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22.02.2022
The Beginnings

Criterium for film:

Audience

Moving picture

Tickets

Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904)

Originally-English photographer

Credited with creating one of first movie picture-The Horse in Motion

Nature photographer-landscape and architecture

Credited with creating one of the first moving picture-The Horse in Motion

Spent most of years in USA

Vernal Falls, 1872

Participated in discussion-turned into bet-whether horse while galloping lifts

up all hooves of ground-does so

Invented device-placed number of cameras-connected them with tiny rope

which horse would touch while galloping-activating shutter and taking
picture-combined them all producing one of first films

Wasn’t credited as first film maker ever-no tickets

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Originally inventor, industrialist

Developed phonograph, motion picture camera, light bulb

His inventions established new industries:

22.02.2022 1
 Sound recording

Motion pictures

Telecommunications

Generally not credited as being first filmmaker

Skill for turning everything into business venture

Lots of his patents-stolen-no copyright observed

When employing people to make movies for him-very often made sure that
other companies-had equipment destroyed, mugged by people he’d hire-
huge demand for moving pictures-money to be made-competition bad-
wanted to make sure that his films were completed-not nicest of people

Invented kinetoscope-connected pictures rolling at certain speed-did not

allow for audience-solitary experience

Some of first films available-pornography

Kinetoscope parlours existed-allowed for one person at a time to watch

selected film-boxers fighting, people dancing-first film-2 males dancing

2nd/3rd filmmaker

Very quickly started hiring people to make movies for him-Edwin Stanton
Porter-produced first action movies ever-The Great Train Robbery

His persona-highlights difference between early European (exploration of

new technologies, possibilities, joy) and early American (business)
cinematography

Auguste Lumière (1862-1954) and Louis Lumière (1864-1948)

Earliest filmmakers

True inventors of movie industry

Acted like child who got their first camera

Their invention-cinematograph-smaller, compact than Edison’s-at first

heavy but then developed to make it more portable-started travelling around
Europe-Warsaw, Russia and even USA showing films

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 Thought of it as making money

Not interested in developing technology other than for reasons which would
make them even more money

Never thought it would last, develop into industry

Convinced that attracting person’s attention for more than few minutes-
impossible

One-day wonder-decided to strike while it was hot

Fulfilled all 3 conditions

Their films featured:

No plot (except for The Sprinkler Sprinkled)

First public screeing-28 December 1895-Paris-10 short films-first of

which-”Workers Leaving the Factory”

“Arrival of Train”-people scared that it would leave screen-legend

Camera didn’t attract attention in public places like today-people looked at

it, not knowing they were filmed, unimpressed

“Baby’s Lunch”

“The Sprinkler Sprinkled”-gardener and apprentice, apprentice steps on

hose causing water shortage, gardener inspects, apprentice releases foot
and gardener get sprinkled and starts chasing apprentice-first comedy

Used a small salon-offered owner a share of profits-refused-did not believe

it would work-settled of fixed amount of money-nothing compared to
amount of money public screenings brought-made millions

Some argue-films were documentaries

Georges Méliès (1861-1938)

Originally magician

French illusionist, filmmaker

Innovator in special effects use, some by accident-aided by his background

Best known films:

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 A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Full of special effects

Full of ridiculous ideas-could get to moon from Earth by jumping on

it

Sci-fi/adventure

Plot not much different from contemporary sci-fi, action, adventure

Aliens

Exploration

Last-minute escape

Different worlds

Special effects

The Impossible Voyage (1904)

Both films considered most important early sci-fi films

Not interested in making money-not primary aim-financial carelessness

caused him to become bankrupt-worked in a candy shop in Paris-forgotten
in his lifetime

First filmmaker who saw potential, not afraid to experiment

Filmed chronicles, newsreels-street life

According to legend-camera got jammed, restarted, resulted in 2 images

being superimposed on one another-inspired him to experiment with special
effects-manipulation of reality

According to rumours-shot 500 films-some lost, burned, not recovered

Exploration mission

First films he made-first films in general with plot-sci-fi

Brought sense of wonder to cinema

One of first who worked almost entirely in studio-arrange costumes, people,

magic tricks

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 󾓦
01.03.2022
Early American Cinema

Business-primary goal

Professionalised-very quickly

Hollywood chosen due to weather, cheaper labour, more space

Conquered world as knew what audiences wanted-good story to identify with

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Business-primary goal

Set up what today’s known as studio system-groups of people

professionalised themselves into cinematic industry jobs

Edwin Stanton Porter (1870-1941)

Early American film pioneer

Director at Edison’s company

Most important films:

Life of an American Fireman (1903)

Uses, apparently, real footage from training sessions of American

fireman-nicely weaved in

Simple story-house on fire, firemen arrive, kid left behind in house,

one of fireman gets in and both survive

Allowing audience to identify with heroic act-giant step for cinematic

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

First action movie/crime thriller

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 Simple story-train robbed, couple of people die, family despair,
robbers escaping, police arrive and shoot most dead

Action in 2 places at same time-meant that cinema did not have to

be restricted

Took camera out of stable position-camera travels with characters

Story of good and evil-good wins, evil punished

Not much different from contemporary films-basic structure

One of most prolific early directors-had an eye/ear for good story, not afraid
to translate story into visually attractive spectacle

D. W. Griffith (1875-1948)

American film director

Known for use of advanced camera and narrative techniques

Made first feature-length films in USA

Controversial

His first blockbuster film-”Birth of a Nation” (1915)

Controversial as celebrates KKK-caused protests, apparently has been

boycotted by plenty pro-liberal activists-

Story of 2 families in Civil War, protagonist represents South-initiates

cavalry rescue at 11th hour-demonstrates that war may be over by
feelings alive

Based on Thomas Dixon’s book-The Clansman

Hundreds of extras, guns, cavalry-large enterprise

Introduced real-life characters-people with faces, names, background

Ordinary people’s dilemmas weaved into historical context relatable to

most Americans back then-Lincoln’s assassination

Inspired by European films

Produced “Intolerance” (1916)

American silent film

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 Considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Silent Era

Features monumental sets, lavish period costumes, >3,000 extras

4 films in 1

Parallel stories occurring simultaneously of human intolerance-trying to

make up for the racist “Birth of a Nation”

Located in Ancient Babylon, crucifixion of Christ, religious persecution

in France, person wrongly accused by contemporary cult

Tens of thousands people involved in general

Stage sets present in Hollywood for 12 years as it was too expensive to

remove-were there rotting

Original version-72 hours, later cut to 3-3.5 hours

Less controversial

Talks about human intolerance and its devastating consequences

Techniques and tricks used in “Birth of a Nation”-mastered and

improved

Love, adventure story

Different periods, locations

Considered to be one of first filmmakers who knew how to support story

with cinematic expression-collected all narrative tricks, directing strategies,
action sequences, multiple locations, camera movement, perfect timing,
political context

Jack of all trades, talented

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 8/3/22 lecture
Early European Cinema
early, not earliest

19/20th c.

George Albert Smith

astronomer, inventor, pioneers of British Cinema

developed film editing and close-ups

key member of the loose association of early film pioneers known as the Brighton
School
Grandma’s Reading Glass - 1900 short silent drama film demonstrating the new
technique of close-up

Charles Pathé
French pioneer of the film and recording industries
had his own directed logo

Ferdinand Zecca
early French film director
directed and supervised Pathé films

The History of a Crime, 1914 - considered as the first European crime drama
he introduced retrospection

Giovanni Pastrone
an Italian film pioneer, director, screenwriter
Cabiria, 1914 - inspired by Sienkiewicz’s Quo Vadis

Sarah Bernhardt
a French stage and early film actress
“the most famous actress the world has ever known”

8/3/22 lecture 1
 very often played men, e.g. Hamlet in The Duel of Hamlet, 1900 - it’s believed to be
the earliest film adaptation of the play, directed by Clément Maurice

they were not afraid to experiment and introduce very original components to
filmmaking, unfortunately now they are mostly forgotten
American cinematography (viewer oriented and business oriented) vs European
cinematography (not preoccupied in making money only)
sometimes creators are more interested in audience’s wallet rather than in audience’s
mind

8/3/22 lecture 2
 15.03.2022
Early Swedish Cinema

Domestic/Scandinavian & Finnish literature and nature-characteristic features

Distinctive yet universal film collection

Sense of doom, nature relationship, depiction of personal dilemmas and

traumas

Mature works

Particular approach to nature-status of independent character-often cruel,

powerful

Some say-Hollywood killed one of most original European cinematography of

silent era

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940)

Swedish author

First woman who got the Nobel Prize for literature

Her works used in film by Victor Sjöström and Mauritz Stiller in films such
as:

Gösta Berling’s Saga

Original version 4 hours, American version cut by half

Sir Arne’s Treasure

Dark story

16th century war time

The Phantom Carriage

Most films 1-2 hours

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 Most books-don’t end well-death, personal trauma-Anglo-Saxon fate

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)

Prominent realist writer

Major 19th century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, poet

Often referred as “father of realism”

Ranked as one of most important playwrights in European tradition

Major works include:

Brand

Peer Gynt

An Enemy of the People

A Dolt’s House

Terje Vigen

One of first most popular Swedish films

Mauritz Stiller (1883-1928)

Finnish-Swedish film director

Pioneer of Swedish film industry

Wrote and directed many short films

Became leading figure in Swedish filmmaking

Known for discovering Greta Garbo and bringing her to Hollywood

Works

Gösta Berling’s Saga

Story of Lutheran vicar, expelled from service due to lifestyle, love

affair, memory trauma, ends with Gösta Berling and his newly
befriended mistress try to start new life, aura of inescapbility

Sir Arne’s Treasure

16th century war

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 Scottish mercenaries escaping and invading Sir Arne’s household,
after his wife had a dream of 3 guys sharpening knives, killed whole
family but daughter, falls in love with one them (unknowingly), fight
breaks out where she’s killed accidently, her lover regrets and
funeral

Films seemed more contemporary to those in other countries

Theatrical atmosphere rather than simple adaptations

Victor Sjöström (1879-1960)

Swedish film director, screenwriter, actor working in Sweden

Moved to Hollywood in 1924

Many of his films based on stories by Selma Lagerlöf

Films are marked by subtle character portrayal, evocative settings in which

Swedish landscape often plays key psychological role

Most prolific and productive

Landscape-beautiful yet hostile, dangerous

Most famous films:

Terje Vigen (1917)

Based on Henrik Ibsen’s story

Similar to Sir Arne’s Treasure-located in Scandinavian history

Personal drama-happy family killed by foreign soldiers, later turns

out washed ashore small Norwegian island, widower him

Moral dilemmas

History-blind, accidental creature forcing people to make choices

they’d probably not do otherwise

The Outlaw and His Wife (1918)

Nature given its fullest presence

Complicated military history

Wars between Sweden, England, Scotland, Norway

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 Outlaw-converted invader who starts happy life with his wife and
child

Due to evil neighbours, had to flee, lead happy life in nature

(mountains)

Nature-protection, escape from people were evil, reporting what’s

suspicious

Fate-during one of harsh winters-unable to survive, film concluded

with image of them 2 frozen-sense of doom, loss, death

The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Körkarlen in Swedish (The Wagoner)

Generally considered one of central works in Swedish and

European cinema history

Directed by and starred Victor Sjöström

Based on novel Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness! (Körkarlen; 1912) by

Selma Lagerlöf

Notable for its special effects, advanced narrative structure (with

flashbacks within flashbacks), and having been major influence on
Ingmar Bergman’s works

Mood of emptiness of landscape and characters-contemplating

past traumas, moral decisions in solitude and silence

Based on legend told by one of characters, most of film takes place

in flashbacks

Last person to die on given year-doomed to collect souls of people

who died following year

Following characters-who committed suicide, wasted lives on

gambling, drinking-each character has grim story-Henrik Ibsen said
that “all families happy in same way, but unhappy in their own way”

Wagoner-collects souls-suicide, taken by sea

Nature-sea-close-ups

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 Films didn’t end well-death, philosophical dilemma, loss, aura of doom

Greta Garbo (1905-1990)

One of first movie stars

European star sucked into American society

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 󾓨
22.03.2022
Early German Cinema

Multi-layered, complex

Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947)

Not associated with German expressionism

Popular, quickly moved to Hollywood and developed talent there

German actor, screenwriter, producer, director of many notable comedies of

manners and historical dramas

Successful Hollywood director

Often credited with discovering Pola Negri (Apolonia Chałupiec)-one of

biggest silent cinema stars

Films-monumental, high-budget, meant to entertain, exotic locations,

strange love affairs, sometimes notable characters of history

Adventure/comedy

Film studio-UFA-founded, swallowing smaller studio-Hollywood style-due to

WWI, number of American films restricted due to sanctions-hard times for
German audiences-inspired filmmakers associated with UFA to produce
own films-consolation to society which was traumatised by war, in need of
escape, trying to preserve what was left of German character-didn’t work
out well

Criticised for seeing history in terms of playground/battlefield of love affairs,

simple instincts, history shown as spectacle

Made some adaptations

Madame DuBarry

Famous films

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 The Eyes of the Mummy (1918)

Features Pola Negri

Adventure story in exotic location, curse related to Egyptian

mummy

Pola Negri (Apolonia Chałupiec) (1897-1987)

Began career in a Warsaw theatre

Began cooperation in Germany

Marriage story-Hollywood like-caught smuggling films to Germany-officer

responsible for interrogation-became her husband

Big fame and fortune in USA

One of most prominent actress

Devoted film producer-cooperated with Charlie Chaplin

One of most important names in silent film era

German expressionism

Reaction against realism

Set designs with non-realistic angles

Plots dealing with madness, insanity, betrayal

Distorted visions of reality

Emotional traumas instead of objective reality

Scenery, light etc. enhancing mood of film

Inspiration for Film Noir-further inspired “Blade Runner”

Highlight subjective world views

Shot inside in specially prepared scenery

Distorted angles, intoxication

Stories told-for some critics they were distant, sinister premonition of things
to come-can be too-far fetched

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 In most films-particular monstrous character manipulating everyone else, to
be feared by everyone-mainly man or evil

Locations-interiors (rooms, castle)

Most characters suffering from emotional traumas-sense of fear, distrust,

exploration of traditional legends, subtle play with light

Generate sense of anxiety, uncertainty, sense of silent/not-silent trauma

Bleak reality of post-war period

Depressing, pessimistic

Camera movement-different angles, reflected not only audience’s way of

looking at things, but also given camera type of identity

Real monsters reside within humans due to greed for power, monstrous
intentions

Films include

The Student of Prague (1913)

Directed by Paul Wegener

Considered one of first films of German expressionism

The Golem: How We Came into the World (1920)

Directed by Paul Wegener

Artificial human being

Poster-distorted visions

Destiny (1921)

Directed by Fritz Lang

Original title: Der müde Tod (Weary death)

Story of unfortunate love-man’s fiancée asks death to save her love

3 times-never works

Phantom (1922)

Directed by F. W. Murnau

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 Story of death, lost love, regret, guilt

F. W. Murnau (1888-1931)

One of most influential German film directors of silent era

Prominent figure in expressionist movement in German cinema in 1920s

Best known for

Nosferatu (1922)

Adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula published 25 years before

Instant classic, fresh

Film unfortunate-Murnau forgot to settle copyright fee-movie sued,

legal action taken

Defining expressionist movies-vampire, doesn’t have aristocratic

charm, seen as clerk/office worker due to uniform, hat, obsessive
control, castle interior different to that from Transylvania

Basic plot same, sense of anxiety, oppression, evil there

Clock striking 12, visitor cuts himself, blood (sucking out precious
life)

