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Innovations & Attractions: Film History Essentials of the 1800s
The indelible image of a train rushing at the screen as the audience gasps in terror has forever been etched into the annals of film history as cinema’s founding myth, emblematic of its beginnings as an art form. Yet the true dawn of cinema extends much further back.
Whether you’re an ardent connoisseur of silent films, or the existence of pre-1900 movies is news to you, this comprehensive guide serves as your key to the unexplored realm that is nineteenth-century cinema.
Delve into 100 meticulously-curated entries that provide invaluable insights, equipping you with the knowledge you need to comprehend and appreciate these early cinematic masterpieces. As you navigate the winding journey through this forgotten era, prepare to be delighted by a trove of surprises that lie tucked in its corners. Each turn promises to challenge your understanding of film history and reignite your passion for the art form. Welcome to a thrilling exploration of the cinematic universe that was here long before the films you know and love today—a world waiting for you to unearth its riches!
Whether you’re an ardent connoisseur of silent films, or the existence of pre-1900 movies is news to you, this comprehensive guide serves as your key to the unexplored realm that is nineteenth-century cinema.
Delve into 100 meticulously-curated entries that provide invaluable insights, equipping you with the knowledge you need to comprehend and appreciate these early cinematic masterpieces. As you navigate the winding journey through this forgotten era, prepare to be delighted by a trove of surprises that lie tucked in its corners. Each turn promises to challenge your understanding of film history and reignite your passion for the art form. Welcome to a thrilling exploration of the cinematic universe that was here long before the films you know and love today—a world waiting for you to unearth its riches!
641 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 29, 2023
I believe this is a valuable and entertaining resource for film fans, and I worked hard to add value as well as convenience to the published version. Each of the 100 entries includes key information about the film, a brief summary, some historical and production context, and a discussion of the experience of watching it and what to look for as you do. Woven throughout, you'll see the history of early cinema unfold before you, and meet many interesting recurring characters, as well as discover a great deal about global life and culture in the 1890s. As both a film buff and a history buff, I believe this book will offer endless fascination to readers who are interested in either subject.
August 30, 2023
Did I know I wanted to read a book about the film industry in the 1800s?
No.
Did I enjoy the book?
Immensely.
Did I learn anything?
Yes. The invention of the motion picture camera was not a singular event. Many people, across the United States and Europe, independently invented moving pictures. The birth of the film industry, both technically and artistically, was a complicated and complex process, and much has been obscured by propaganda or lost to history.
Did I watch the films?
Of course! They are nearly all on YouTube. I looked them up myself until it occurred to me to check if the author has a YouTube playlist. Here it is: Innovations & Attractions: Film History Essentials of the 1800s [YouTube playlist]
Were the films rubbish? They were all rubbish, weren't they?
They are early silent films that show the limitations of the technology, but surprisingly the picture quality is better than I expected. That is, most of them are simply awful, but a few of them are well-preserved and the picture quality is astonishing. It turns out that the poor quality of these old films is largely due to their deterioration with age. The few that are preserved well give us a glimpse into what they all must have looked like to contemporary audiences.
And the color! More than a few of these films from the late 1800s were colorized. (By hand. Color photography was a ways off yet.) I wasn't expecting color movies, but there they are. The author points out that a lot more color-tinted films existed, but the color prints wore out and many survive only in their uncolored versions.
Favorite film?
Le Manoir du diable (1896) (The House of the Devil) by Georges Méliès had me genuinely laughing. Well done.
Anything else?
I'm aghast at some of these early pioneers who became disillusioned and deliberately destroyed their own work.
No.
Did I enjoy the book?
Immensely.
Did I learn anything?
Yes. The invention of the motion picture camera was not a singular event. Many people, across the United States and Europe, independently invented moving pictures. The birth of the film industry, both technically and artistically, was a complicated and complex process, and much has been obscured by propaganda or lost to history.
Did I watch the films?
Of course! They are nearly all on YouTube. I looked them up myself until it occurred to me to check if the author has a YouTube playlist. Here it is: Innovations & Attractions: Film History Essentials of the 1800s [YouTube playlist]
Were the films rubbish? They were all rubbish, weren't they?
They are early silent films that show the limitations of the technology, but surprisingly the picture quality is better than I expected. That is, most of them are simply awful, but a few of them are well-preserved and the picture quality is astonishing. It turns out that the poor quality of these old films is largely due to their deterioration with age. The few that are preserved well give us a glimpse into what they all must have looked like to contemporary audiences.
And the color! More than a few of these films from the late 1800s were colorized. (By hand. Color photography was a ways off yet.) I wasn't expecting color movies, but there they are. The author points out that a lot more color-tinted films existed, but the color prints wore out and many survive only in their uncolored versions.
Favorite film?
Le Manoir du diable (1896) (The House of the Devil) by Georges Méliès had me genuinely laughing. Well done.
Anything else?
I'm aghast at some of these early pioneers who became disillusioned and deliberately destroyed their own work.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews