From the early 1900s to 1927 the film industry went under a lot of change. Some of the ideas and principles that were developed during this time are still used in Hollywood today. Some of the important ideas of this time period were the change from films that had no narrative to the development of narrative, the formation and growth of production companies and producers, the way movies were shot, and the actors that were used in them.
The Development and Growth of Production Companies
In 1908 Thomas Edison with the group of 9 other producers's developed Motion Picture Patents Company. This company was made to control the production of films. They controlled the development of films by only allowing certain directors or producers to use their patented equipment. This created a monopoly on the market and greatly affected the development of films.
MPPC Film Company Executives at the Edison Laboratory in 1908
In 1909 one of the first independent films was released by a brand-new company called Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Picture Company. This film was called Hiawatha. It was based on the poem, The Song of Hiawatha. This film was one of the first films to be released with no affiliation to the Motion Picture Patents Company. Laemmle's company eventually would become Universal Pictures which is still a company today.
Universal Pictures logo
From the 1952 film Viva Zapata.
By 1912 there were more than 15 production companies working in Hollywood and around Los Angeles. These companies included The Fox Film Foundation that was created by William Fox. This company would become one of Hollywood’s foremost movie companies. The movie companies began moving from Chicago and New York to Los Angeles. Los Angeles’ climate was ideal for filmmakers to shoot movies year-round. Not only did Los Angeles have a great climate, but it also has a large variety of different settings like mountains, cities, fields and oceans. This made it the ideal place for shooting movies.
During 1914 World War I broke out. This made it very difficult for the European film companies to produce movies. This allowed American movies to grow in Europe which helped American companies thrive. As the American companies made more money productions became more complex and larger
In 1917, the Jesse L. Lasky Company merged with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company. They formed Famous Players-Lasky. This new company was named Paramount pictures. They have the logo of the mountain peak and stars. This film studio is still in Hollywood today.
1918 was a big year for the film industry. It continued to grow with companies like Warner brothers making studios. Not only were film studios growing but the US court ordered the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband. The company was officially terminated. This decision caused Thomas Edison to completely abandon the film industry. This gave film companies more freedom than ever before.
By 1925 most of the major studios were formed. This included what was known as the big 5 (Warner Brothers, Fox (later 20th Century Fox), RKO, Loew's Inc. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)), Paramount (from Famous Players-Lasky). The production of films became streamlined with the development of large studios. These large sudios were able to create hundreds of movies a year. In 1927 the silent era ended when the Warner Brothers released, The Jazz Singer.
The Development of the Movie Star
In 1908 Florence Lawrence was paid $25 a week by the director D.W. Griffith at Biograph. She starred in a role in a Western film, The Girl and the Outlaw. This new contract made Florence Lawrence one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. By 1912 people began to pick out certain actors or actresses that they liked and the words like “stars” began to appear in newspapers. In 1914 an actor named Charlie Chaplin was recruited by Keystone Studios. Chaplin entered the film industry with the release of the Keystone Cops Comedy. Charlie Chaplin continued to make dozens of films for Keystone Studios. In 1917 Charlie Chaplin became the first actor to sign a million dollar deal. He worked The First National Studios and made nine films with them.
Florence Lawrence
Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford established United Artists. The idea behind this group was to gain control of their own work. The hope was for artists to join together and then split the profits of the film rather than being under a fixed salary and letting the large studios take home the rest of the money.
United Artists 1919
The Development of Hollywood Movies
In 1908, actor W Griffith began directing films for Biograph which was part of the Thomas Edison group. His first film was called, The Adventures of Dollie. This was one of the first films to be made on location away from the studio. Griffith developed many filming techniques including crosscutting and increasing the number of shots in the film. During this time Griffith continued to change how films were made by introducing things like close-ups and breaking scenes up into multiple shots. There were about 9000 movie theaters in the United States and movies were typically between 10 and 12 min. long. In 1910 the first Frankenstein monster movie was made. The film was directed and written by J. Searle Dawley and was 16 min. long. In 1912 most motion pictures began to move into real theaters. The Keystone Studio's comedy short The Bangville Police (1913), directed by Henry Lehrman, was released In 1913. In 1915 Griffith was back and made the film, The Birth of the Nation. The film had a budget of $110,000 and earned more than 10 million dollars, making it the first ever block buster. As in 1918 the first Tarzan film was released and it was directed by Scott Sidney. In 1919 Walt Disney teamed up with a group of people to make one of his first cartoons.
