French Cinema 1895-1910

1. French Cinema1895-1910 Patricia L. Pecoy MLL 235

2. Georges Méliès • Méliès was present at the first public screening of the Lumière Brothers first films at the Salon Indien on Dec. 28, • He was an illusionist, a magician and an actor at the Théâtre Robert-Houdin in • In 1897, he opened the first film studio in France (on the outskirts of Paris)

3. Birth of French Cinema:Dec. 28, 1895 • The Salon Indien – first screening of the “vues” of the Lumière Brothers

4. Montreuil • Studio built by Méliès at Montreuil • Was used exclusively for film production

5. Montreuil • The camera was placed in an alcove at the back of the room and the stage occupied the center of the space • There was also a trap door in the floor which allowed the actors to rise and descend • The camera remained stationary and moved very • Méliès’ specialty was special effects

6. The films of Méliès • As a rule, he made comedies and fantasy films • Méliès acted in his own films • His films depended on special effects • His masterpiece was A Trip to the Moon (1902) – the first science fiction film • He formed a production company – Star Films – which gained a worldwide reputation

7. Star Films

8. A Trip to the Moon (1902)

9. Silent Films • As early as 1906, the tastes of the viewing public began to change • Star Films was dissolved in 1913 • Méliès ended his life selling toys in a kiosk

10. Two Who Ruled: Pathé et Gaumont • These two companies dominated the film industry prior to World War I • Together, they dominated the production AND the distribution of films in France • They successfully competed with American films during this period • Often called the “golden age of French cinema,” this period marks the apogee of French filmmaking

11. Charles Pathé(1863-1957) • Charles Pathé • “Je n’ai pas inventé le cinéma, mais je l’ai industrialisé.” (trans: “I did not invent the cinema, but I commercialized it.”) • He established his studio at Vincennes (on the eastern edge of Paris)

12. Pathé and Zecca • In 1901, Pathé hired Ferdinand Zecca, former actor, to produce and direct films • At first, his films resembled the “vues” of the Lumière Brothers • However, they evolved to the point of telling a complete story

13. Ferdinand Zecca(1864-1947) • Zecca was responsible for hundreds of films for Pathé • He was the right hand man of Charles Pathé and was therefore largely responsible for the success of the company

14. The Pathé Rooster

15. Gaumont • Gaumont is a French company formed to handle the production, distribution and management of films • It was founded in 1895 by Léon Gaumont • It is the oldest film company in the world Léon Gaumont

16. Alice Guy • In 1900, Gaumont hired Alice Guy, former secretary, to take charge of production • She made more than 700 films in France and later in the United States • She was the first female director in the world

17. Gaumont

18. Louis Feuillade(1873-1925) • When Alice Guy left for the United States in 1907, she was replaced at Gaumont by Louis Feuillade • Feuillade was the creator of film “series,” such as Les Fantômas (1913) et Les Vampires (1915)

19. The series of Louis Feuillade • The series often dealt with crime, as in a thriller or detective story • Feuillade played on the fears of the middle-class Parisians • Fantômas (ghosts) and Vampires terrorize the citizens of Paris • He included the most abominable crimes: thefts, murders, poisonings, kidnappings Louis Feuillade

20. Les séries: Louis Feuillade 5 épisodes, 1913-1914 10 épisodes, 1915-1916

21. Irma Vep • Irma Vep = one of the leaders of the Vampires • The role was played by an actress named Musidora who became one of the first liberated women of the cinema • She was the first sex symbol due to her costume – a tight, black leotard Musidora

22. The First French Sex Symbol!!

23. The Evolution of cinema • The film “spectacle” (where one goes to be impressed by by new technology) is replaced by narrative cinema (films that tell a story) • Films become more concerned with plot and visual expression • The films become longer • Film editing becomes more important • The different genres develop • Film techniques improve

24. The first star: Max Linder(1883-1925) • Max Linder was the precursor to Charlot (Charlie Chaplin) • He played the role of “Max” in a series of comedies from 1905 to 1914 • Ex: Max Takes a Picture

25. Max Linder and Charlie Chaplin

26. New Stars: Child Actors • The tradition of child actors begins • Children are cast primarily in comedies • Ex: Bébé et Bout-de-zan Bout-de-Zan

27. Innovation:La Société des Films d’Art • Founded in 1908 • Its films imitated classical theater • Ex: L’Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908) • The camera remained in a fixed position in from of a set, like in the theater • Scriptwriters were recruited from among the famous authors of the period • Actors were found among the famous actors of the most prestigious theatrical troupes (ex: La Comédie Française)

28. The Cinema and World War I • 1910 marked the apogee of French dominance in the worldwide film industry • When the war began in 1914, French cinema suffered • In the occupied territories, French films were forbidden and were replaced by American films • In 1915, both Gaumont and Pathé were producing propaganda films

29. Two Innovations • Film criticism • The author/journalist Louis Delluc invented film criticism • Newsreels and documentaries • Germaine Dulac produced documentaries • Later, she also made avant-garde

30. The Aftermath of World War I • France lost 5 million men (1/10) in the war • The country was devastated; the economic structure had be to rebuilt from nothing • The film industry reflected the political situation • American films dominated the market • The studios were in disarray • Filmmakers turn to three principles: quality, style, inventiveness