According to Cousins, why did the hub of film production in the USA move from the East Coast of America to Hollywood?

Hollywood was an ideal place to produce movies since filmmakers couldn’t be sued there for infringing on motion picture film patents held by Thomas Edison and his Motion Picture Patents Company.

Which nation’s film industry does Cousin’s describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s and why?

During the First World War the film industries of Europe were devastated, and Hollywood replaced the French and Italian firms as the most popular film makers in the world.

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousin’s as remarkable.

Frankenstein – J. Searle Dawley

The Fugitive – D. W. Griffith

Who were Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd and why were they so influential? – Keaton, Chaplin and Lloyd were comedic actors that starred in silent films. Keaton’s trademark was physical comedy. Lloyd, similar to Keaton, was known for doing dangerous stunt work himself, and was considered a daredevil. Chaplin was well known for his ‘tramp’ character and his heavy use of improvisation.

Give examples of some of the films that they made and mention some of the other notable filmmakers that they influenced. – The General (Keaton), The Great Dictator (Chaplin) and Safety Last (Lloyd). Aardman animation notably payed homage to Keaton’s film The General in their Wallace and Gromit film ‘The Wrong Trousers’.

Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd were all comical slapstick actors who featured in the theme of comedy.

They were all extremely influential and went on to inspire many other actors to mimic their personality’s. In 1917, Charlie Chaplin’s character was so famous a fake was created called Billy West was introduced and played “the tramp”.

Charlie Chaplin stared in silent films such as Limelight, Monsieur Verdoux, The Kid, The Gold Rush and city lights to name a few.

Buster Keaton stared in moves like Steamboat Bill Jr

Charlie Chaplin was influential because he would make himself relatable with his working class audience. He wore clothes with holes in, and his characters, such as the tramp, were rarely upper class.

Buster Keaton was influential because of his slapstick comedy, and his stunts which were physically done through planning and risk. He had a dead pan static facial expression (named the ‘The Great Stone Face’), which made his comedy all the more iconic.

Harold Lloyd was also influential for his physical stunts of comedy, where he put himself in danger, such as swinging from building.

Buster Keaton was a comical director and actor who was known for doing stunts as part of his comical and slapstick genre. He was known for having a deadpan facial expression that would make his reactions even more funny.

Charlie Chaplin was an English actor and director. He was most famous in the silent film era and in most of his movies he played a character called the tramp. This would appeal to the audience as they were mostly working class to so this could be relatable and funny

Harold Lloyd was an American actor and director. her was famous in the silent era and acted in both silent films and talkies. Harold Lloyd was known for his glasses which made him look nerdy. However he would prove everyone wrong by doing dangerous stunts such as climbing a building.

buster Keaton stared is films such as the cameraman

Charlie Chaplin starred in films such as the great dictator

Harold Lloyd starred in films such as the freshman

Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd were all actors and directors of comedy films with each having a unique trademark seen in their movies.

Buster keyton was most known for physical “slapstick” comedy involving a lot of extreme stunt work usually involving heights an example being three ages(1923) where he attempts to jump from one building to another but fails to do so hitting the wall.

Charlie Chaplin was known for his real world commentary within his films being able to relate toward the average viewer playing poor people in many of his films displaying the issues of living in poverty. As well as playing hitler in the great dictator(1940) where he played with a balloon earth representing peoples fear of him at the time.

Harold Lloyd was known for his intense daredevil characters and stunts similar to Buster Keyton. This can be seen in his film safety last(1923) where a guy bravely and recklessly climbs a building facing many dangers along the way like a plank and getting stuck in rope. This inspired many other filmmakers to make more action packed stories with daring characters.

1. Joseph Frank “Buster” Keaton was an American actor, comedian and director. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression that earned him the nickname “The Great Stone Face”.

Films:

The General(1926)

Sherlock Jr.(1924)

One Week(1920)

Steamboat Bill, Jr.(1928)

1. Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin KBE was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered one of the film industry’s most important figures.

Films:

The Great Dictator(1940)

Modern Times(1936)

Chaplin(1992)

The Kid(1921

1. Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films. One of the most influential film comedians of the silent era, Lloyd made nearly 200 comedy films, both silent and talkies, from 1914 to 1947.