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Creation of the Kodak Camera
The use of photographic film was pioneered by George Eastman. He started manufacturing paper film in 1885 before switching to celluloid in 1888-1889. His first camera, which he called the "Kodak," was first offered for sale in 1888. -
First Feature Film
In 1900, The Story of the Kelly Gang was made. It was over 1 hour in length and was about the training techniques of the British soldier. Defined by length, it was the first dramatic feature film. -
Edison's Kinetophone
Edison invented the Kinetophone, making talkies an option. They would not become popular for more than 20 years, however. -
The First "Talkie" Film
The first feature film originally presented as a talkie was The Jazz Singer, released in October 1927. A major hit, it was made with Vitaphone, which was at the time the leading brand of sound-on-disc technology. Sound-on-film, however, would soon become the standard for talking pictures. -
Technicolor
With the release of Becky Sharp, audiences could now see films in technicolor. Two-color film technology had been available, but rarely used since 1922. -
Citizen Kane
In Citizen Kane, Orson Welles subordinates all previous technological and cinematic accomplishments to his own essentially cinematic vision. Using newly developed film stocks and a wider, faster lens, Welles pushes the boundaries of montage and mise-en-scène, as well as sound, redefining the medium. -
The First 3-D Film
The first 3-D film, relying upon stereoscopic technology, achieved wide release in 1953. Earlier attempts had been made, but the 1950s saw the popularity of 3-d. -
The Release of Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece Psycho is not only one of the greatest films of all time, but also one of the most important. Too many films to mention have borrowed from its innovative marketing drive, countless great film-makers have been inspired to create their own masterpiece from Hitchcock's most famous work of cinema. -
Star Wars Released, Becoming a Worldwide Success.
Star Wars hits theaters—for the first time—and will go on to be the second highest-grossing film of all time. -
The Shining is Released
Finally grossing just over $44 million on a $19 million budget, The Shining was a moderate commercial success during its theatrical run, but was on the whole seen as a disappointment by audiences and critics alike. However, much like the previously mentioned Vertigo, The Shining’s influence and reputation grew with the advent of home video, and since the 1990s, has been rightly reappraised as a genre classic. -
Titanic Releases
Titanic crashes into theaters. It is the most expensive film of all time, costing between $250 and $300 million to produce and market. -
Disney Buys Pixar
The Walt Disney Co. pays $7.4 billion for Pixar Animation Studios, the powerhouse that created the Toy Story films, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles.