1901 proved quite a tumultuous time for the economic powers of the world, what with the assassination of U.S. President McKinley, attempted assassination of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and the year beginning with the death of Queen Victoria. But it proved another notable year for cinema's infancy. By this time Britain has proved itself an important part of the early film industry. The first film textbook to be published is from an English filmmaker, Cecil Hepworth. In 1901 Scottish born film pioneer James Williamson directs noteworthy films "Fire!" and "The Big Swallow" (which includes cinema's very first close-up).
Shortly after Charles Pathé began film production, France's Pathé becomes the dominant international studio.
Barbe-bleue (AKA Bluebeard) by Georges Méliès
The Big Swallow by James Williamson
Fire! by James Williamson
Fire by James Williamson proved very inspirational to US director Edwin S. Porter (as you will see in an upcoming post). At 4 minutes, it matched Georges Méliès "Rêve de Noël" for length, but Méliès raised the bar with 1901's ten-minute Barbe-bleue (Blue Beard).
1901 saw the birth of Filmmakers: Walt Disney and Vittorio De Sica, and Actors: Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich (pictured left), Melvyn Douglas and acclaimed acting coach Stella Adler.The death of C19th Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi coincides with the birth of C20th Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo, as well as Jazz superstar Louis Armstrong (pictured below) and the influential Chicago Blues player Kokomo Arnold. During this time we see Ragtime grow in popularity.
With feet in both audio & visual camps, "America's sweethearts" Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald (actors and singers) and famed variety show host Ed Sullivan were also born in this year.
RateYourMusic's top release for 1901 proves that atrocious titles don't necessarily mean atrocious music. Vess Osman's A Coon Band Contest is a decent enough banjo tune, but I can't see myself returning to it anytime soon. Having listened to a few more in the top 20, I'm still uncertain if I will find anything of interest in this decade. However, I shall continue listening.
Louis Armstrong statue(taken during a visit to New Orleans in 2005)
'01 CINEMA BIRTHS Walt Disney,Vittorio DeSica, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Melvyn Douglas, Stella Adler alturl.com/b8do4
— Through the darkness (@120Yrs120Months) November 11, 2011
'01 MUSIC BIRTHS: Joaquín Rodrigo, Louis Armstrong, Kokomo Arnold, Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. Also TV show host Ed Sullivan
— Through the darkness (@120Yrs120Months) November 11, 2011
1901 watched: Barbe-bleue & L'homme à la tête en caoutchouc (Georges Méliès), Fire! & The Big Swallow (James Williamson). Still no music tho
— Through the darkness (@120Yrs120Months) November 11, 2011
On this date in 1901, Marlene Dietrich was born in Germany.
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) December 27, 2011
Wow, what a surprisingly great find. The great British seaside we know so well, captured here over 110yrs ago. youtube.com/watch?v=KLRQ8E…
— Through the darkness (@120Yrs120Months) September 9, 2012
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