Cecil Hepworth and the Rise of the British Film Industry 1899-1911

159 pages. Temps de lecture estimé 1h59min.
This book offers an industrial, economic and aesthetic history of the early years of the British film industry from 1899–1911, through a case study of one of the most celebrated pioneer film makers, Cecil Hepworth. Presenting a picture of daily life in his film studio, an analysis of Hepworth’s films is offered including the development of their content, production methods and marketing in this formative period. The early twentieth century saw British film production develop from a cottage industry of artisans to a multi-modal complex economic system with a global reach. Changes in the nature of exhibition and distribution caused a major crisis in the years 1908–1911, whereby Britain lost its status as a world leader in film making. Existing histories of this period lay this crisis at the feet of pioneers like Hepworth, whose perceived inability to improve the quality of film production led to stagnation. Brown attempts to challenge this assumption by analysing Hepworth’s development of production methods as well as his strategies towards sales in the market to demonstrate the impact on the modernisation of the film industry.       Introduction List of Illustrations and Tables                                                                              Film Production and the Hepworth Manufacturing Company Ltd (HMC) Hepworth, Film Sales and the Rise of the Renter    The HMC, the Rental Sector and Market Strategies            HMC and Patterns of Exhibition                                                        Conclusion: The Producers’ Response to the Crisis                                     Appendix One: Filmography of Hepworth and Co and the HMC 1899–1911    Appendix Two: HMC Titles Listed in ‘Around the Shows’ Released 1 October 1908–31 August 1909       Appendix Three: List of London Based Rental Firms (1905–1911) and Foreign Film Sales Representatives (1907–1911) Bibliography Index