CIN201Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Louis Feuillade, Max Linder, Film Culture
Professor Charles Keil Nov. 15, 2016
CIN201 LECTURE 9
SILENT AVANT-GARDE FILMMAKING IN FRANCE
1) Introduction Charting the Changing Fortunes of the French Film Industry
2) France After the Lumières and Méliès
3) The French Film Industry After WWI
4) French Film Culture
5) Three Influential French Film Movements
i. Dadaism
ii. Impressionism
iii. Surrealism
CHARTING THE CHANGING FORTUNES OF THE FRENCH FILM INDUSTRY
• The situation in France during the 1920s differs markedly from those of Germany and
Russia. France’s industry had to respond to a damaging loss of strength after WWI
• How did France respond to the crisis that its film industry faced in the 1920s? How did
that crisis help foster the development of the French avant-garde?
FRANCE AFTER THE LUMIÈRES AND MÉLIÈS
• The dominant figure in the early years of the French film industry was Charles Pathé,
whose influence in France was comparable to that of Edison’s in the U.S
- Pathé’s production system was managed by Ferdinand Zecca, whose efforts at
streamlining production processes put France at the forefront of international output
- Pathé exploited the advantages of vertical integration (economic logic that guides
the way that companies negotiate and control the market; merging all sectors of a
certain industry—such as a single company integrating and owning all of the
production, distribution, and exhibition of films)
- Pathé’s chief competitor was Gaumont, established by Leon Gaumont, whose head
of production was initially Alice Guy (until 1906) and then Louis Feuillade
Guy is known as the first woman to direct a film, the most influential woman
in early filmmaking
• Influential types of early French cinema included comedies starring Max Linder,
mystery serials (often directed by Feuillade), and the film d’art
• The film d’art helped to elevate the prestige of motion pictures and served as a precursor
to the feature film
• Both the mise-en-scène and the startling imagery of the mystery serial had lasting
influence, serving as an inspiration for the surrealists
• During this period, France’s domestic production did not register the influence of stylistic
developments occurring beyond the country’s borders
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Document Summary
Silent avant-garde filmmaking in france: introduction charting the changing fortunes of the french film industry, france after the lumi res and m li s, the french film industry after wwi, french film culture, three influential french film movements , dadaism. Charting the changing fortunes of the french film industry: the situation in france during the 1920s differs markedly from those of germany and. France after the lumi res and m li s: the dominant figure in the early years of the french film industry was charles path , whose influence in france was comparable to that of edison"s in the u. s. Path "s production system was managed by ferdinand zecca, whose efforts at streamlining production processes put france at the forefront of international output. Path "s chief competitor was gaumont, established by leon gaumont, whose head of production was initially alice guy (until 1906) and then louis feuillade.
