In the first years of film, especially between 1898 and 1908, the trick film was one of the world's most popular film genres.[1] Before 1906, it was likely the second most prevalent genre in film, surpassed only by nonfiction actuality films.[5] Techniques explored in these trick films included slow motion and fast motion created by varying the camera cranking speed; the editing device called the substitution splice; and various in-camera effects, such as multiple exposure.[4]
"Trick novelties," as the British often called trick films, received a wide vogue in the United Kingdom, with Robert W. Paul and Cecil Hepworth among their practitioners. John Howard Martin, of the Cricks and Martin filmmaking duo, produced popular trick films as late as 1913, when he began doing solo work. However, British interest in trick films was generally on the wane by 1912, with even an elaborate production like Méliès's The Conquest of the Pole received relatively coolly.[6]
Trick films should not be confused with short silent films that feature conventional stage magic acts ("films of tricks," in the words of the film historian Matthew Solomon). Instead, trick films create illusions using film techniques.[8]
Trick films generally convey a sprightly humor, created not so much by jokes or comedic situations as by the energetic whimsy inherent in making impossible events seem to occur.[2] As the philosopher Noël Carroll has pointed out, the comedy in Méliès's trick film style is "a matter of joy borne of marvelous transformations and physically impossible events," "a comedy of metaphysical release that celebrates the possibility of substituting the laws of physics with the laws of the imagination."[2]
^Kirby, Lynne (1997), Parallel Tracks: The Railroad and Silent Cinema, Durham: Duke University Press, ISBN0822318393
^ abcParkinson, David (2012), 100 Ideas That Changed Film, London: Laurence King Publishing, p. 19
^Gunning, Tom (2005), "The Cinema of Attractions: Early Film, Its Spectator, and the Avant-Garde", in Knopf, Robert (ed.), Theater and Film: A Comparative Anthology, New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 39, ISBN0300128703
^Low, Rachael (1997), History of British Film, vol. 2, London: Routledge, p. 180, ISBN9780415156479
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trick films videos.
Carroll, Noël (1996), Theorizing the Moving Image, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Solomon, Matthew (December 2006), "Up-to-Date Magic: Theatrical Conjuring and the Trick Film", Theatre Journal, 58 (4): 595–615, doi:10.1353/tj.2007.0032, JSTOR 25069917, S2CID 194080442
April 12, 2024
trick, film, early, history, cinema, trick, films, were, short, silent, films, designed, feature, innovative, special, effects, source, source, source, source, source, source, georges, méliès, infernal, cauldron, 1903, contents, history, style, examples, refer. In the early history of cinema trick films were short silent films designed to feature innovative special effects 1 source source source source source source Georges Melies The Infernal Cauldron 1903 Contents 1 History 2 Style 3 Examples 4 References 5 CitationsHistory editThe trick film genre was developed by Georges Melies in some of his first cinematic experiments 2 and his works remain the most classic examples of the genre 3 Other early experimenters included the French showmen Emile and Vincent Isola the British magicians David Devant and John Nevil Maskelyne and the American cinematographers Billy Bitzer James Stuart Blackton and Edwin S Porter 4 In the first years of film especially between 1898 and 1908 the trick film was one of the world s most popular film genres 1 Before 1906 it was likely the second most prevalent genre in film surpassed only by nonfiction actuality films 5 Techniques explored in these trick films included slow motion and fast motion created by varying the camera cranking speed the editing device called the substitution splice and various in camera effects such as multiple exposure 4 Trick novelties as the British often called trick films received a wide vogue in the United Kingdom with Robert W Paul and Cecil Hepworth among their practitioners John Howard Martin of the Cricks and Martin filmmaking duo produced popular trick films as late as 1913 when he began doing solo work However British interest in trick films was generally on the wane by 1912 with even an elaborate production like Melies s The Conquest of the Pole received relatively coolly 6 Elements of the trick film style survived in the sight gags of silent comedy films such as Buster Keaton s Sherlock Jr 7 The spectacular nature of trick films also lived on in other genres including musical films science fiction films horror films and swashbuckler films 4 Style editTrick films should not be confused with short silent films that feature conventional stage magic acts films of tricks in the words of the film historian Matthew Solomon Instead trick films create illusions using film techniques 8 Trick films generally convey a sprightly humor created not so much by jokes or comedic situations as by the energetic whimsy inherent in making impossible events seem to occur 2 As the philosopher Noel Carroll has pointed out the comedy in Melies s trick film style is a matter of joy borne of marvelous transformations and physically impossible events a comedy of metaphysical release that celebrates the possibility of substituting the laws of physics with the laws of the imagination 2 Examples editThe Execution of Mary Stuart 1895 Clark The Vanishing Lady 1896 Melies The Astronomer s Dream 1898 Melies The Famous Box Trick 1898 Melies The Four Troublesome Heads 1898 Melies Cinderella 1899 Melies The Enchanted Drawing 1900 Blackton The Christmas Dream 1900 Melies How It Feels to Be Run Over 1900 Hepworth The One Man Band 1900 Melies The Man with the Rubber Head 1901 Melies A Trip to the Moon 1902 Melies Jack and the Beanstalk 1902 Porter The Kingdom of the Fairies 1903 Melies Ten Ladies in One Umbrella 1903 Melies The Impossible Voyage 1904 Melies Aladdin and His Wonder Lamp 1906 Capellani Dream of a Rarebit Fiend 1906 Porter The Haunted Hotel 1907 Blackton Princess Nicotine or The Smoke Fairy 1909 Blackton References edit a b Solomon 2006 p 596 a b c Carroll 1996 p 146 Kirby Lynne 1997 Parallel Tracks The Railroad and Silent Cinema Durham Duke University Press ISBN 0822318393 a b c Parkinson David 2012 100 Ideas That Changed Film London Laurence King Publishing p 19 Gunning Tom 2005 The Cinema of Attractions Early Film Its Spectator and the Avant Garde in Knopf Robert ed Theater and Film A Comparative Anthology New Haven Yale University Press p 39 ISBN 0300128703 Low Rachael 1997 History of British Film vol 2 London Routledge p 180 ISBN 9780415156479 Carroll 1996 p 156 Solomon 2006 pp 602 3Citations edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trick films videos Carroll Noel 1996 Theorizing the Moving Image Cambridge Cambridge University Press Solomon Matthew December 2006 Up to Date Magic Theatrical Conjuring and the Trick Film Theatre Journal 58 4 595 615 doi 10 1353 tj 2007 0032 JSTOR 25069917 S2CID 194080442 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trick film amp oldid 1210472402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
