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INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FILM

History of Film: Silent Cinema

Before jumping into a historical study of film, it can be rewarding to take a survey of some key genres that define the medium, in this case: The The study of early cinema holds in it the key to understanding the filmic universe. The early silent films were the proving grounds of this great art. Anyone who works in film, video or animation would benefit from a thorough study of early film history. From camera moves, to lighting, to effects this is where you go to learn the ropes. And who better to learn from than by those who pushed the boundaries of this medium: Griffith, Eisenstein, Vertov, Gance, Chaplin, Lang, Keaton, Murnau.

Screenings

EARLY FILMS & FILMAKERS

Early Films of Interest 1894 - 1918

Films of the Lumiere Brothers

Films of George Melies

Films of Edwin S. Porter

Films of Emil Cohl, Feuillade and Durand


BIRTH OF A GIANT


D.W. Griffith Films for Biograph

The Birth of a Nation, 1915, D.W. Griffith

Intolerance (hand tinted), 1916, D.W. Griffith

Broken Blossoms (tinted/toned/music), 1919, D.W. Griffith


COMEDIC TRAGEDY& TRAGIC COMEDY


Charles Chaplin Short Films

The Immigrant, June 1917, Charles Chaplin

The Cure, April 1917, Charles Chaplin

The Gold Rush, 1925, Charles Chaplin


CLEVER DUMMIES

The Clever Dummy, 1917, Mack Sennett

One Week, 1920, Buster Keaton

Sherlock Junior, 1924, Buster Keaton


LITERARY NATURE OF FILM


The Fall of the House of Usher, 1928, Melville Webber and James Sibley Watson

Early Films of Abel Gance

La Roue <French Titles, 3 Hours (originally 9 hours)>, 1922, Abel Gance

Greed, 1924, Erich von Stroheim


Reading List
DAVID COOK
A History of Narrative Film

BRUCE KAWIN
How Movies Work


SURVEY
FILM GENRES
SURVEY
FILM AUTEURS
HISTORY of FILM
SILENT CINEMA
HISTORY of FILM
SOUND CINEMA
   
GENRE
DOCUMENTARY FILM
GENRE
HORROR FILM
GENRE
CLASSIC WORLD CINEMA
GENRE
NEW GLOBAL CINEMA
FILM & LITERATURE
CHRIST IN FILM
FILM & LITERATURE
DYSTOPIAN FILM
THE ART OF FILMMAKING
SHORT FILMS & ANIMATION
THE ART OF FILMMAKING
FILMS FOR FILMMAKERS
GREAT DIRECTORS
HITCHCOCK & TRUFFAUT
GREAT DIRECTORS
SCORESESE, SPIELBERG, COPPOLA
GREAT DIRECTORS
KIELSLOWKI, von TRIER, TYKWER
GREAT DIRECTORS
IGMAR BERGMAN

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