Nanook of the North.
Robert Flaherty's Nanook of the North, a record of Inuit Eskimo life was one of the world's first documentaries. This was debated because some scenes were re-created. In 1922 Walt Disney released his first cartoon called Little Red Riding Hood. By the time 1925 came around movies like Ben Hur were being released and making more than nine million in the box office.
Throughout the the start of the 20th century studios went from being small one-person operations to massive million-dollar businesses that could produce hundreds of movies every year. Actors went from being not even recognized on screen to world-famous stars. Finally movies changed from being a small sideshow attraction to centre stage with huge production value. They became the ideal way for the 20th century artist to express his feelings and thoughts.
Clip Analysis
A Corner in Wheat
Watch from 7:40 to 9:00
Description A Corner in Wheat was a short film directed by DW Griffith in 1909. The film starred several actors including Frank Powell, Grace Henderson and James Kirkwood. The film is about a rich businessmen who decides to try to monopolize the wheat market. The film begins by showing a farmer working in his field and planting crops. It then cuts to the rich businessman who begins to buy out the wheat business. When he eventually succeeds it flips back to the poor farming people. When they go to pick up bread it is too expensive for them to buy. The poor farmers begin to riot, however the riot is crushed. Just when it appears like the rich businessman has succeeded he trips and falls into a grain silo and is buried by his own wheat and dies.
Observation DW Griffith was one of the first directors to shoot close-ups as well as use crosscuts. Crosscuts are used in this film to help emphasize the difference between the rich and the poor. An example is when Griffith shifts between the poor waiting in the bread line and the rich businessmen celebrating when they have successfully cornered the market.
Analysis
A Corner in Wheat is one of the first films to have social commentary in it during this time. When the film was released James A. Patten had begun to take over the wheat market which drove up prices. Griffith was one of the first directors to say something through his films.
Evaluation
This film was very important to the film industry, because it made people realize that film can be used as a voice and to help change how people thought about things. This film also plays an important role in history because it helped develop film into what it is today. It uses things like cross cuts and close-ups to help emphasize points. Also, it helped develop the way stories were told through film.
Kid Auto Races at Venice
Description The film, Kid Auto Races at Venice, was produced by Keystone Studios in 1914 and directed by Henry Lehrman. The movie begins with a camera filming a baby cart race in Venice, Los Angeles. However from the get go it becomes apparent that Charlie Chaplin’s character is obsessed with being on camera. What proceeds is six minutes of spectators and cameramen getting more and more frustrated with Charlie Chaplin as he performs different stunts to try to get in front of the camera.
Observations
This film was the film that the audience saw Charlie Chaplin’s well-known character in it. The film was shot during the actual baby cart race in Venice, Los Angeles. Charlie Chaplin performed during the actual race and improvised on the spot. This was one of the first movies to break the fourth wall. It uses a second camera to film the first camera filming Charlie Chaplin as he is in front of it.
Analysis
The Kid Auto race at Venice was one of Charlie Chaplin’s first movies, however it introduced one of his finest characters and defined the humour of Silent films. People instantly connected with Charlie Chaplin's character and to this day the humor still applies
Evaluation
This film changed a lot about the industry. In the beginning people were amazed at watching film and how cameras worked. However with films like these, movies went from showing the capabilities of the camera to having characters and stars that people loved. This movie will have the lasting legacy of being one of the first movies to show one of the world’s most beloved characters.
The Big Parade (1925)
Description
The Big Parade is a silent film directed by King Vidor and stars John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth, and Claire McDowell. The Big Parade was distributed by MGM Studios. It was the biggest grossing silent film ever. The story is about a rich young man named Jim who gets enlisted into the Army during World War I and is shipped off to France where he experiences the trauma of war. While in France Jim makes friends with two other men and falls in love with a young woman named Melisande. The clip starts during a scene of them talking together. They eventually decide to go on a walk, however Jim and Melisande get separated. When Jim has to go back to fight, he is eventually shot in the leg. It is discovered that his leg will have to be cut off. Jim is sent back to the United States. Eventually, Jim goes back and finds Melisande in France and the movie ends.
Observations
The Big Parade was at the prime of silent films and uses many modern techniques like multiple different shots during a scene as well as jump cuts. It also uses interesting angles. At this point in time, the quality of the cameras increased so the images were a lot clearer for people to see. This allowed the actors not to have to over act as well as the ability for the director to pick up on small facial reactions.
Analysis
The Big Parade gives a look into the terribleness of war. However, it also gives the audience something to be happy about with the love story of Jim and Melisande. The Big Parade inspired many films like it afterwards because the audiences loved it so much. The film also gave people a view of the reality of war. Throughout the second half of the movie, it shows how terrible war can be through several large battles.
Evaluation The Big Parade was in the golden years of silent film and made more money than any other film before it. It has been said to be the inspiration for films like, All Quiet on the Western Front and was the start of war dramas in Hollywood.
The Development and Growth of Production Companies
In 1908 Thomas Edison with the group of 9 other producers's developed Motion Picture Patents Company. This company was made to control the production of films. They controlled the development of films by only allowing certain directors or producers to use their patented equipment. This created a monopoly on the market and greatly affected the development of films.
In 1909 one of the first independent films was released by a brand-new company called Carl Laemmle's Independent Moving Picture Company. This film was called Hiawatha. It was based on the poem, The Song of Hiawatha. This film was one of the first films to be released with no affiliation to the Motion Picture Patents Company. Laemmle's company eventually would become Universal Pictures which is still a company today.
By 1912 there were more than 15 production companies working in Hollywood and around Los Angeles. These companies included The Fox Film Foundation that was created by William Fox. This company would become one of Hollywood’s foremost movie companies. The movie companies began moving from Chicago and New York to Los Angeles. Los Angeles’ climate was ideal for filmmakers to shoot movies year-round. Not only did Los Angeles have a great climate, but it also has a large variety of different settings like mountains, cities, fields and oceans. This made it the ideal place for shooting movies.
During 1914 World War I broke out. This made it very difficult for the European film companies to produce movies. This allowed American movies to grow in Europe which helped American companies thrive. As the American companies made more money productions became more complex and larger
In 1917, the Jesse L. Lasky Company merged with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company. They formed Famous Players-Lasky. This new company was named Paramount pictures. They have the logo of the mountain peak and stars. This film studio is still in Hollywood today.
1918 was a big year for the film industry. It continued to grow with companies like Warner brothers making studios. Not only were film studios growing but the US court ordered the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband. The company was officially terminated. This decision caused Thomas Edison to completely abandon the film industry. This gave film companies more freedom than ever before.
By 1925 most of the major studios were formed. This included what was known as the big 5 (Warner Brothers, Fox (later 20th Century Fox), RKO, Loew's Inc. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)), Paramount (from Famous Players-Lasky). The production of films became streamlined with the development of large studios. These large sudios were able to create hundreds of movies a year. In 1927 the silent era ended when the Warner Brothers released, The Jazz Singer.
The Development of the Movie Star
In 1908 Florence Lawrence was paid $25 a week by the director D.W. Griffith at Biograph. She starred in a role in a Western film, The Girl and the Outlaw.
This new contract made Florence Lawrence one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. By 1912 people began to pick out certain actors or actresses that they liked and the words like “stars” began to appear in newspapers. In 1914 an actor named Charlie Chaplin was recruited by Keystone Studios. Chaplin entered the film industry with the release of the Keystone Cops Comedy. Charlie Chaplin continued to make dozens of films for Keystone Studios. In 1917 Charlie Chaplin became the first actor to sign a million dollar deal. He worked The First National Studios and made nine films with them.
Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford established United Artists. The idea behind this group was to gain control of their own work. The hope was for artists to join together and then split the profits of the film rather than being under a fixed salary and letting the large studios take home the rest of the money.
The Development of Hollywood Movies
In 1908, actor W Griffith began directing films for Biograph which was part of the Thomas Edison group. His first film was called, The Adventures of Dollie. This was
Robert Flaherty's Nanook of the North, a record of Inuit Eskimo life was one of the world's first documentaries. This was debated because some scenes were re-created. In 1922 Walt Disney released his first cartoon called Little Red Riding Hood. By the time 1925 came around movies like Ben Hur were being released and making more than nine million in the box office.
Throughout the the start of the 20th century studios went from being small one-person operations to massive million-dollar businesses that could produce hundreds of movies every year. Actors went from being not even recognized on screen to world-famous stars. Finally movies changed from being a small sideshow attraction to centre stage with huge production value. They became the ideal way for the 20th century artist to express his feelings and thoughts.
