From ‘view’ to narration: genres and stars

In the early days of cinema, the recordings (‘views’ or ‘vues’) did not have a cohesive narrative component and merely contained unconnected episodes. The camera showed, observed and examined what it saw without a clear interpretation or meaning. The ‘cinema of attractions’ also lacked figures with a psychological motivation or individual personality. In any case, the films were too short to permit such character development. There was just a brief situation, often with comical content, with the immediate effect being paramount. As editing and cutting techniques had not yet been developed and there were often no title cards, there was no creative design or dramatization of the material. The attraction lay in the sequence of pictures and accompanying attractions (music, artists, narrators, etc.).

The films gradually became longer. In 1907 the average length was 6 minutes, but by 1909 many films already ran for over 20 minutes. At the same time, there was a larger number of fictional films – two thirds of the productions in 1906. Major producers no longer presented ‘pictures’ but made dramas, comedies and tragedies and based their output on classic categories. By 1910 the two-hour feature film had arrived. New narrative strategies based on classical three- and five-act dramas were developed. More complex plots with familiar actors and actresses became commonplace. The film The Abyss in early 1911 with Asta Nielsen was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. The actress was systematically promoted, and the premieres of each of her films were hyped as media events.

Austria-Hungary also had its first film stars. Mia May, wife of the Austrian director Joe May, was one of the first divas of German cinema. Liane Haid made her debut in the war propaganda film Mit Herz und Hand fürs Vaterland (A 1915) and became one of the greatest Austrian stars of the silent film era. She continued her career in the talking film era as well. Among the male stars there was Rudolf Walter and Josef Holub, who appeared in the 1910s and 1920s as the legendary Austrian double act Cocl & Seff. Their comedies were amongst the bestsellers of the time. In their first film together, Der Bauernschreck (A 1913), they played two social outsiders. Wrapped in a stolen bearskin, they terrify the inhabitants of a village and are paid a handsome reward for ‘vanquishing the beast’.

Translation: Nick Somers