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

Directed by Charles Musser
1982    60m    G
6.3
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.
Where to Watch Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter
Cast of Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter
  • Blanche SweetNarrator (voice)
  • D. A. PennebakerReader - Film as a Visual Newspaper (voice)
  • Miloš FormanReader - The Biddle Brothers (voice)
  • Louis MalleReader - Melies Catalogue (voice)
  • Robert AltmanReader - 'Jack And The Beanstalk' Promo (voice)
  • Thomas A. EdisonHimself (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Edwin S. PorterHimself (archive footage) (uncredited)

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