Premonition of Nazi regime to come

Evil character-manipulates, imprisons guest-metaphor of society

Not vampire sleeps at night, but society being hypnotised

Robert Wiene (1873-1938)

Influential film director of German silent cinema

Known for

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Defining film of German expressionism

Not made by UFA-but by independent studio

Tells story of psychiatric hospital director, capable of manipulating

some of his patients, turning out to be a psychiatric patient himself

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 Idea of madman manipulating nation into terrible things-one of
moments when cinema predicts reality

Interiors-stage-set, bridging gap with architecture-feeling of them

about to crumble, leaning towards one another-sense of
imprisonment, in middle of which morbid creatures manipulate our
fate-promising something we’d like to know (future), but when we
find it’s usually death

Camera-insane

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 󾓨
29.03.2022
Early German Cinema

Fritz Lang (1890-1976)

German-Austrian filmmaker, screenwriter, film producer, actor, architect

Early in career-representative of expressionism-precursor to film noir genre

Appointed by Goebbels as one of key directors of UFA studio-despite being

half-Jewish

During hard 1920s with inflation, social uncertainties-tried to bring back a

forgotten sense of German pride-turned to legends and myths

Famous films

Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (1922)

English title “The Gambler”

One of his first films

Typical expressionist story-criminal mastermind who has gambling

habit, uses hypnosis to manipulate other members of criminal
underground

Die Nibelungen (1924)

Based on old-German, pre-Christian myth-Siegfried’s adventures

Based on epic poem written in 1200 AD-Nibelungenlied

Fantasy

Aiming at restoration of German pride-lost after WWI

2 films made

Die Nibelungen: Siegfried

29.03.2022 1
 Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild’s Revenge

Despite dealing mostly with open spaces, great Germanic forests-

still had expressionist aura-forest being magical, oppressive,
unrealistic

Metropolis (1927)

Crowning touch of his career

Epic sci-fi film

Regarded as pioneer work of sci-fi movies

First feature length move of the genre

Futuristic urban dystopia/anti-utopia featuring range of elaborate

special effects and set designs

Controversial

Not liked by critics

H. G. Wells, whose books (“The Time Machine”, “The Sleeper

Awakes”) were used as inspiration, hated it-mainly for simplicity of
plot

World’s most expensive silent film at time of release

Staggering special effects, setting

Original copy-lost, found 80 years later in museum in Argentina-

possibly taken by Nazis who fled-restored but never fully, shown in
2010 and 2020

Today, considered classic of sci-fi, silent cinema

Predicted number of themes-cyborg

Modelled on real life New York

Due to being an architect by profession-Lang’s films were well

prepared in terms of design-urban landscape, elaborate traffic-
masterpiece for its time

29.03.2022 2
 Subtle dystopian features-double clock-different clock for ordinary
people and different one for workers, whose life is arranged around
a shift

Plot-simple-2 groups of people (technological elites running city and

workers), elite lives above, latter underground, largely anonymised,
even way of walking mechanical moving more and more
underground, one day one of lower grounders takes group of
children to show how their rich brothers live and she catches
attention of the son of the man who runs the city, falls in love with
her, explosion takes place, nobody interested in fate of victims, the
son becomes titular heart

Whole film based on idea “between head and hands there must be
a heart”-brain and workers of city must be connected by emotional
human friendly connections so that all is happy

First proper android-Maria

Oppressive atmosphere

Mood of no horizon, constant conflict, sense of doom

Dehumanisation-in huge urban machinery-some critics argue

connection to Auschwitz

M (1931)

Sometimes renamed M for Murder

Drama-thriller

Fritz Lang’s first sound film

Explores story of a real-life serial killer, Peter Kürten (Vampire of

Düsseldorf), murdering children

Invented serial killer/crime drama film

Not only police but also local criminal underground

Sound film

Has expressionist aura-evolving to film noir

29.03.2022 3
 Film noir (black film) would not exist without Fritz Lang, Metropolis-defined
by oppressive urban environment, play with light (very bright or very dark),
mostly night, rain, female characters (mostly femme fatales), crime stories

After M-moved to USA

Kammerspiel

Inspired by German expressionism

Reaction to German expressionism

Chamber spiel

Preoccupied with real problems of real life-still too much theatricality-drama

was personalised still abstract

F. W. Murnau (1888-1931)

Evolved from expressionism to Kammerspielfilm (chamber play)

Film

The Last Laugh (1924)

Also known as

German title-Der letzte Mann (The last man)

English title-The Last Laugh

Polish title-Portier z hotelu Atlantic (The Hotel Atlantic

Porter)

One of most important of movement

Written by Carl Meyer

Features Emil Jannings

UFA production

Plot-typical German story, heading towards new objectivity,

realism, social realism-man loses job hotel porter, doesn’t tell
anyone, humiliated in having to take off uniforms hiding this
from his family, still goes to work daily only to work in toilet
area-social degradation reflecting that of in post-war period,

29.03.2022 4
 explores fact that we need keep up certain appearances
sometimes even in front of our family

Uniform makes man, you are what you wear-once taken,

identity damaged-never made it in US

Things happen inside-room, revolving doors (symbol of fate,

may not always lead you were you want to end up), life as a
metaphor of life-never staying too long, nothing permanent in
life

Ends well-millionaire arrives at hotel and main character

befriends him and regains his job

Carl Meyer (1894-1944)

Probably one of first professional scriptwriters

Wrote scripts for Murnau’s films

Emil Jannings (1884-1950)

One of most popular actors of the movement

Realism/New Objectivity

Counter-reaction to German expressionism-socially-oriented tendency

Georg Wilhelm Pabst (1885-1967)

Predominately associated with cinematic movement wanting to present

a view totally opposite to that of German expressionism and
Kammerspielfilm-realist, socially-oriented, exploring dark side of social
existence rather than twisted area of individual mind

Austrian film director

Films concerning difficult situation of the poor, women and other

marginalised characters in German society

One of most prominent directors of realist art movement in cinema-New

Objectivity

Explored alcoholism, homosexuality, addictions, homelessness,

poverty, unemployment

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 Matter-of-fact, no special effects, no twisted interiors, no sophisticated
light play, semi-documentary

Not complicated stories around harsh reality

Occasionally with a knight in shining armour to save female protagonist

from having to become a prostitute, pay medical bills for her ageing
father, not realistic

Known for

Joyless Street (1925)

Features Greta Garbo

29.03.2022 6
 󾓬
05.04.2022
Early Russian Cinema

Political

Two faces

Pre-Revolution-largely forgotten today

Post-Revolution-Soviet Union, propaganda

Lost its innocence

Not all about propaganda

What characterises especially Soviet cinema-unprecedent amount of

experimentation, desperate desire not only for publicity, only cinema not
concerned with finance (all state-sponsored), box office results irrelevant in
favour of power of message

Opened up early-1896, year after Lumière brothers started cinematic business,

went to Russia to promote, provoke interest, inspire, one of first trips

Pre-Soviet Cinema

Alexander Drankov (1886-1949)

Films

Stenka Razin (1908)

Story of 17th century revolutionary against absolute power of

Tsar

Folk hero

Meant to build up sense of national pride and identity

Dying world

05.04.2022 1
 Often accompanied by choirs

Full-fledged cinematic effort

Aleksander Khanzhonkov (1877-1945)

Films

Defence of Sevastopol (1911)

Real life event

Documentary like

Reference to Crimean War-Russian fought against English

Plenty of extras

Historical accuracy

One of first movies shot with more than 1 camera-same scene

shot from 2 different angles then edited together-rare back then

Lev Kuleshov

Quoted as inventor of Kuleshov effect-used in most films-editing, art of

montage, putting together images generating meaning

You show man’s face, then show a bowl of soup, then man’s face
again, you see hunger-replace soup with a woman and handbag-
you see desire, even though it’s the same man’s face

