The years just before World War I marked a turning point in the history of the cinema. In 1913 alone, an extraordinary array of important feature films were made in Europe: in France, Leonce Perret’s L’Enfant de Paris; in Germany, Paul von Woringen’s Die Landstrasse and Stellan Rye’s The Student of Prague; in Denmark, August Blom’s Atlantis and Benjamin Christensen’s The Mysterious X; in Sweden, Victor Sjostrom’s Ingeborg Holm; in Italy, Giovanni Pastrone’s Cabiria (released in early 1914). Also in 1913, the serial emerged as a major film form, and labor-saving techniques were introduced into animation. During the midteens, the feature film was becoming standardized internationally. A few directors brought Swedish cinema into a “golden age” that would last into the 1920s. Some countries saw the creation and consolidation of major firms and studios that would dominate film history for decades; most crucially, the Hollywood industry was taking shape. In other countries, problems caused the decline of major industries. The war forced both France and Italy to reduce their high levels of film production.
During this period, filmmakers around the world were exploring the expressive possibilities of film style. In its first decade or so, cinema relied on the display of action for its novelty value. Then, during the nickelodeon era, filmmakers tested ways of telling stories clearly. From about 1912 on, some directors increasingly realized that distinctive lighting, editing, acting, staging, set design, and other film techniques could not only clarify the unfolding of the action but also heighten the film’s impact. Time and again in this chapter, we will see filmmakers creating striking compositions by backlighting subjects, using lengthy takes to create a realistic sense of ordinary time passing, or cutting among widely disparate elements to make a conceptual point. Such techniques could enhance the narrative by lending atmosphere, meaning, and suspense.
In August 1914, during these important changes, World War I began. The war had profound effects on the international cinema, some of which are still felt today. The war effort severely curtailed filmmaking in the two leading producing countries, France and Italy. American companies stepped in to fill the vacuum. As of 1916, the United States became the major supplier of films to the world market, and it has held that position ever since. Much of the history of world cinema has been bound up with the struggles of various national industries to compete with Hollywood’s domination. The war also limited the free flow of films and influences across borders. The result was the isolation of several film-producing countries, where, for the first time, distinctive national cinemas evolved.
World History
