1949-05-13

2012 (Restoration)

Short

black and white

Sound

00:09:00

This short documentary is the first of a series put together by film industry professionals and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, dedicated to informing and educating the public on the development and history of motion pictures. A brief history of the movies roots the industry’s development in the 20th century, progressing from the penny arcade to the nickelodeon to projected film with an audio soundtrack. Brief clips from silent films that chronicle the growth of story, characters and mise en scene include EASY STREET, IN THE HILLS OF OLD KENTUCKY, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY and BIRTH OF A NATION. Sounds films which also demonstrate a rapid growth in technology include THE JAZZ SINGER, RICHARD III and NIGHT SONG. By the late 1940s there are more than 80,000 movie theaters across the world and it remains the greatest medium of entertainment. Movies are associated with Hollywood, California, where much of the American film industry is located. Film, the reliable medium standard used by the industry, is made from cellulose, a bi-product of cotton coated with silver for stabilization. In future installments this series will outline the myriad of other components that go into making movies, including close examinations of industry personnel and their respective jobs.

M3117