One can manipulate people’s emotion-important everyone realised

power of persuasion-film-number 1 mean of expression and
representation of all times

Both gathered group of people

Both largely forgotten today

Explored important events of Russian history, local mythology

Changed after 1917-required new man-class conscience, interested in

social promotion and emancipation, politically engaged, aware of need for
workers and farmers to cooperate for common benefits-didn’t work-
nowadays, looks like manipulation, brainwashing, propaganda, back then-

05.04.2022 2
 difference between art and ideology very slim-sometimes created amazing
effects

Soviet Cinema

Film was supposed to be a mean of liberation

Everything becomes animated-even chairs in cinema-previously for

bourgeoisie, now opening themselves to common people

Experimentation, creativity clearly seen

Not for profit-message much more important

Dziga Vertov (1896-1954)

Soviet documentary film pioneer, newsreel director, cinema theorist

Closely involved with Soviet propaganda apparatus

Once liberated from obligation of producing box office success-

concentrated on experimenting-special effects, illusions,

Never believed in writing proper stories-documentary component much

more important-common man-workers, farmers-unsung hero of new
world order

Films

Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Probably his most famous

Takes camera out and starts shooting everything

Editing process-introduces a very important dynamics

Everything is in motion

Idea of new country, social system

Poster-cubism, art of architecture, action taking place inside

characters-evolving, creating, changing, moving

Three Songs About Lenin (1934)

Propaganda-blatant

05.04.2022 3
 Propaganda and ideology merged

By today’s standards-ridiculous attempt at glorifying political

leader-loves his people, is everywhere, embodies spirit of
nation, superhuman character and creature

Naïve aura

First song

Attack on religion

Lenin (saviour of nation) comes with electricity, revolution-

forced into choice-should we be progressive or stay with
religion, social injustice

Clear difference between both films-Man with a Movie Camera-more

universal story of someone being able to depict and see things in way
of recording changed-anyone can be the man, Three Songs About
Lenin-expression of political agenda

Sergei Eisenstein (1898-1948)

Soviet-Russian film director, film theorist

Pioneer in theory and practice of montage

Clearly involved and sucked into Soviet propaganda machine

Less experimental

Built up tension through unexpected scenes-masterful

Films

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Whole universe and its metamorphosis-located on board of

ship-sailors treated very badly by officers given rotten food
which they refuse to eat and rebel against authority-fits within
revolutionary rhetoric-members of ancient regime brought
onboard and massacred-famous Odessa steps

When soldiers pacifying rebels and civilians-not often portrayed

as human beings but ruthless depersonalised machinery of

05.04.2022 4
 oppression-boots walking not human beings-walk in unison

Against this inhuman, oppressive power-innocent civilians,

mothers, children-Odessa staircase scene-pram with baby
inside starts rolling down after baby’s mother has been shot
dead-baby, symbol of new country and social order, born out of
chaos and violence-but must be saved-without new-born
babies, change will never occur-still happens today

Instant success

Helplessness of human beings, ruthlessness of oppressors-

nothing human about the latter

05.04.2022 5
 😆
12.04.2022
Silent Comedy

Different from contemporary comedy

One of main genres, and reasons for people to go to theatres, particularly in

USA

People needed a laugh

Escape from harsh, unsatisfactory reality

Seen as therapeutic-helping people forget about problems

Universal

Explored cinematic potential-not a lot of special effects, not much social

commentary

Different types

Stage personas-most important

European comedies-more sophisticated-slipping on banana peel was American

type

Gabriel-Maximilien Leuvielle (1883-1925)

Stage name-Max Linder

French actor, director, screenwriter, producer, comedian

Made >100 short films portraying “Max”-a wealthy, dapper man-about-town

frequently in trouble-related to unfortunate social relationships that he got
involved in-like mother-in-law

Established pattern for comedy performers-making certain type of persona,

going through number of episodes, constant point of reference in looks,
behaviour, reaction (predictable)

12.04.2022 1
 Set certain model-not much about circumstance but character

Made 1 film a week

Films

Max and His Mother-in-Law (1911)

A Farmhouse Romance (1912)

Max Wants a Divorce (1917)

Seven Years Bad Luck (1921)

Charles “Charlie” Chaplin (1889-1977)

At one point the most famous person on Earth-tells us how powerful cinema
was

Created persona of a tramp-renowned for it

British film actor, comedian, director, producer, writer, musician, music

composer

Born in London, spent most career life in America, where his talent came to
fruition, becoming one of most famous comedians of all time

Mother was an actress

When sound introduced in 1927-very reluctant to introduce it-at one point

had no choice but to start speaking, not remembered films-when opened
his mouth-something gone, lost

Example of comedy where social issues intertwine with personal traumas-

due to his tramp character-hat, shoes, stick, way he walked, moustache-
easily recognisable-managed to create person everyone could identify with-
even if one’s life was not as miserable as the titular’s tramp

Audiences of all social groups loved him-as there was lost character in each
and everyone-idea of him not having enough money for himself but was
ready to share, hoping to be friends with rich people, betrayed next day not
knowing who he was next time, fell for same ideals, hopes like everyone
else but would never succeed

12.04.2022 2
 Failure-his most recognisable trademark-audiences could hear and feel for
that-not everyone immediately successful

Always explored lower-shelfs of society-on verge of poverty and even poor

Was at mercy more powerful forces which shaped history

Entrepreneur

Sensitive towards others

Films

The Kid (1921)

Kid broke windows-Chaplin immediately offered repairs, then

pretended he doesn’t know the kid

The Gold Rush (1925)

No gold available-starvation-option-Chaplin made meal out of his

own shoe-eats it in a way to make us aware it’s the most delicious
meal ever

City Lights (1931)

Modern Times (1936)

Still silent despite sound movies (talkies) already available for a

decade-Chaplin stubbornly insisted on making silent movies

Never gave up on idea of human being being at mercy of newly,

ever-present industrial complex

Indirectly criticising obsession of modern effectiveness and efficacy-

idea that human life part of factory life where increased speed of
production-debilitating-risk loss of mind and sense of reality-distant
premonition of ever-present consumerism obsession

Literally swallowed by machinery-travels along guts of machine-

finally machine spits him out-but not the same man again-
completely lost with reality-sees machines everywhere-feels like
repairing everything

12.04.2022 3
 Horizon-gone-man transformed by industrial complex-Chaplin’s
genius comes to fruition better than anywhere else-social criticism-
looking at things from someone who is in lower social classes-
made his characters relatable

We are at mercy of machines-they give us work but also change

our perspective

The Great Dictator (1940)

Parody of Adolf Hitler

Always same pattern-exploring lives of those who can’t enjoy luxuries of

modern life-occupied with lower structures of social classes, ordinary
people

Joseph Keaton (1895-1966)

Known as Buster Keaton

Unusual actor-never showed any emotion-his trademark

American comic actor, filmmaker, producer

Best known for silent films-his trademark was physical comedy with
consistent stoic expression

Gets into trouble scaring everyone to death, remains stoic and untouched

Films

Cops (1922)

Our Hospitality (1923)

Sherlock, Jr. (1924)

The Navigator (1924)

The General (1927)

Harold Lloyd (1803-1971)

Creating a young, urbanised persona-distant equivalent of Max Linder

American film actor, producer

One of most famous comedians of silent era

12.04.2022 4
 Made nearly 200 comedy films-often featuring his “Glasses” character got
into trouble-a resourceful, success-seeking go-getter in tune with 1920s era
in USA

Elevated Charlie Chaplin-not as close to poverty, but desperately

unsuccessful

Films characterised with unbelievable stunts

Films

Never Weaken (1921)

Why Worry? (1923)

Safety Last (1923)

Poster demonstrates-breath-taking view of city below

Trying not to get killed climbing in-and-out of room

Hot Water (1924)

The Kid Brother (1927)

Flip and Flap

Stan Laurel (1890-1965)

Naïve, absent-minded

Oliver Hardy (1892-1957)