Clip Analysis
A Corner in Wheat
Watch from 7:40 to 9:00
Description
A Corner in Wheat was a short film directed by DW Griffith in 1909. The film starred several actors including Frank Powell, Grace Henderson and James Kirkwood. The film is about a rich businessmen who decides to try to monopolize the wheat market. The film begins by showing a farmer working in his field and planting crops. It then cuts to the rich businessman who begins to buy out the wheat business. When he eventually succeeds it flips back to the poor farming people. When they go to pick up bread it is too expensive for them to buy. The poor farmers begin to riot, however the riot is crushed. Just when it appears like the rich businessman has succeeded he trips and falls into a grain silo and is buried by his own wheat and dies.
Observation
DW Griffith was one of the first directors to shoot close-ups as well as use crosscuts. Crosscuts are used in this film to help emphasize the difference between the rich and the poor. An example is when Griffith shifts between the poor waiting in the bread line and the rich businessmen celebrating when they have successfully cornered the market.
Analysis
A Corner in Wheat is one of the first films to have social commentary in it during this time. When the film was released James A. Patten had begun to take over the wheat market which drove up prices. Griffith was one of the first directors to say something through his films.
Evaluation
This film was very important to the film industry, because it made people realize that film can be used as a voice and to help change how people thought about things. This film also plays an important role in history because it helped develop film into what it is today. It uses things like cross cuts and close-ups to help emphasize points. Also, it helped develop the way stories were told through film.
Kid Auto Races at Venice
Description
The film, Kid Auto Races at Venice, was produced by Keystone Studios in 1914 and directed by Henry Lehrman. The movie begins with a camera filming a baby cart race in Venice, Los Angeles. However from the get go it becomes apparent that Charlie Chaplin’s character is obsessed with being on camera. What proceeds is six minutes of spectators and cameramen getting more and more frustrated with Charlie Chaplin as he performs different stunts to try to get in front of the camera.
Observations
This film was the film that the audience saw Charlie Chaplin’s well-known character in it. The film was shot during the actual baby cart race in Venice, Los Angeles. Charlie Chaplin performed during the actual race and improvised on the spot. This was one of the first movies to break the fourth wall. It uses a second camera to film the first camera filming Charlie Chaplin as he is in front of it.
Analysis
The Kid Auto race at Venice was one of Charlie Chaplin’s first movies, however it introduced one of his finest characters and defined the humour of Silent films. People instantly connected with Charlie Chaplin's character and to this day the humor still applies
Evaluation
This film changed a lot about the industry. In the beginning people were amazed at watching film and how cameras worked. However with films like these, movies went from showing the capabilities of the camera to having characters and stars that people loved. This movie will have the lasting legacy of being one of the first movies to show one of the world’s most beloved characters.
The Big Parade (1925)
Description
The Big Parade is a silent film directed by King Vidor and stars John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth, and Claire McDowell. The Big Parade was distributed by MGM Studios. It was the biggest grossing silent film ever. The story is about a rich young man named Jim who gets enlisted into the Army during World War I and is shipped off to France where he experiences the trauma of war. While in France Jim makes friends with two other men and falls in love with a young woman named Melisande. The clip starts during a scene of them talking together. They eventually decide to go on a walk, however Jim and Melisande get separated. When Jim has to go back to fight, he is eventually shot in the leg. It is discovered that his leg will have to be cut off. Jim is sent back to the United States. Eventually, Jim goes back and finds Melisande in France and the movie ends.
Observations
The Big Parade was at the prime of silent films and uses many modern techniques like multiple different shots during a scene as well as jump cuts. It also uses interesting angles. At this point in time, the quality of the cameras increased so the images were a lot clearer for people to see. This allowed the actors not to have to over act as well as the ability for the director to pick up on small facial reactions.
Analysis
The Big Parade gives a look into the terribleness of war. However, it also gives the audience something to be happy about with the love story of Jim and Melisande. The Big Parade inspired many films like it afterwards because the audiences loved it so much. The film also gave people a view of the reality of war. Throughout the second half of the movie, it shows how terrible war can be through several large battles.
Evaluation
The Big Parade was in the golden years of silent film and made more money than any other film before it. It has been said to be the inspiration for films like, All Quiet on the Western Front and was the start of war dramas in Hollywood.