Movie History: Ayanna Hill

The First Movie - The Race Horse By: Edward Muybridge

1878

The History of Film all started with this quick 2.11-second film that was made to show that when in a horses climax of a race all of its legs are in the air at one point. This film was taken with a long row of cameras used to take shots along the race track. When the film was shown it allowed the horses movement to look as if it was moving.

The First Comedy - The Boxing Cats

1894

Created by Thomas Edison this short film was the true beginning of the cute, silly, playful cat videos we know today. Sadly not all of the fight was recorded in history, because it wasn't meant to be a historical marker for film, but mearly a silly video to try out some new film.Even though there was still much development to be done the beginning of genres of movies was making its impact in history.

First Sound Film - The Dickson Experimental Sound Film

1894

Even though it was only a few seconds this short film became an important milestone in the history of film. The director of this film was Willam K. Dickson who was the first man to put sound in a motion feature film. Surprisingly this film is seen as one of the first movies to show a same-sex relationship, even that wasn't it's intended purpose.

The First Kiss On Film - The Kiss By: Thomas Edison

1896

This was possibly the beginning of controversial movies for the romance scene. This movie produced by Thomas Edison premiered in Canada and America but was protested by civilians and Roman Catholics of the time. It was protested that even though the movie was nearly 18 seconds the idea of a couple kissing being shown to the public was obscene.

First Film Shown in the White House: Birth Of A Nation

1915

During the early 1900's the movie Birth of a nation was the first movie to be watched in White House for it's historical significance. Even though this movie is now looked at as a dark and twisted projection of the free black population and the organisations in this time in history that wanted to bring them down. Having this movie in the White House an establishment built on slave work, just shows the irony and evil within the world of politics in this time in America history.

First Body Swap Film - Vice Versa

1916

Before we have the movies like Freaky Friday, we had the classic body swap movies such as Vice Versa. The storytelling tactic was made popular by this book turned movie. This movie was a silent film by director Maurice Elvey.

First Movie in Color - Cupid Angling

1918

Today we rarely care about the fact that our tv shows and film all have color in them, but in the types of films before 1918 color wasn't really represented in the film. Not only was this the first colored film, but this film also was the only one of its kind to use the Douglass Natural Color Process. Who would have to know that films like these would be what would give cinematographers the knowledge to create classics such as the "Wizard of Oz".

One of the First Films Directed By A Black Director - Within Our Gates By: Oscar Micheaux

1920

First Time Travel Film - A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court

1921

First 3D Film - The Power Of Love

1922

irst African-American man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor: Sidney Poitier

Feb 20, 1927

First "All-Talking, All-Singing, All-Dancing" Film -The Broadway Melody

1929

First Film To Win an Academy Award For Best Picture: Wings

Jan 5, 1929

The First Film Festival - The Venice Film Festival

Period: 1932 to 1932

First Animated Feature - Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

1937

First Movie To Have A Singing Computer - The 2001 Space Odyssesy

1968

Even thought Space Odyssey is know for many other great film accomplishments, the one I felt was so unique was the first movie to have a singing computer. The great singing computer in this movie was actually really important to not only the movie, but to the cast as well. The singing computer actually made it's appearance after the life of one of the close people to the director had died.

First G-Rated Movie To Win Best Picture: Oliver!

1972

The First Summer Blockbuster: Jaws

1975

Also being the first summer blockbuster this movie made film history, not only when it was made,but still today. Jaws is still one of the all time greats that generations have known about, including its various sequels. Lastly being this great movie Jaws made an amazing impact on my life in various ways, and I know it's done the same for many others.

First Movie To Have Special Effects: Star Wars

1977

FIirst Movie to Gross 1 Million Dollars: Titanic

1997

Not only was the titanic a beautiful movie of a tragic event but it also made big bucks in the Hollywood industry. Being one of the great romance action movies of the ages there is no surprise that this movie grossed 1 Billon dollars. Gaining this amount of movie shows true greatness, I mean look at Beauty and the Beast!