Clever, cynical, cunning

Inventors of slapstick comedy-singular, unrelated, decontextualized scenes-

something supposedly funny happens, rather unexpected, usually involving
bodily activity-completely gone from what make us laugh nowadays

Dynamics between characters-one clever, one not-complete opposites

Notion of trouble-unsuccessful businesses

Light crime stories-crime puzzles resolved often unconsciously, unwillingly,

by mistake by main main characters

Plenty of mistakes, coincidences, running about, police officers,

misunderstandings

12.04.2022 5
 Films

Duck Soup (1927)

Do Detectives Think (1927)

Wrong Again (1929)

12.04.2022 6
 󾓧
26.04.2022
Early French Cinema

Whole of cinematic enterprise began in France in 1895-Lumière brothers,

Méliès

Took a number of paths-French impressionism-catching certain moment,

turning it into a sub story of it own, with number of particular cinematic tricks,
means of expression-never a unified movement-several names-French
impressionism in cinema, first avant-garde

Essence of impressionist way of thinking-we look at specific detail, and it frozen

tells a completely different story going beyond itself-e.g. railroad tracks as
symbol of human fate, unpredictability of human travels and journeys

Impressionism/First Avant-Garde

Impressionist Stylistics Features

Camerawork

Camera distance-close-up

Camera angle-high or low

Camera movement-independent of subject, point-of-view

Optical Devices

As magical effects

As emphasising significant details

Conveyers of abstract meanings

Mise-en-scene (Placing object on scene)

Lighting-single source, shadows indicating off-screen actions

26.04.2022 1
 Arrangement and movement of figures in space-e.g.-person
observing railroad tracks-arranged in picture-like way-could be
frozen and represent story itself

Louis Delluc (1890-1924)

Important for his critical input-set up network of ambitious/artistic

cinema-could see more ambitious, intellectually-challenging films rather
than Chaplin comedies

French Impressionist film director, screenwriter, one of first professional

film critics and theorist

Founder of number of film societies

Credited for working out and outlining basic stylistic features

Films

The Woman from Nowhere (1922)

Complicated family story

Abel Gance (1889-1981)

Credited for producing one of the first post-apocalyptic movies The End
of the World (1931)-sound film

French film director, producer, writer, actor

Cinematic career went on until his death in 1981

Films-long, expensive, risky in investment despite being praised by

critics, urban

Films

J’accuse (1919)

Translates to “I accuse”

One of the rare films echoing WWI, pointing to its

ridiculousness of body count, trying to come to terms with its
consequences-carnage, overall death toll, senselessness of
death resulting from politics-new angle

26.04.2022 2
 La Roue (1923)

Translates to “The wheel”

His most impressionist movie

Story of a complicated love triangle between father, son, saved

woman in train accident-everyone is in love with them, situation
gets complicated

Most remembered for its very defining, impressionist moments

of railroad track which become very interesting, industrialised
metaphor of human destiny, going to unknown places, having
to choose between different railroad tracks, nicely weaved into
concept of different lifelines superimposed on the view of city

We are observing the observers-when woman observes

railroad tracks, we are also observing her and the unknown
destinations

Napoléon (1927)

Original movie-swinging camera motion, plenty of special

effects

Germaine Dulac (1882-1942)

French filmmaker, film theorist, journalist, critic, feminist-one of first

female producers, filmmakers-explored masculine oppression, women-
related issues

Films

The Smiling Madame Beaudet (1922)

Strong feminist undertone-titular Madame Beaudet-

psychologically tortured by her husband, pretends to be
committing suicide every other day by putting an unloaded gun
to his head, threatens to pull trigger suggesting that bullet is
present, enjoys exerting his patriarchal power, exploiting her
feelings to point where she gets so frustrated with tension,
loads gun with hope that he will shoot himself and end

26.04.2022 3
 oppression-motif of female revenge, eternal justice-husband
finally imposed punishment upon himself

Plenty of impressionist camerawork, slow-motion, scary figure

of husband, close-up on clock-symbolic object, points to
pointlessness of passing time as nothing changes unless
oppressed woman decides to act-loads gun but man starts
pointing gun at her-things begin to be scary as she knows the
gun’s loaded and maybe he doesn’t know, or maybe he does-
tension still there

Not only relationship between wife and husband but also

dialogue between men and women in society and who
oppresses who and how

On outside couple seems respectable-deep down inside

skeletons in closets are plentiful

Silent, domestic oppression-not only about women being

beaten up or inequality in jobs-could be repaired by some sort
of vengeance

Symbolic moments-objects point to passing of time-book pages

being turned, close up of watch, bell signifying call for action or
trouble (signalling fire), scary face

Jean Epstein (1897-1953)

Born in Warsaw, French filmmaker, film theorist, literary critic

Image-weird haircut, cigarette

Films

The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

One of most defining impressionist movies

Adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe’s novel

Family trauma, almost-dead women locked up in basement

Funeral scene-candles lined up as if they were trees, meadow,

pieces of clothing like veil points to loose and temporal nature

26.04.2022 4
 of human existence especially its cut loose and taken by wind,
people’s faces seen in closeup expressing pain and despair,
nature (unusual as most impressionist movies were urban)

Film tells us what we should feel-innovative-superimposing,

precisely controlling what’s seen, music (despite it being silent
film)

26.04.2022 5
 📽
10.05.2022
Avant-Garde

Last silent cinema-1927 something changed-first sound movie “talkie” released-

singing sequences synchronised-had intertitles

Sound killed ultimate achievement of silent cinema-if sound introduced 5/10

years later-silent cinema-more silent cinema masterpieces would have been
created

Intertitles enabled easy distribution of films around the world-they only needed
to be changed from one language to another-with voice-bigger problems-
subtitles introduced much later-what to use-dubbing, actors speaking different
languages for different markets, what language to speak-English, French

Cultural climate in 1920s-post WWI, proliferation of “—isms” (modernism,

surrealism, Dadaism, futurism), one of most productive eras in European history

Films in Avant-Garde (sometimes referred to as second-Avant-Garde, Avant-

Garde proper)-French impressionism-first-Avant-Garde

Films-cultural heritage-inspiration for American cinema of 1950s and 60s

Once sound introduced for many filmmakers, even American ones, disaster-
many prominent filmmakers refused to use it sticking to silent movies with
intertitles-Charlie Chaplin-made films to mid-1930s

Jazz Band Singer first sound film

Sound changed-European national cinematography where different themes

were explored-after that made step back to pedestrian origin-seen as
entertainment

First sound movies-more songs than words

Avant-Garde-ultimate achievement of silent cinema in artistic terms-inspired by

social and cultural turbulence at time but also exploring things that would be

10.05.2022 1
 explored in years to come

Questioned whether film had to have meaning, story, truth, conclusion,

message

Goodbye gift that silent cinema gave to world

Another reason why it disappeared-people making them also busy doing other
things-Dalí, who worked with Buñuel, carried on his painting career

Carl Th. Dreyer (1889-1968)

Danish film director

Regarded by many critics as one of greatest directors of silent cinema

Writer of title cards for silent films and subsequently screenplays drawing
from both realism and expressionism

Films

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Not much happening

Tells story of Joan of Arc, her last days and death

Sparse, hardly anything there apart from human face, which is

naked, ugly, cruel but also tells story of narrowmindedness, hatred,
indifference, pain depends on whose face we are looking at

Her thoughts, dreams, longings represented by flying birds-

surrealistic undertone

Actress playing Joan of Arc (Renée Jeanne Falconetti)-agreed to

have head shaved-no chance for retake

Seen as one of greatest silent films due to relatives scarce

meanings of expression-passion, emotion are being represented

Close-ups of eyes, mouths-representing monstrosity of human face

Not classified fully as avant-garde, but rather mainstream story

Vampyr (1932)

Day of Wrath (1943)

10.05.2022 2
 Ordet (1955)

