1: Five Defining Moments of Cinema Pre-1930's

WORKERS LEAVING THE LUMIERE FACTORY IN LYON (1895)

 

This 46 second film is a landmark of film production and often quoted as the first documentary film ever made. It was captured by Leon Bouly's invention the Cinematograph which also acted as a projector and developer. The Lumiere brothers directed the short film and used the Cinematograph for the first time to capture the documentary. It was showcased among 9 other short motion pictures at the first private screening in the Grand Cafe in Paris on the same year.  

More information can be found here: http://www.vdb.org/titles/workers-leaving-factory       

THE ENCHANTED DRAWING (1900)

J. Stuart Blackton was deemed as one of the first silent animation producers in the film industry when he produced and directed this short motion picture. The short clip portrays himself as the artist that draws a bust of a man and then they begin to interact with each other. Stop motion techniques are utilized in the interaction aspect of this film and Blackton was one of the first animators to do so.

More information can be found here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/03/23/the-enchanted-drawing/   

BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)

D.W. Griffiths 'Birth of a Nation' is a silent American film that had caused as many controversies as it had triumphs. The film is a two-and-a-half hour dramatic piece set during the American Civil War and depicts personal battles between fictional characters along with historical events. Controversial representations of African-Americans as villains and the Klu Klux Klan as heroes led to its condemning from most critics. More so, it was voted at 44 of "America's top 100 films" by the American film institute in 1998 which added fuel to the controversy. However, the film's cinematography was evidently innovative with different and existing camera techniques being implemented. Shooting at different angles and panning shots to name but a few.

More information can be found here:  http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2013/02/birth-of-a-nation-revisited.html     

THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY 1903

Edwin S. Porter's, produced by Thomas Edison, 'The Great Train Robbery' is a Classical American Western style of film. It proved to be a ground-breaking piece that was the first full length narrative film running at 12 minutes. 4 bandits are the main characters that manage to hijack a train and steal the belongings of the passengers but are eventually gunned down by the operator and his men. Very popular at the time of its release that it led to movie theaters being permanent establishments for the public to enjoy. All of the scenes were shot on location and involved new camera techniques such as cross cutting. This western classic was the first of its kind and set the bar for future productions of the same genre.

More information can be found here: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1900s/qt/trainrobbery.htm     

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920)

This film is a major influential piece of German Expressionism. It is a film that could be seen as one of the first horror films on its release. It is also an artistic piece that can portray Germany, at the time, through character and backdrop representations.There was a need to escape the horrors of reality due to the political conflict of WWI and this film sought to create a aestheticized world instead of showing reality. Herald Walder ( Robert Wiese directed this silent horror classic that told the story of a somnambulist (Conrad Veidt) controlled by Dr. Caligari to murder certain inhabitants of Holstenwall. From an abstract setting to the over dramatic characters made this film an instant classic that influenced the Film Noir style.

More information can be found here: http://www.helium.com/items/874102-movie-analysis-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari