Cinema in ModernismAn overview of the evolution of movies during modernism.

For hundreds, even For hundreds, even thousands of years, thousands of years, people have been people have been trying to make trying to make moving pictures. moving pictures. This began in 2This began in 2ndnd century China with century China with the invention of the the invention of the Magic Lantern. This Magic Lantern. This was basically a was basically a modern day slide modern day slide projector. Simple projector. Simple slides of art were slides of art were showed on it, some showed on it, some with special effects with special effects making the slide making the slide appear to move or appear to move or be under water.be under water.

The Birth of Movies In 1894, Thomas In 1894, Thomas

Edison invented Edison invented the the KinetoscopeKinetoscope..

Short clips were Short clips were shown in shown in “Kinetoscope “Kinetoscope parlors”parlors”

There was no There was no system for sound system for sound in these early in these early machinesmachines

The Evolution of Film, Projection

In 1895 the Lumière brothers introduced In 1895 the Lumière brothers introduced the cinematograph into the world of the cinematograph into the world of motion pictures. This new invention could motion pictures. This new invention could project images onto screens instead of project images onto screens instead of being viewed through a lens. They being viewed through a lens. They promptly started showing films to promptly started showing films to audiences.audiences.

By the early By the early 1900’s, films 1900’s, films made the move made the move from simple from simple moving art, to moving art, to stories and tales stories and tales with plots and with plots and themes. One of themes. One of the earliest is the earliest is Le Voyage Le Voyage dansdans La Lune La Lune (A Trip (A Trip to the Moon)to the Moon)

Le Voyage Dans La Lune In this short 15 minute film, a group of scientists In this short 15 minute film, a group of scientists

are gathered at a forum. One of them suggests are gathered at a forum. One of them suggests making a voyage to the moon, and upon dissent, making a voyage to the moon, and upon dissent, throws papers at the riotous young scientist. throws papers at the riotous young scientist. They then cast a giant cannon and build a giant They then cast a giant cannon and build a giant shell that they sit in. They fire the cannon and shell that they sit in. They fire the cannon and fly to the moon, landing in his eye. They then fly to the moon, landing in his eye. They then prance around the moon, exploring, and towards prance around the moon, exploring, and towards the end, fighting off strange aliens. They then the end, fighting off strange aliens. They then make their hasty escape by simply tilting the make their hasty escape by simply tilting the shell off the edge of the moon, landing safely shell off the edge of the moon, landing safely back on earth. This film is an incredible display back on earth. This film is an incredible display of an actual theme, and imagination and a peek of an actual theme, and imagination and a peek into the science of the time.into the science of the time.

This film can be found in it’s entirety This film can be found in it’s entirety here (dial up)here (dial up) or or here (broadband)here (broadband)..

The Evolution of Film, Sound

In 1926 Warner Bros. introduced the In 1926 Warner Bros. introduced the VitaphoneVitaphone, , this was a huge improvement over simple silent this was a huge improvement over simple silent films and piano players. The first film with films and piano players. The first film with sound, sound, The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer, which had a scene with , which had a scene with synchronized sound and singing, was produced synchronized sound and singing, was produced in 1927. in 1927. The Lights of New YorkThe Lights of New York quickly quickly followed. This began the new era of “talkies”. followed. This began the new era of “talkies”.

The Jazz Singer In this movie, there is one scene where In this movie, there is one scene where

a man is talking to his mother. He a man is talking to his mother. He invites her over to a piano to listen to invites her over to a piano to listen to his new his new songsong, he then proceeds to play , he then proceeds to play an up-beat jazz song and sing to it. an up-beat jazz song and sing to it. After the song, they converse, After the song, they converse, overjoyed, he sings the song again, but overjoyed, he sings the song again, but this time very merrily and much faster. this time very merrily and much faster. An old man then comes in and startles An old man then comes in and startles them both. All this happens while they them both. All this happens while they maintain a perfect synchronization maintain a perfect synchronization between the picture and sound. This between the picture and sound. This was an amazing feat for the current was an amazing feat for the current technology and amazed audiences.technology and amazed audiences.

One of the One of the greatest films of greatest films of the modernistic the modernistic movement was movement was made in 1930. made in 1930. All Quiet on the All Quiet on the Western FrontWestern Front. Adapted from . Adapted from the 1929 book of the 1929 book of the same title, it the same title, it is often is often considered considered the the best war film of best war film of all time.all time.

All Quite on the Western Front

This film is almost universally This film is almost universally considered the best war film of all considered the best war film of all time. It was based upon the book time. It was based upon the book of the same title, written by Erich of the same title, written by Erich Maria Remarque, it tells of the Maria Remarque, it tells of the horrors of war and how it horrors of war and how it permanently changes men for the permanently changes men for the worse. This film is considered the worse. This film is considered the best “talkie” of all time also, having best “talkie” of all time also, having been produced with synchronized been produced with synchronized sound throughout the movie, sound throughout the movie, including sound effectsincluding sound effects..

Milestones in Modernistic Film

Le Voyage Le Voyage dansdans la Lune la Lune (A Trip to (A Trip to the Moon) 1902, one of the earliest the Moon) 1902, one of the earliest films to have an actual plot.films to have an actual plot.

The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer 1927, the first 1927, the first major production to have a scene major production to have a scene of synchronized sound.of synchronized sound.

All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front 1930, widely considered the best 1930, widely considered the best war film, and also the best “talkie” war film, and also the best “talkie” of all time.of all time.

Related Works Some other films and pieces of Some other films and pieces of

literature that relate to the modernistic literature that relate to the modernistic movement.movement.

Stalag 17Stalag 17 was a 1953 film about a was a 1953 film about a World War 2 POW camp. This film takes World War 2 POW camp. This film takes a very comedic and ironic view of a very a very comedic and ironic view of a very serious and grave subject, much like serious and grave subject, much like “The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol.“The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol.

The Road BackThe Road Back, a book written by Erich , a book written by Erich Maria Remarque, considered a sequel to Maria Remarque, considered a sequel to All Quite on the Western Front. It also All Quite on the Western Front. It also has an accompanying movie.has an accompanying movie.

Another book by Remarque, the sequel Another book by Remarque, the sequel to The Road Back, to The Road Back, Three ComradesThree Comrades, was , was also made into a film.also made into a film.

List of works. Le Voyage Le Voyage dansdans la la LuneLune (A Trip to (A Trip to

the Moon)the Moon) The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer The Lights of New YorkThe Lights of New York All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front Stalag 17Stalag 17 ““The Nose”The Nose” The Road BackThe Road Back Three ComradesThree Comrades