Key Films and Directors:

The 1910’s saw the origins of Hollywood due to the center of American Film Industry relocated from New York to California and Los Angeles became the film capital of the world.

A Christmas Carol:

A Christmas Carol is a short silent film that was directed in 1910 by J. Searle Dawley. It is the first film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel and inspired many adaptations of the story later down the century.

J. Searle Dawley:

James Searle Dawley was considered the “first motion picture director”. In 1910 established a studio named Balboa Studio in California. H reportedly directed 200 one-reel films. Among the more notable of these are Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol and Charge of the Light Brigade. He also directed the first full length live action version of Snow White which would eventually influence a young Walt Disney in film.

Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a silent fantasy film and it is the earliest surviving film version of the novel written in 1900. The film inspired many sequels such as Dorothy and the Scarecrow in Oz and the Land of Oz as well as having inspired the well known 1939 adaptation. There is no definitive proof about who directed the film as the credits of the film are lost, however, it is believed that Otis Turner directed the film.

Birth of a Nation:

The Birth of a Nation is an American silent epic drama film directed by D.W Griffith. It is a three hour long film based on the two novels ‘The Clansman’ and ‘The Leopard’s Spots’. The three hour long film was a commercial success and was the first twelve reel film in the United States, however, it was highly controversial due to its portrayal of black men. The film’s release is also credited as being one of the events that inspired the reformation of the KKK. In 1992, the film was deemed “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant”.

Easy Street:

Easy street is a silent short action-comedy film directed in 1917 by Charlie Chaplin.

In 1932, a sound version of the film was released with added music by Gene Rodemich and Winston Sharples along with sound effects.

Charlie Chaplin:

Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor and director who rose to fame in the silent film era. He became a worldwide icon and is considered by many to be one of the most important figures in the film industry. He was a perfectionist who wrote, produced, directed and starred in most of his films and he also composed music for some of them. His films contain slapstick humor as well as social and political themes. He won an Honorary Academy Award in 1972 and continues to be held in high regard due to some of his films are still ranked as the greatest of all time on industry lists.