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Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter

  • 19821982
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
127
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)
  • Documentary
  • Biography
  • History
This documentary is produced by one of the world's foremost authorities and biographers of Edwin S. Porter. Since little is known of Porter's personal life, the emphasis here is on his techn... Read allThis documentary is produced by one of the world's foremost authorities and biographers of Edwin S. Porter. Since little is known of Porter's personal life, the emphasis here is on his technique and contributions to the art of the cinema. This film also serves as a documentary on... Read allThis documentary is produced by one of the world's foremost authorities and biographers of Edwin S. Porter. Since little is known of Porter's personal life, the emphasis here is on his technique and contributions to the art of the cinema. This film also serves as a documentary on the origins of the American cinema; Porter's work is showcased in the context of the whol... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
127
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Musser
  • Writers
    • Warren Leight
    • Charles Musser
  • Stars
    • Blanche Sweet(voice)
    • Jay Leyda(voice)
    • Rob Issen(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Musser
  • Writers
    • Warren Leight
    • Charles Musser
  • Stars
    • Blanche Sweet(voice)
    • Jay Leyda(voice)
    • Rob Issen(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos6

    Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)
    Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)
    Uncle Josh at the Moving Picture Show (1902)
    Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)
    Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Blanche Sweet
    Blanche Sweet
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    Jay Leyda
    • Reader - Thomas A. Edisonas Reader - Thomas A. Edison
    • (voice)
    Rob Issen
    • Reader - Corbett-Courtney Fightas Reader - Corbett-Courtney Fight
    • (voice)
    Robert Sklar
    • Reader - Porter's Naval Recordas Reader - Porter's Naval Record
    • (voice)
    Robert Rosen
    • Reader - Vitascope's First Nightas Reader - Vitascope's First Night
    • (voice)
    Mitchell Kriegman
    Mitchell Kriegman
    • Reader - 'Kiss' Reviewas Reader - 'Kiss' Review
    • (voice)
    Peter Davis
    • Reader - Eden Museeas Reader - Eden Musee
    • (voice)
    • …
    D.A. Pennebaker
    D.A. Pennebaker
    • Reader - Film as a Visual Newspaperas Reader - Film as a Visual Newspaper
    • (voice)
    Milos Forman
    Milos Forman
    • Reader - The Biddle Brothersas Reader - The Biddle Brothers
    • (voice)
    Warren Leight
    Warren Leight
    • Reader - Terrible Teddyas Reader - Terrible Teddy
    • (voice)
    Rick King
    • Reader - Sampson-Schley Controversyas Reader - Sampson-Schley Controversy
    • (voice)
    Anthony Potter
    • Reader - Fighting the Flamesas Reader - Fighting the Flames
    • (voice)
    Louis Malle
    Louis Malle
    • Reader - Melies Catalogueas Reader - Melies Catalogue
    • (voice)
    Robert Altman
    Robert Altman
    • Reader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk' Promoas Reader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk' Promo
    • (voice)
    Jim Walton
    • Reader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk'as Reader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk'
    • (voice)
    Michael Peyser
    Michael Peyser
    • Reader - Edison Studioas Reader - Edison Studio
    • (voice)
    Grahame Weinbren
    • Reader - 'Eagle's Nest' Reviewas Reader - 'Eagle's Nest' Review
    • (voice)
    Steve Brier
    • Reader - Adolph Zukoras Reader - Adolph Zukor
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Charles Musser
    • Writers
      • Warren Leight
      • Charles Musser
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This documentary is produced by one of the world's foremost authorities and biographers of Edwin S. Porter. Since little is known of Porter's personal life, the emphasis here is on his technique and contributions to the art of the cinema. This film also serves as a documentary on the origins of the American cinema; Porter's work is showcased in the context of the whole American cinema of his day, from mutoscope parlors to the advent of the projected image. —Thomas McWilliams <tgm@netcom.com>
    • filmmaker as protagonist
    • biographical documentary
    • inventor
    • nickel the coin
    • photograph
    • 24 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • An Age of Innovation. An Era of Idealism. The Time When American Movies Were Born.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Biography
      • History
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Features Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph (1894)
    • Soundtracks
      A Bird in a Gilded Cage
      (©1900)

      Written by Harry von Tilzer

      Performed by Joan Morris and William Bolcom

      Courtesy of Nonesuch Records

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    Pretty Good for 1982
    Before the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (1982)

    *** (out of 4)

    D.W. Griffith's actress Blanche Sweet narrates this 60-minute documentary taking a look at the career of Edwin S. Porter the man best remembered today for his 1903 masterpiece THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY. The documentary goes over his rise at Edison Studios and how he eventually started directing pictures only to make his last one thirty-years before his death. Before his death the Hollywood system had all but forgotten about him and he was yet another figure who wouldn't get his credit until years after his passing. Those wanting a real look at Porter's life and work will probably be disappointed because the majority of the running time just discusses his major films like TRAIN ROBBERY, LIFE OF AN American FIREFIGHTER and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. There's not too much discussion on the making of these films or countless others that Porter made. Instead, we get long clips from countless films with many of his popular ones getting shown nearly in their full versions. This will certainly not sit well with some people but you have to remember that when this documentary was made these films weren't as wildly available as they are today so I'm sure people in 1982 were having a good time seeing these clips probably for the first time in their lives. I found the most interesting things being some photographs taken at one of the earliest theaters and it was pretty interesting seeing the look on the faces of the people who might have been seeing a movie for the first time. The stuff taking a look at the movies from 1895-1899 was the highlight of the picture. Various famous people including Robert Altman, Milos Forman, D.A. Pennebaker, Tony Potter and Jim Walton add some narration as well.
    helpful•1
    1
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Feb 27, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Film for Thought
      • New York-Hollywood Feature Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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