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The Lumiere Brothers
Patent and demonstate the Cinematographe, a camera and projector in one. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
A Trip To the Moon
Georges Melies' A Trip to the Moon is released. Based on the Jules Verne novel, this is considered one of the first science ficton films, It employed stop motion camera work and superimposition of images to create amazing special effects for this early period in film history. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
The Great Train Robbery
Edwin Porter's Great Train Robbery was released. One of the first Westerns. Produced by Edison Films. Used new film techniques such as shooting on location,and parallel editing by using cross cutting between separate storylines, "The Great Train Robbery (1903)." The Great Train Robbery (1903). 28 Jan. 2013 http://www.filmsite.org/grea.html. -
Birth of a Nation
Although racist in it treatment of African Americans, D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation was a technical achievement because of its epic treatment of the Civil War and its aftermath, as well as the maturity of its use of cinematic techniques such as close ups, as well as editing techniques such as fades and dissolves. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. . -
First documentary
Robert Flaherty's Nanook of the North, was the first narrative non fiction film It depicted life for the Inuit people in the Canadian Arctic. Some events shown in the film were staged however. "Documentary Films." Documentary Films. 28 Jan. 2013 http://www.filmsite.org/docfilms.html. -
The Jazz Singer
The first successful film with sound. Songs and some dialogue were recorded on records and synched to the film. Its success lead to sound equipment being installed in studios for recording sound and in movie theatres for playback of the soundtrack. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
The Hays Code
The Motion Picture Production Code, (aka the Hays Code), put into place guidelines about what would and would not be acceptable to be shown in motion pictures. Items that would not be allowed included premartial sex, alcoholism, and criminal or immoral behavior which did not go unpunished. "Film History Milestones - 1930." Film History Milestones - 1930. 28 Jan. 2013 http://www.filmsite.org/1930-filmhistory.html. -
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Technicolor
Technicolor, which recorded images on three differnt colored film stocks and then combined them to form a color image, went from being a novelty in this time period to comprising around 20 percent of the movie releases during this time span. Technicolor reached it pinnacle with the release of two films by director Victor Fleming; The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind.
Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: -
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Chaplin does not speak.
Despite the advances in sound sychronization, Charlie Chaplin, who had gained fame in the silent era for his character "The Little Tramp". contiuned to refuse to speak on screen. His classic films, City Lights and Modern Times used the soundtrack mainly for musical background and sound effects, not spoken dialogue. -
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was the first full length (83 minutes) animated feature film. -
Citzen Kane
One of the greatest films of all time was made by a first timer in Hollywood newcomer. By bringing his theatrical expertise to the use of space sets, lighting and realistic acting as well as a close collaboration with cinemetographer Greg Toland, Welles created an enduring masterpiece.
"Citizen Kane (1941)." Citizen Kane (1941). 28 Jan. 2013 http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. -
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Alfred Hitchcock
This time period marked some of the best suspense movies ever made, all created by one man; Alfred Hitchcock. This time span saw his production of Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959) and Psycho (1960). -
The Wild One(s) Method
Marlon Brando and James Dean, brougtht an increased rebelliousness and and instinctive, emotional style to the big screen. Their use of Method acting brought a non-conforist attitude to what was supposedly a conformist period of history. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
Movie Ratings Established
In 1968, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America set up ratings for movies. These included G - Gerneral Audiences, PG - Parental Guidance, M - Mature audiences, R - Restricted to 17 or over, and X - over 18 only. -
The Godfather
Two of the great films of all times, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather 1 and 2 were two of the best films of the 1970s. It marked the retun to superstardom of Marlon Brando and launched the careers of two more Method actors, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. -
Summer Blockbuster
Steven Spielberg's Jaws was the first hugely successful summer release, By opening in many theatres, and advertising heavily, as well as being a classic action/horror movie, Jaws began the attempts by Hollywood of having a summer movie make huge box office. "Jaws (1975)." Jaws (1975). 28 Jan. 2013 http://www.filmsite.org/jaws.html. -
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The MTv Effect
Because MTv and music video styles became very popular during the 1980s, they had a pronounced influence on the movies.Shorter shot times, the use of montage with popular music backgrounds all were seen in the visual styles of movies such as Top Gun, Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop. This visual style lent itself well to the big action pictures which also came about in the 1980s. -
Toy Story
This hit from Disney/Pixar was the first movie to be completely animated on computers. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
DVD Introduced
The introduction of the digital video disc has had a major impact on film and film study, Thes high quality reproductions of films in a digital format have since 2005, been the film industriy's biggest money maker. Advances in television monitors, computer technology and internet streaming have all opened new avenues for the viewing of films. Bergan, Ronald, and Ronald Bergan. "The Story of Film." The film book: A complete guide to the world of film. New York: DK Pub., 2011. 10-59. -
Avatar
James Cameron's Avatar was a technological breakthrough, using motion capture technology, digital filming and 3-D technology to tell the futuristic story of enviromental exploitation of a distant planet.
