The history of cinema begins in the nineteenth century with the invention of the first devices to record and reproduce moving images, such as Thomas Edison’s “kineastoscope”. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the first films in history emerged, such as that of the Lumière brothers. During the first decades of the twentieth century, cinema evolved rapidly, with the development of new production techniques and the first commercial successes. In the 1920s, cinema became a form of mass entertainment and a major industry, with the emergence of film studios and movie stars. Since then, cinema has undergone numerous changes and evolved in various ways, including the introduction of sound, color, animation, special effects, and the digital age. In addition, cinema has influenced and has been influenced by culture and society around the world.
Types of cinema
There are several types of cinema, each with different characteristics and themes. Some of the most common types include:
- Genre cinema: it is classified by genres such as comedy, action, horror, science fiction, etc.
- Independent cinema: Produced outside the system of the big studios, they tend to be less commercial and have greater creative freedom.
- Artistic cinema: also known as auteur cinema, it is a cinema that seeks personal expression and formal experimentation.
- Documentary film: records reality in an objective or subjective way.
- Animated cinema: uses animation techniques to tell stories.
- Propaganda cinema: used for political or ideological purposes, it is produced for the purpose of persuasion or persuasion.
- Cult films: non-commercial and unpopular films at the time, but which have acquired a large following over time.
- Experimental film: uses innovative techniques and styles to tell a story or communicate an idea.
- Bollywood cinema: is the cinema that is produced in India, known for its dramatic stories, music, and dance.
- Nollywood Cinema is the cinema produced in Nigeria, known for its emphasis on African culture and social issues.
First actor
The first actor to appear in a film was French actor Albert Kirchner, also known as “Le Clerc”, who appeared in the first film in history, “Sortie de l’usine Lumière à Lyon” (The exit from the Lumière factory in Lyon), shot by the Lumière brothers in 1895. Kirchner appears in the film walking in front of the camera, leaving the Lumière brothers’ factory in Lyon, France.
It is important to mention that this first film was filmed in a single shot and has no dialogue or plot, it is considered more of a documentary or visual experiment.
First actress
The first actress to appear in a film was French actress Auguste Lumière. She appeared in the first film in history, “La sortie de l’usine Lumière à Lyon” (The Exit from the Lumière Factory in Lyon), which was filmed by the Lumière brothers in 1895. The film shows several people, including Auguste, leaving the Lumière brothers’ factory in Lyon, France.
Like the first actor, this first film was shot in a single shot and has no dialogue or plot, it is considered more of a documentary or visual experiment.
How this documentary or visual experiment reached the public
The Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, who invented the kineastoscope and shot the first film in history “The Departure of the Lumière factory in Lyon” (1895) presented their invention in several public exhibitions in France and other countries. The first public film screening took place at the Salle des Cenci of the Grand Café in Paris, France, on December 28, 1895. The event was organized by the Lumière brothers and featured the screening of several short films, including “The Departure of the Lumière Factory in Lyon”.
Since then, the Lumière brothers continued to screen their films in other countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, among others, where they received a good reception from the public. Over time, other inventors and filmmakers joined the creation of films and cinema became a popular form of entertainment worldwide.
Highest-grossing films of cinema in the twentieth century
Throughout the twentieth century, there were many films that achieved great success at the box office, here are some examples of some of the highest grossing:
James Cameron’s Titanic (1997): Grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide.
James Cameron’s Avatar (2009): It grossed over $2.8 billion worldwide.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), directed by George Lucas: grossed more than $775 million worldwide.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) directed by Steven Spielberg: It grossed over $790 million worldwide.
The Sound of Music (1965) directed by Robert Wise: grossed over $286 million worldwide.
The Exorcist (1973) directed by William Friedkin: grossed over $441 million worldwide.
Jaws (1975) also directed by Steven Spielberg: It grossed over $470 million worldwide.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) directed by David Hand: It grossed over $184 million worldwide.
The Ten Commandments (1956) directed by Cecil B. DeMille: Grossed over $65 million worldwide.
Gone with the Wind (1939) directed by Victor Fleming: grossed over $198 million worldwide.
It is important to mention that these figures are from the income obtained in its premiere and do not include the profits of re-releases or DVD sales, in addition these figures are nominal and are not adjusted for inflation.
