Film History (Part 2 of 5). Rise of the American Film: 1914-1919

Question 1

What ended European output of feature films?

Answer 1

World War 1

Question 2

What nations were the first to develop feature-length films?

Answer 2

France & Italy

Question 3

By what year did the French begin to dominate the film industry?

Answer 3

1910

Question 4

What nation was in pole position to capitalize on the European film industry woes?

Answer 4

United States

Question 5

How did World War 1 erode European output of films?

Answer 5

Film stock was in short supply and distribution channels were disrupted

Question 6

What was the first reason American films began to dominate the film industry? (Reason 1)

Answer 6

The U.S. had a sizable, movie-going public

Question 7

What was the second reason American films began to dominate the film industry? (Reason 2)

Answer 7

The U.S. economy was stimulated rather than drained by WW1

Question 8

What was the third reason American films began to dominate the film industry? (Reason 3)

Answer 8

The U.S. had a tradition of business expertise

Question 9

What was the fourth reason American films began to dominate the film industry? (Reason 4)

Answer 9

U.S. had skillful and inventive filmmakers. It had a 4 year lead in film development.

Question 10

What was the first aspect that aided the Americans in having superior film development? (Reason 1)

Answer 10

Americans gave film ‘art fuller expression’ through expansion of film length and technique.

Question 11

What was the second aspect that aided the Americans in having superior film development? (Reason 2)

Answer 11

Americans discovered the ingredients required for popular entertainment, especially for comedies.

Question 12

What was the third aspect that aided the Americans in superior film development? (Reason 3)

Answer 12

Americans devised systems of manufacture, wholesaling, and retailing what would support the new expense of feature production.

Question 13

What was the fourth aspect that aided the Americans in superior film development? (Reason 4)

Answer 13

Americans laid the groundwork for the economic expansion of film by organizing production, distribution, and exhibition.

Question 14

What was renown director D.W. Griffiths first contribution to film history? (1)

Answer 14

He developed codified film language - with shots being the unit of film.

Question 15

What was D.W. Griffiths second contribution to film history? (2)

Answer 15

More extensive use of different camera framings - worked with cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Question 16

What was D.W. Griffiths third contribution to film history?

Answer 16

True cross-cutting.

Question 17

What was D.W. Griffiths fourth contribution to film history?

Answer 17

Ride-to-the-rescue sequences.

Question 18

What are the names of the films directed by D.W. Griffith?

Answer 18

1. ) 1909 - Corner in Wheat
2. ) 1915 - Birth of a Nation
3. ) 1916 - Intolerance
4. ) Broken Blossoms

Question 19

What were three notable aspects of D.W. Griffith’s, ‘Corner in Wheat?’

Answer 19

1. ) Three narrative threads woven together by a wheat association.
2. ) Advances in argument, presenting ideas and feelings through commentary and juxtaposition.
3. ) Mediation on social theme - capitalism.

Question 20

What were the first three (1-3) important aspects of ‘Birth of a Nation?’

Answer 20

1. ) Epic scale and length (3 hours, 7 minutes)
2. ) Use of true intercutting / cross-cutting and rapid-fire editing to build tension.
3. ) Use of camera framings and angles to elucidate plot and action, character interaction and character emotional state.

Question 21

What were the second three (4-6) most important aspects of Birth of a Nation?

Answer 21

4. ) Use of moving camera shots.
5. ) Realistic settings and costumes.
6. ) Use of irises, masking and split screens to focus attention on story and character to create complex settings.

Question 22

What were the third three (7-9) most important aspects of Birth of a Nation?

Answer 22

7. ) Large scale battle scenes and intimate family drama.
8. ) Intro to night photography
9. ) Extensive tinting and lighting to elucidate story for dramatic effect.

Question 23

What were two impacts that stemmed from the release of Birth of a Nation?

Answer 23

1. ) Feature is here to stay. Longer, more complex films are the main model of production.
2. ) Shots rather than scenes are the building blocks of films.

Question 24

What were the last two impacts that stemmed from the release of Birth of a Nation?

Answer 24

3. ) Camera framings, angles, and movements become standard to film storytelling.
4. ) Acting styles suitable to cinema and subtle character examination become the norm.

Question 25

What were the first two important aspects of Intolerance (1916)?

Answer 25

1. ) Monumental scope, film critics considered it to be the greatest film of the silent era.
2. ) Non-linear storytelling that explores a theme.

Question 26

What was the third most important innovation of Intolerance (1916)?

Answer 26

3.) Intercutting / cross-cutting between 4 historical periods with 4 different outcomes.

Question 27

What were the 4 historical periods noted in Intolerance (1916)?

Answer 27

1. ) Modern Story (1914 CE) - grey image.
2. ) Judean Story (27 CE) - rose tint.
3. ) French Story (1572 CE) - green tint.
4. ) Babylonian Story (539 BCE) - amber tint.

Question 28

What were two important aspects conveyed in Birth of a Nation and Intolerance?

Answer 28

1. ) Birth of a Nation establishes the form of the theatrical narrative, entertainment film.
2. ) Intolerance presents the formalist film (structure, techniques and style) on a grand scale to a mainstream audience.

Question 29

What was Mack Sennett known for in film history?

Answer 29

The Art of Comedy

Question 30

Who was Mack Sennett?

Answer 30

D.W. Griffiths co-worker and informal student. He used to and combined early discoveries in filmmaking to structure his films.

Question 31

What was the first notable aspect of Mack Sennett’s contribution to film history?

Answer 31

1.) He used Griffith’s ride-to-the-rescue sequences and suspense-building to create comic chases.

Question 32

What was the second notable aspect of Mack Sennett’s contribution to film history?

Answer 32

2.) He expanded upon the use of odd-looking characters to create comedy. (Used authority figures and formal institutions.)

Question 33

What was the third notable aspect of Mack Sennett’s contribution to film history?

Answer 33

3.) Furthered the use of physical discomfort as comedy by making his characters indestructible and laugh at the expense of others.

Question 34

What was the first notable aspect of films in the Silent-Era?

Answer 34

1.) Silent films featured action-melodrama, spectacle and comedy.

Question 35

What was the second notable aspect of films in the Silent-Era?

Answer 35

2.) Three aforementioned forms take advantage of the the silent moving images ability to communicate without language.

Question 36

What was the third notable aspect of films in the Silent-Era?

Answer 36

3.) Filmmaker doesn’t need to pause for verbal jokes to register with an audience.

Question 37

What is a noticeable aspect of Mack Sennett’s career in 1912?

Answer 37

Mack founds Keystone Studios.

Question 38

What is a noticeable aspect of Mack Sennett’s career in 1913?

Answer 38

Charlie Chaplin works for him but prefers character-based humor.

Question 39

What is a noticeable aspect of Mack Sennett’s career in 1914?

Answer 39

The first feature length comedy ‘Tillie’s Punctured Romance’ is released.

Question 40

What does Mack Sennett specialize in?

Answer 40

1. ) Visual humor.
2. ) Sight gags.
3. ) Slapstick Comedy.

Question 41

What was the first noticeable aspect of Thomas Ince’s contribution to film history?

Answer 41

He had a factory system.

Created Triangle Studios. He put the producer in charge most of his products.

Question 42

What was the second notable aspect of Thomas Ince’s contribution to film history?

Answer 42

Initiated the use of shooting scripts, production managers, departments and accounts.

Question 43

What was the third noticeable aspect of Thomas Ince’s contribution to film history?

Answer 43

He ran his moving-making operation like a factory and budgeted the business like an accountant.