History of Motion Pictures

History of Motion Pictures

Pre-reading

Decide if you think the following statements are true or false.

T F

1. From early-to-mid 1930’s movie-goers enjoyed watching gangster movies.  

2. From the mid-to-late 1940’s detective movies became very popular.  

3. In the 1940’s there appeared detective movies and musicals.  

4. Westerns were popular in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  

5. Documentaries show possible future events and future worlds.  

6. Since the early 1960’s movie-goers have had a variety to choose from:  

horror movies, documentaries, science fiction, psycho-dramas, etc.

1. Animated movies are especially popular among children.  

Since earliest times, people have been interested in portraying things in motion. During the late 1800’s, developments in science helped stimulate a series of inventions that led to projected motion pictures on celluloid film. These inventions laid the foundation for a new industry and a new art form.

The first successful photographs of motion were made in 1877 and 1878 by Edward Muybridge, a British photographer working in California.

Muybridge's feat influenced inventors in several countries to work toward developing devices to record and represent movie images. Through their efforts, several different types of motion-picture cameras and projectors appeared in the mid-1890’s.

Film screenings soon became a popular entertainment. Traveling projectionists brought the films to smaller cities and country towns. The most popular subjects included recreations of current news events and dramatized folk tales. Films were made without recorded synchronized sound. However, exhibitors sometimes accompanied the images with music or lectures, or even used off-screen live actors to provide dialogue. Later, printed titles were inserted within the films. The titles gave dialogue, descriptions of action, or commentary. Titles permitted the international circulation of films, because translated titles could easily replace the originals.

By the time World War I broke out in Europe in 1914, a number of companies had established studios in and around the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. After the war in 1918, American movies became dominant worldwide and the name "Hollywood" came to stand for the values and style of American movies.

Before World War I, foreign-made films were strong competition for American movies in the United States, especially mystery serials from France and historical epics from Italy. But during the war, European governments diverted raw material from their film industries for military needs. American movie companies seized the opportunity to become the world's strongest film industry. Their successes enabled producers to spend money on lavish costumes and expensive sets. Producers, who were usually businessmen rather than film artists, kept a close watch on budgets and schedules. As far as possible, all the people working on the film – the director, writers, designers, crew, and cast – were drawn from the studio payroll.

While American movies remained popular and profitable, more demanding viewers in the 1920's began to look to Europe for new developments in film art. Moviemakers in European countries often competed against American domination of their own theaters by developing distinctive film styles. This goal was perhaps achieved most successfully in Germany. In subject matter, German filmmakers stressed fantasy and legend, and also an intense psychological realism not often attempted in American films.

Filmmaking made advances in Russia, too, particularly after the Bolshevik (Communist) revolution of 1917. In the Soviet Union, movies gained attention as an important medium for education and propaganda. Soviet filmmakers emphasized film editing, refining the montage. Montage is a technique in which many separate shots are used to create a single point. Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein developed theories of how the arrangement of shots could create associations in the mind of the audience and stimulate emotions and ideas. Eisenstein put his ideas into practice in such important films as The Battleship Potemkin (1925), which raised the Soviet silent cinema to equality with German films in artistic prestige and influence.

The coming of sound marked a turning point in motion-picture history. By 1931, one of Germany's major silent film directors, Fritz Lang, had made a sound film that remains a masterpiece of cinema. In 1928, Walt Disney issued Steamboat Willie, the first animated short film to use synchronized sound.

During the middle and late 1930's, Hollywood produced major hits in nearly all the familiar genres. In particular, the horror film gained new prominence and the sound comedy emerged as a leading film style. The horror cycle actually began in 1931 with Dracula, directed by Todd Browning, and Frankenstein, directed by James Whale. America's prewar period closed triumphantly with two celebrated films. One was Gone with the Wind (1939), a Civil War drama directed by Victor Fleming and starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. The other was Citizen Kane (1941).

The role of movies in education and propaganda was far more appreciated during World War II than in World War I. The impact of the war led many European directors to make movies that focused on society and its problems.

Soviet filmmakers produced stunning films about the destiny of common people in the large-scale historical events of World War II – ‘The Destiny of a Man’ (1959) directed by S.Bondarchuk, ‘The Ballad about a Soldier’ (1959) by G.Chukhray. Another famous movie by S. Bondarchuk was an Oscar-winning screen version of Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ (1966-67).

For several reasons, the American film industry did not fully participate in the world cinema renaissance of the 1960's. Theater attendance continued to suffer in the United States from the availability on television of both old and more recent films, as well as made-for-TV movies. Only in the late 1960's did opportunities open up for a new generation of filmmakers. Their impact began to be felt in the 1970's, stimulated by new ways in which motion pictures were marketed to the public.

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

1. The FBI had planted listening ________ inside Monroe’s department.

2. The ­_________ of ‘Border War’ is to be broadcast by Channel Four later on in the week.

3. The entire ______ of the play deserves praise for this performance.

4. A point of light _______onto a rotating disc.

5. The films with Julia Roberts always attract _______ throughout the world.

6. Barbra Streisand is doing a series of TV interviews to ______ her latest film.

7. Many ______ complained about a particularly violent episode of ‘Miami Vice’.

8. Hopeful young actors and actresses are dazzled by the _______ of Hollywood.

9. His job is to _____ the number of people who visit the recreation area.

10. While we were in London we bought tickets for the ______ musical ‘Cats’.

Ex. 2. In each of the sets of words below, one word or expression stands out as being in some way different from the others. This is the ‘odd man out’. Which do you think it is, in each case, and why? When you have made your choice, discuss your reasons with your partners.

1. movies pictures theatre cinema

2. celebrated famous outstanding minuscule

3. onlooker viewer spectator cinema-goer

4. generous jasper excessive lavish

5. charm glamour allure martyrdom

6. science fiction fantasy popular scientific psychodrama

7. imitation masterpiece chef-d’oeuvre extraordinary work

8. casting editing sets post-production

9. gangster movie screwball comedy children’s film animated cartoons

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences with the corresponding words given below.

In Britain the cinema is usually called 1 _____. The American name 2 ______ is sometimes used. There is usually one 3 _____ film, a shorter one, a news film, some ads and a 4 _____ telling about the film for the next week. The first performance or 5 ______as it is called, begins about two o’clock in the afternoon and the show 6 ______ from then until about half past ten. You can go in at any time and leave at any time.

Cinemas were more popular in the past than they are now.

Cinemas in England are usually larger and more comfortable than the theatres. The prices of cinema 7 _____ outside London are lower than 8 _____ in London. Often there is 9 _______, so that it is possible to spend a pleasant afternoon and evening there. There is 10 _____ behind the cinema 11 ______, so that the building can be used for 12 ____ and other performances. In some British towns the cinemas 13 _____ for Sunday.

In cinemas you can see films of all kinds. Films are given 14 _______. “U”, “A”, or “X”. A 15 ______ film is suitable for general exhibition, so anybody can see it. Children can go to an 16 _____, but they must be accompanied by an adult in the evening. An 17 ______ film can only be shown to people over the age of 18.

(seats, the movies, “X”, classifications, “A”, screen, a restaurant, the pictures, “U”, goes on, are closed, concerts, the prices, a stage, main, trailer, showing)

Ex. 4. Find the words in the text that have the same or similar meaning to the following.

to hinder to concentrate on smth

appearance influence

to be internationally appreciated to try to stop smb by creating difficulties

important to be similar to smth

to gain worldwide attention to be advertised to the public