Gertrud (1964)

René Clair (1898-1981)

French filmmaker, writer, director of silent films with comedy often mingled
with fantasy

Made some of innovative early sound film in France

Preceded Buñuel

Films

Entr’acte (1924)

Meaning according to him-”released from the obligation to mean

anything”-gamechanger

Used special effects-slow motion, stop motion animation, super

imposition of certain city scape on chess board-surrealistic in this
sense

Not inspired by surrealism but with Dadaism

No real hidden meaning-but symbolism can be seen-artist

annihilating himself in last scente

Represents typical avant-garde film as

It’s short (most avant-garde film <30 mins)

Combines pointless narrative with cultural turbulence-desperate

surge for senselessness

The Italian Straw Hat (1928)

Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)

Le Million (1931)

I Married a Witch (1942)

And Then There Were None (1945)

Luis Buñuel (1900-1983)

10.05.2022 3
 Spanish filmmaker

Worked in Spain, Mexico, France

Associated with surrealist movement of 1920s

Together with Salvador Dalí and poet Federico García Lorca-formed

Spanish Surrealist Avant-Garde movement

Sequel--longer (1 hour)-b

Films

An Andalusian Dog (1929)

21 minutes long

A classic of Avant-Garde movement

No plot as such

Eye slicing scene opening, keep jumping from 3 am to 8 years later,

most scenes revolve around relationship of young woman and
young man (him trying to assault her, she’s running away, strange
things happen)

L'Age d'Or (1930)

Means-The Golden Age

Sequel to An Andalusian Dog

Longer-1 hour

Banned until 1981 for explicit sexual content and implied political
criticism of Church officials and bourgeoisie

No much plot

Opens with nature documentary scene of scorpions fighting in their

habitat before switching to a mountainous landscape with number
of archbishops sitting on rocks and sitting, they then turn into their
own skeletons-surrealist inspiration

10.05.2022 4
 🔉
17.05.2022
The Sound Era

Films weren’t silent until 1927-music in background, in Japan-character Benshi-

read dialogues-so popular-sometimes people went to listen to them rather than
watch-voiceover

Film that started sound The Jazz Singer (1927) still had intertitles

Introduction of synchronised sound-gamechanger

Positive-intertitles gone, things that could be expressed whilst talking

opened new possibilities-not even colour

Negative-end of era, all efforts killed

Previously, to reach international audience-only intertitles needed to be

changed, not so easy with sound-celebrities, actors speaking certain language-
dubbing, remake films with different actors speaking different languages

Actors became “different people”-some actors had reservations-lots opposed-

Charlie Chaplin made silent films for a decade after sound introduced

Avalanche of musicals, singing sequences-audiences didn’t trust speech yet

Begin to see genre cinema-each movie with spoken words had to be classified-
crime, adventure, horror etc.

Actors who knew how to sing were in need

Sound added new dimension-sphere of sounds, gunshots, cars, glass

shattering-additional actor

New skills needed-singing, dancing

Last cinematic breakthrough

New types of special effects

17.05.2022 1
 Notable Silent Era Actors

Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939)

Silent cinema superstars

Played action heroes

Starred

The Mark of Zorro (1920)

Robin Hood (1922)

The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926)

Starred

The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse (1921)

The Sheik (1921)

Blood and Sand (1922)

The Eagle (1925)

Mary Pickford (1892-1979)

Starred

Tess of the Storm Country (1922)

Sparrows (1926)

My Best Girl (1927)

Along with Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith, they all founded United
Artists-film studio, made silent movies

Alan Crossland (1894-1936)

American stage actor, film director

Career began in 1912 in New York-worked at various jobs for 2 years until
he was chosen to direct Al Jolson The Jazz Singer

Films

17.05.2022 2
 The Jazz Singer (1927)

First “sound” movie-talkie

Sound-singing-comparison to first movies made

Featured intertitles

Story-Jewish family, the head of which sings at religious

ceremonies, his son likes singing light-hearted songs, sneaks out of
home and instead of practicing for religious celebrations, sings in
local bar-source of conflict, noticed by neighbour who immediately
reports to father,

Features blackface-solidifies stereotype of African-American as

only role in public space-performers

Technology-Vitaphone-expensive and complicated-big studios

could afford them-gave them advantage

Ghetto-Jewish district

King Vidor (1894-1982)

American film director, film producer, screenwriter

Career spanned nearly 7 decades-one of longest careers in cinema history

Made lots of films

5 times Oscar nominee, awarded Honorary Academy Award in 1979

Films

Hallelujah! (1929)

Sound film featuring African-American cast

Portrayal of African-Americans-not favourable but not stereotypical-

not hard-working, simple minded, drink problems, violent, good
entertainers-subtle undertone of non-WASP culture

Spoken language and singing-intertwined

Very popular outside US too

“The greatest all-colored drama ever made!”

17.05.2022 3
 Fred Astaire (1899-1987)

American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer,

musician, actor

Career spanned 76 years during which he made 31 musical films and

issued numerous recordings

Best known as dancing partner of Ginger Rogers-co-starred in series of

musicals

New icon of masculine elegance, dress code, youthful energy

Works

Swing Time (1936)

Love story

17.05.2022 4
 📽
24.05.2022
Pre-War Popular Cinema

Consequences of sound

Technical problems-dubbing

First British sound film (Hitchcock’s Blackmail)-feature actress of Czech

origin (Anny Ondra)-accent unbearable, meaning end of her career

Systems expensive-smaller studios went bankrupt

Silent films coexisted

Different approach

Sound saved American cinematography-those who stopped going to theatres

due to financial reasons, returned as they saw their generation of stars, new
directors, social obligation, movies had much more to offer (music, gunshots
etc.)

After sound introduction-cinema never the same again-more commercialised,

different stars, benefited of old system of semi-professional approach (silent
films had usually same person directing, producing, writing script, arranging,
often acting)

Due to huge audiences-film production professionalised-producers and

directors arose as separate

Producer-final say, influence, change movies ending if saw sequel opportunity

Turned into proper industry with financial gains more important unlike European
cinema

American cinematography reaches its blockbuster age-Hollywood starts in mid-

1930s

Genre cinema arose

24.05.2022 1
 High standards due to investment

Pop culture verges on mass hysteria

Return to American roots

Howard Hughes (1905-1976)

American business magnate, investor, record-setting pilot, film director,

philanthropist

During lifetime-one of most financially successful individuals in world

Film producer then became influential figure in aviation industry then

became known for eccentric behaviour and reclusive lifestyle

CIA connections-allegedly Russian submarine sank in international waters,

CIA asked him to construct ship

Perfectionist

Films

Hell’s Angels (1930)

Aviation film

Jean Harlow-story of American Dream, from rags to riches-inspiring

tons of people to become actor/actress

87 planes, 137 pilots-3 or 4 died

Despite special effects, lots of real life flying

Premiere-one of most spectacular premiers in American history-

thousands of people

Blockbuster of new era

2.5 years to shoot, $4 million

James Whale (1889-1957)

English film director, theatre director, actor

Horror films

Drew inspiration from British literature classics

24.05.2022 2
 Films

Frankenstein (1931)

Based on Mary Shelley’s novel

When we think of Frankenstein, we think of monster due to this film

Modified version of novel-no Victor Frankenstein creating monster,

everything’s bigger

In trailer-mentions story you’ve dreamt about, talked about-not read

about-literary prototype modified to such extent, distant comparison
would’ve exposed mistakes

Creature

In book

Nameless

Much more subtle, fragile, sensitive

Helped families survive winter

In film

True monster

Associated with title Frankenstein

Preyed on innocent

The Old Dark House (1932)

The Invisible Man (1933)

Based on H. G. Wells’ novel

Impressive due to special effects

Titular character is invisible (body covered in clothes)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

John Ford (1894-1973)

Irish-American film director

24.05.2022 3
 Famous for rediscovery of Western genre and adaptations of 20th Century
American novels

Winner of 4 Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952)

Directed more than 140 films

Widely regarded as one of most important and influential filmmakers of his

generation

Associated with John Wayne (typical character in Ford’s films)

New-old type of American hero

Lives by his own moral code

Legends of Wild Wild West

Loner

Action man

Structure of Westerns

Open spaces

Lone riders

Native American

Cavalry

Music-predicting & announcing dramatic and peaceful moments

Films

The Stagecoach (1939)

Western

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Adaptation of novel

The Searchers (1956)

Western

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

24.05.2022 4
 Western

Howard Hawks (1896-1977)

American film director, producer, screenwriter of classic Hollywood era

Popular for films from wide range of genres

Action films, crime story

Films

Scarface (1932)

Exploring American Dream

Self-reliance

Living by one’s own rules

Criminal underground

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

To Have and Have Not (1944)

The Big Sleep (1946)

Based on Raymond Chandler’s novel of same name

The Thing from Another World (1951)

Science fiction

Rio Bravo (1959)

Western

24.05.2022 5
 🗨
31.05.2022
Early European Talkies

Sound not widespread in Europe-European cinematographies still national-no

uniform way of making movies-language diversified

In England were most of first European sound films-complicates question of

who was first French, Russian, German author of first sound movie

Lots of movies were being remade with sound-Hitchcock’s Blackmail

Money also problem-due to WWI, global crisis (American cinema benefitted

from such crisis, in Europe situation worse due to galloping inflation)

No studio system-in US boosted competition

Europe-still on wave of artistic achievements-remained more artistic-rather than

creating musicals, explored sound in artistic terms

Sounds, dialogue, music

Most European sound films released in 1929

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) (11:16)

English film director, producer, screenwriter

One of most influential and extensively studied filmmakers in cinema history

Known as “Master of Suspense”

Directed over 50 feature films in career spanning 6 decades

His films garnered 46 Academy Award nomination including 6 wins-though

never for best director

Subtle balance between silent and sound important

Rediscovering sound

31.05.2022 1
 One of most influential directors ever

Works

Blackmail (1929)

Suspense story

Makes cameo appearance himself

Story of murder committed in self-defence, witnessed by guy who

blackmails woman who killed her rapist, her boyfriend is detective

Crime, mystery, human passions-all balance

Remade from silent movie by him

Feels like it was made in 1950s or 60s not 20s

Gave him his title of “Master of Suspense”-apparently nothing’s

happening but we’re still biting our fingernails

Rear Window (1954)

Vertigo (1958)

North by Northwest (1959)

Psycho (1960)

Luis Buñuel (1900-1983)

Spanish, later naturalised Mexican, filmmakers

Worked in France, Mexico, Spain

Associated with surrealist movement in 1920s

Created films from 1920s to 70s

Directed films spanning various genres

Introduction of sound did not stop his development artistic sensibility

Works

The Golden Age (1930)

Surreal-plotless

31.05.2022 2
 Strange images of scorpions, archbishops, people making love,
people separating

Criticised bourgeoise mentality-accepted by censorship

Provoked reactions of nationalist groups

Benchmark of surrealist cinema

Not meant for mass audiences-still very popular-probably due to

scandalous aura

Europe retained its artistic aura

Walter Ruttmann (1887-1941)

Germany cinematographer, film director

One of most important German representatives of abstract experimental

film

Credited with first German sound movie-debatable as majority of sound is

music

Works

Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis

Semi-documentary

Silent film

Melody of the World (1929)

Original title Melodie der Welt

Structure of symphony, with pictures from across the world

Loose journey

Today considered a bit naïve

Clever picturing of similarities between cultures

Idea of sailor leaving for journey across world

Jumping between different images-turns out directing traffic is

exactly the same in India, France, England, US-mothers taking

31.05.2022 3
 babies for walk in prams is the same no matter where one goes

We are unity-we are one big human family

For Nazi regime (not yet fully grown)-blasphemy-questioned

ideology that some races are superior to others

Opens with Oscar Wilde’s observation-”The true mystery of the

world is the visible, not the invisible.”-true mystery is what can be
seen-we represent same values, point of view-today seen as naïve

Sometimes featured actors doing different things-playing musical

instruments

No plot

Whole film-40 minutes

Advertised as Germany’s first feature-length sound film-no spoken

dialogues, just music

Germany

Land without Women (1929)

Original title Das Land ohne Frauen

Directed by Carmine Gallone

First German-speaking sound film to be released

Atlantik (1929)

British-made, German language film

Directed by Ewald André Dupont-French guy

German language version of film Atlantic (1929)

It’s You I Have Loved (1929)

Original title Dich hab’ ich geliebt!

Drama

Directed by Rudolf Walther-Fein

Considered the first full sound film made in Germany

31.05.2022 4
 France

One of few European cinematographies impressed by musical qualities

The Three Masks (1929)

Original title Les trois masques

Directed by André Hugon

Considered to be France’s first talking picture though it was produced in

England

Crime story-2 brothers decide to murder a guy with whom their sister is
pregnant with, without realising he’ll marry her though there was class
difference-during carnival they stab him whilst wearing masks, but didn’t
know he had noble intentions, and they’re actually hurting their sister
not the guy

The Road Is Fine (1930)

Original title La route est belle

Musical film

Directed by Robert Florey-Englishmen

As no French studio had been converted for sound film-shot at Elstree

Studios in Britain

Russia

Not much of delay

Enthusiasm: The Symphony of Donbass (1931)

Sound film

Directed by Dziga Vertov-his first sound film

Film’s score-considered experimental and avant-garde-incorporation of

factory, industrial and other machine sounds

Human speech only plays small role in film’s sounds

Managed to combine new, progressive way of showing things in motion,

showing things alive

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 Depiction of reality-slightly manipulative-took camera out to streets and
depict real people-who are coincidentally very enthusiastic about the
new Communist reality, shared property, growing industry and all the
marvels-subtle propaganda of growth, development, silent praise of
industry

What you can see and hear

New forms of expression for new country celebrating new human being
finally liberated from Capitalism

Looks like documentary from steel-plant

Road to Life (1931)

Drama

Directed by Nikolai Ekk

Won an award at 1932 Venice International Film Festival-went to Ekk

for most convincing director

First sound film in Soviet Union and first to win a best director award at
any film festival

Tells real story-idealised, subtly ideologised-story of homeless kids

living in streets most of whom sent to orphanages, some ran away,
story of group of runaways being introduced to collective workshops-
discover value of responsibility, hard-work-from street like muggers and
gangs become self-aware citizens who embody spirit of new country-
dark past of being abandoned by governmental structures, forced to live
in poverty and street-this changed with change of new country-
symbolise new Russian man

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 07.06.2022
Early Polish Cinema

Not easy or convenient-Poland didn’t exist-but wasn’t backward

Not many films made-most lost, some recovered-lost due events like WW2-we
only know of them from reports, press remarks, articles, interviews with people
who saw them, accounts from people who made them, other secondary
sources

Many actors-cosmopolitan, educated in France, spoke foreign languages

Many had Hollywood-like lives-from rags to riches, from glory days to tragic
deaths in WW2 or Russian prison, strange relationships with Nazi occupies or
collaborators

Many tempted by foreign companies-due to political or personal reasons-

Lumière brothers or Gaumont company-recognised outside of Poland

If not for political reasons-fist screening almost took place in April 1896 in
Warsaw-official start of worldwide cinema 28 December 1895-4 months later,
representatives of Lumière brothers arrived in Warsaw to try and set up
cooperation, but due to reluctance from the Russian officials governing Warsaw,
legend has it that authorities never had time for them as they were busy
partying or didn’t see point in communicating with representatives who went to
Petersburg-first screening in Poland on 14 November 1896-once popularity
grew, almost a must for everyone to see them-in Kraków at Słowacki theatre,
first screening of Lumière brothers so popular that in first few weeks 10,000
people saw it (at that time, Kraków’s population was 80,000)-Poland’s not far
behind despite the ignorance of Russian officials causing Poland to lose 7
months

Directors in most cases-producers, filmmakers, script writers-due to political

situation-forced difficult moral choices-underground resilience banned forbid

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 actors to play in official theatres frequented by German officers-but people had
to pay bills-impossible to judge them

War ruined it all-after war Poland became satellite state-every film had to be
censored-directors who didn’t make it to countries of free world or didn’t die
during war-made movies but under different political regime

Imitative of western styles, types, genres

Large enthusiasm, inventiveness, originality

Jan Szczepanik (1872-1926)

Referred to as “Polish Edison”-in 1899 already invented colour film

Self-taught technician-improved technology not only in cinema-some of his

devices were able to transmit coloured images in wireless manner-vital
significance

Most of his invention popularised in USA and UK

Bolesław Matuszewski (1856-1943)

Polish businessman, photographer, cameraman, pioneer of cinematography

and documentary film

Educated in Paris

Employee of Lumière company

Active photographer and cinematographer, member of photographic society

“LUX”

In 1896-founded Lux Sigismond et Comp-produced many documentary

films and photographs

Wrote 2 of earliest texts on cinema

“Une nouvelle source de l’histoire” (1898)

English title-A New Source of History

First publication about documentary function of cinematography

“La photographie animée”

English title-Animated photography

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 Recognised as first film manifestos and first written work to consider
historical and documentary value of film

Both published in France

Film filmmaker to appreciate historical importance of film and proposed

creation of film archives for collecting and safekeeping of visual materials

One of first film theorists

Occupied with documenting things and events-saw potential in it-filmed

surgical operations, operation of certain machines for educational purposes

Kazimierz Prószyński (1875-1945)

Born in Warsaw

Educated in Poland and Belgium

Active in Belgium, France, England, USA, Poland

First proper filmmaker-employed actors

Patented his first film camera-Pleograph (his own invention; both camera
and projector, portable)-before Lumière brothers-later went to improve
cinema projector for Gaumont company and invent the widely used hand-
held Aeroscope camera

In 1901-founded one of first Polish film studios-”Pleograf” (Towarzystwo

Udziałowe “Pleograf”) which in 1902 produced 2 short films-”Przygoda
dorożkarza” and “Powrót birbanta”-both lost

Died in German concentration camp Mauthausen

Famous for employing Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski

Works

Rink in Saxon Garden (1902)

First Polish film ever-Polish title Ślizgawka w Ogrodzie Saskim

Lost-all we know is from press article

Possibly shot between 1896-1898-critics argue it’s 1896, few

months before Lumière brothers starting whole film with his own

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 device-premiered in 1902

Very short-couple of minutes

Lumière style-depicted certain situation-ice rink

“Powrót birbanta”

English title “Return of the merryfellow”

Short film

Return from night out to Warsaw flat

Lost

Aleksander Hertz (1879-1928)

Polish film producer, director

Influential figure in early Polish cinema

Lumière style filmmaker-founded “Sfinx”-most popular and prolific Polish

studio

A Jack-of-all-trades

Directed films

Countess Walewska (1914)

Ludzie bez jutra (1921)

People with no tomorrow

Ziemia Obiecana (1927)

“Sfinx” produced films

Meir Ezofowicz (1911)

Directed by Józef Ostoja-Sulnicki

Niewolnica zmysłów (1914)

Directed by Jan Pawłowski

One of first films starring Pola Negri

Książe Józef Poniatowski (1918)

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 Directed by Aleksander Hertz

Tajemnica przystanku tramwajowego (1922)

Directed by Jan Kucharski

O czym się nie mówi (1924)

Directed by Edward Puchalski

Iwonka (1925)

Directed by Emil Chaberski

Trędowata (1926)

Directed by Edward Puchalski

Swedish-like style of adapting local literary masterpieces

O czym się nie myśli (1926)

Directed by Edward Puchalski

Uśmiech losu (1927)

Directed by Ryszard Ordyński

Ziemia Obiecan (1927)

Directed by Aleksander Hertz, Zbigniew Gniazdowski

Dzieje grzechu (1933)

Directed by Henryk Szaro

Swedish-like style of adapting local literary masterpieces

Trędowata (1936)

Directed by Juliusz Gardan

Swedish-like style of adapting local literary masterpieces

Early Films

Pruska kultura (1908)

Also known as Les Martyes de la Pologne or Prussian Culture

Properly silent film about 1901 Września student revolt

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 Thought to be lost until 2000 when it was discovered in archive in Paris-
longest lost film in world’s history

Oldest preserved film

8-minute long film

Depicts situations and incidents in Prussia-concerning German

oppression, people’s homes, schools-2 locations

Collection of scenes without plot

3 generation family enjoying meal with obvious religious symbols,

Prussian soldiers walk in and expect to be entertained, want to take one
of family members for God knows what or where, fight breaks out, then
school where children are taught German, one of kids supposed write
“God save the great German nation”, wipes German out and replaces it
with “my beloved Poland”, beaten for it, then film moves to household
where father figure shot dead

Political message

Antoś pierwszy raz w Warszawie (1908)

Antoś in Warsaw for the First Time

Lost

Simple-minded, likeable character saves up to visit Warsaw quickly

befriended by 2 prostitutes and before he knows it, they steal his wallet
and money-tragic story

Starred Antoni Fertner

Antosza zgubił gorset (1916)

Antosha Ruined by a Corset

Survived

Excessive drinking

Simple-minded entertainment

Starred Antoni Fertner

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 Both show the diversified nature of cinematography

Famous Actors and Actresses

Many came from theatre scene-professional actors

Kazimierz Junosza-Stępowski (1880-1943)

Dodgy character-apparently executed (by accident as he protected his

wife with his body, she survived, to cover up for story-resistance
fabricated story that it was him who was the collaborator) by Polish
underground soldiers for collaborating with Nazi occupiers in Warsaw-
played in theaters frequented by German officers and to certain extent
collaborated with Nazi, refused to take part in anti-Polish propaganda
film, allegedly said “Any Polish actor who would play in this film
deserves to be spat in the face”, got along well with some German
officers (was it for financial, political, immoral reasons), one them lived
in his flat

His wife-actress-crook-took money from people and offered them

release from prisons due to her husbands connections with Nazis-
executed her in 1944

Often played with Bodo and Dymsza

Both silent and sound films

Probably one of most popular characters-starred in first films-Przygoda

dorożkarza and Powrót birbanta

Eugeniusz Bodo (1899-1943)

Bodo-stage nickname from his 1st name (Bogdan) and his mother’s 3rd
name (Dorota)

One of most recognised actors

Tragic character

“Celebrity aura”-fast cars, expensive restaurants

When war broke out-wanted to emigrate to US-took out Swiss passport

for visa but it was too late-captured by Russian secret police-Polish

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 politicians tried to get him out of prison-confirmed Russian theory of
being a spy, which he wasn’t

Died in Russian prison-starved to death due to espionage-had Swiss

passport (in the dark) from his father who was an engineer and
fascinated by Lumière machine-organised shows, travelled world to
China and eastern Russia

Grew up in cinematic culture

When started acting in theatre

Playboy type of character-had romantic relationships with couple of

actress including a French actress from Tahiti (Reri) whom he
abandoned as she drank too much

His dog shot in Warsaw Uprising

Pola Negri (1897-1987)

Caught smuggling films to Berlin, later married officer

Jadwiga Smosarska (1898-1971)

Usually played tormented and oppressed women

Antoni Fertner (1874-1959)

Responsible for creating first recognisable persona-”Antoś”-provincial

visitor, mainly to Warsaw-lost in big city, echoing Charlie Chaplin-
immensly popular

Most of his films lost

Adolf Dymsza (1900-1975)

Played in earliest sound, comedy Polish films with love relationship,

romantic comedy

Sang instant classics-whole country sang them

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