stage and opera houses and turn of the century, using stage and opera houses and music halls. music halls.

The earliest 'movie theatres' were converted churches The earliest 'movie theatres' were converted churches or halls, showing or halls, showing one-reelersone-reelers (a 10-12 minute reel of (a 10-12 minute reel of film - the projector's reel capacity at the time). film - the projector's reel capacity at the time).

In 1897, the first real cinema building was In 1897, the first real cinema building was built in Paris, solely for the purpose of showing built in Paris, solely for the purpose of showing films. The same did not occur until 1902 in films. The same did not occur until 1902 in downtown Los Angeles where Thomas L. Talley's downtown Los Angeles where Thomas L. Talley's storefront, 200-seat Electric Theater became storefront, 200-seat Electric Theater became the the firstfirst permanent US theater to exclusively permanent US theater to exclusively exhibit movies exhibit movies

NickelodeonsNickelodeons-Cost a nickel-Cost a nickel-Usually accompanied with organ -Usually accompanied with organ music.music.-Initially individual viewing machine.-Initially individual viewing machine.

The Silent EraThe Silent Era Georges Melies’ Georges Melies’ A Trip A Trip

to the Moon,to the Moon, 1902 1902 Pioneered editing, Pioneered editing,

special effects, and special effects, and story tellingstory telling

Edwin S. Potter’s Edwin S. Potter’s The The Great Train RobberyGreat Train Robbery, , 19031903 11stst western western Had a story, action, and Had a story, action, and

editingediting

Standard length of films Standard length of films was about one reel or 10-was about one reel or 10-15 minutes15 minutes

Feature films started in Feature films started in AustraliaAustralia

D.W. Griffith picked up on D.W. Griffith picked up on itit Made Made Birth of a NationBirth of a Nation in in

19151915 Most popular film of the Most popular film of the

1910s1910s Extremely racistExtremely racist Led to the rebirth of the Led to the rebirth of the

KKKKKK 1911, 11911, 1stst animated film animated film

releasedreleased Winsor McCay’s Winsor McCay’s Little Little

Nemo in SlumberlandNemo in Slumberland

New York (Queens) New York (Queens) led early film makingled early film making

By the 1920s, By the 1920s, Hollywood emerged Hollywood emerged as the world’s film as the world’s film leaderleader Almost 800 films a Almost 800 films a

yearyear Great climate and Great climate and

room to workroom to work Era dominated by Era dominated by

Tom Mix, Charlie Tom Mix, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Douglas Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, and Clara Fairbanks, and Clara BowBow

Talking FilmsTalking Films Al Jolson’s Al Jolson’s The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer

was the 1was the 1stst film with sound, film with sound, 1927 1927 Used the Vitaphone Used the Vitaphone

systemsystem By 1929, almost all films By 1929, almost all films

were “talkies”were “talkies” Many silent film stars and Many silent film stars and

directors couldn’t adaptdirectors couldn’t adapt Started the Golden Age of Started the Golden Age of

HollywoodHollywood Lasted until the 1950sLasted until the 1950s

Golden Era of Golden Era of HollywoodHollywood

1929, the 11929, the 1stst Academy Academy Awards are given outAwards are given out The OscarsThe Oscars

1929, the 11929, the 1stst full-length all full-length all color films are releasedcolor films are released

Movies thrived during the Movies thrived during the Great DepressionGreat Depression Offered Realism or Offered Realism or

EscapismEscapism

King KongKing Kong, 1933, 1933 It Happened One NightIt Happened One Night, ,

19341934 Snow White and the Seven Snow White and the Seven

DwarfsDwarfs, 1937, 1937 Gone With the WindGone With the Wind, 1939, 1939 The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz, 1939, 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Mr. Smith Goes to

WashingtonWashington, 1939, 1939 Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights, 1939, 1939 StagecoachStagecoach, 1939, 1939 Citizen KaneCitizen Kane, 1941, 1941 CasablancCasablanca, 1942a, 1942 HUAC investigates HUAC investigates

Hollywood for communist Hollywood for communist activitiesactivities 19 are blackballed19 are blackballed

TV emerges in the 1950s as TV emerges in the 1950s as studios are broken up for studios are broken up for being monopoliesbeing monopolies Ends the Golden EraEnds the Golden Era

The Production CodeThe Production Code Production Code was enforced on films from 1930 until 1967Production Code was enforced on films from 1930 until 1967

Strict guidelines film makers followedStrict guidelines film makers followed The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association

(MPPDA)(MPPDA) Now called the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Now called the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA),

The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles":The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles": 1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of 1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of

those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin. thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.

2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama 2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. and entertainment, shall be presented.

3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be 3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation. created for its violation.

The 1950’s in FilmThe 1950’s in Film Decline in popularity Decline in popularity

led to innovations to led to innovations to lure audiences backlure audiences back More color, wide More color, wide

angle shots, 3D films, angle shots, 3D films, sex appeal, and epic sex appeal, and epic filmsfilms

The Ten The Ten CommandmentsCommandments, , 19561956

Ben-HurBen-Hur, 1959, 1959 SpartacusSpartacus, 1960, 1960 GiantGiant, 1956, 1956

The 1960’s in The 1960’s in FilmFilm

Hollywood declines moreHollywood declines more More films made on locationMore films made on location Still family oriented early in the Still family oriented early in the

decadedecade Innovators led to a rekindling of Innovators led to a rekindling of

filmfilm Dr. StrangeloveDr. Strangelove, 1964, 1964 The GraduateThe Graduate, 1967, 1967 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968, 1968 Midnight CowboyMidnight Cowboy, 1968, 1968 Easy RiderEasy Rider, 1969, 1969

Led to a New HollywoodLed to a New Hollywood MPAA rating system debuted in MPAA rating system debuted in

19681968 Ended the reign of the film Ended the reign of the film

production codeproduction code

The 1970s and the New HollywoodThe 1970s and the New Hollywood

A New Group of filmmakers A New Group of filmmakers emergedemerged Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Francis Ford Coppola, Steven

Spielberg, George Lucas, and Spielberg, George Lucas, and Brian de PalmaBrian de Palma

The Godfather, The Godfather, 19721972 The ExorcistThe Exorcist, 1973, 1973 JawsJaws, 1975, 1975 Star WarsStar Wars, 1977, 1977 Animal House, Animal House, 19781978 Close Encounters, 1977Close Encounters, 1977

JawsJaws and and Star Wars Star Wars led to led to blockbuster filmsblockbuster films

Mid 70’s and beyondMid 70’s and beyond Blockbusters continue to be madeBlockbusters continue to be made

--ET,ET, 1981 1981--Rocky,Rocky, 1977 1977--Raiders of the Lost Art,Raiders of the Lost Art, 1981 1981

The industry has adapted to home viewing: VCR and DVDThe industry has adapted to home viewing: VCR and DVD Digital effects and CGI emergeDigital effects and CGI emerge More sequels, remakes, and adaptations recentlyMore sequels, remakes, and adaptations recently

--Of Mice and Men,Of Mice and Men, 1992 1992--Rambo: First Blood movies,Rambo: First Blood movies, 1980s 1980s--Ocean’s Eleven,Ocean’s Eleven, 2001 2001

Independent films are gaining larger audiencesIndependent films are gaining larger audiences--The Pianist,The Pianist, 2002 2002--Good Will HuntingGood Will Hunting, 1997, 1997--Pulp FictionPulp Fiction, 1994, 1994