The Impact of German Film Industry on the Development of World Cinema - Case Study Example

The Impact of German Film Industry on the Development of World Cinema Film industry or the dream world is playing an inescapable role in the society, in the sense film has become one of the important entertainment for the people. Rumelin [2005] observes, “when film is most widely considered a medium of entertainment it remains, as before, a cultural object and a cultural messenger”, like wise films carry the cultural message and political and social background of the respective country. In addition to being a good entertainer film industry has stepped into the filed of innovations which is given by the filmmakers in each step of their film making process. When we consider the influence of one film industry on the other we can see that the development of one film industry is partly a result of the impact of other film industry or other country films. For example, today, American films appear to have its popularity and influence over many filmmakers through out the world. Similarly, the influence of other European and Asian films could be seen in American or British films. As far as European film industry is concerned, it was by the efforts made by Germans that the world cinema has accepted several changes in film making techniques. The most pioneering impact of German cinema would be its expressionism, symbolism, psyche reading etc. German cinema could be said to have began its entry in the end of 19th century with the introduction of the self-invented projector demonstrated by Max Skladanowsky and his brother Emil in Berlin. Their projector called the Bioscope amazed the people with astonishment; though the bioscope can show only one frame at a time, the visualisation of picture surprised many. Other Pioneers included the Berliners Oskar Messter and Max Gliewe, by whom moving pictures were introduced. The Slowly moving pictures attracted for further development, which lasted in trivial short films. Bioscope introduced by the Skladanowsky Brothers took the foundation for motion pictures in Germany. However, many others as a celebrated invention of modern times repeated this successful attempt of the brothers. In1956 lightening projection was introduced. Later the German Film industry introduced motion pictures such as Metropolic, Caligari, Triumph of the Will etc not only challenged the aspect of presenting an unbelievable motion picture but also influenced the other film industry with some of the innovative techniques such as aerial photography, mass emotion etc. It was with the silent movies that the Germans film makers started their success first , later between 1920- 1932 the so called Golden Age of early German Cinema led the way for future film makers, with silent films such as Metropolis, Mosferatu and Das Cabinet des Dr.Caligari”. Then came films with the additional effect added through sound after 1929 with films such as Der blaue Engel”, “ Die Drei von der Tankstells, etc German films are noted for their distinctive technique and style of film making. The impact of German films could be seen from the adaptations of sound techniques, lightening, story telling and artistic sets in Hollywood. The expressionistic films such as Caligari and Metropolis might not have given a commercial success to German film industry, however, the influence of artistic features of these expressionistic films. For example, the effectiveness found in the set design of Caligari, meagre narrative technique that is added with a collective weirdness gave the film a remarkable place in the development of world cinema. The impact of the film Caligari was so remarkable that it paved the way for a new genre in film making with the advent of expressionism mixed with depiction of murky side of the consciousness. Some of the contribution of German films to the world cinema was shared by directors like Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, who flew to Hollywood, as a result the aspect of calculating a bigger budget extended in Hollywood, which cannot be found in German Film industry. “One of the first and most famous examples of German Expressionism, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari achieves most of its effectiveness and importance from brilliant mise-en-scene, primarily in the area of set design. The sparseness of its narrative form, while adding to the overall mysteriousness, marks the film as a relatively early work in the development of cinema; there is a general lack of camera movement and very little editing within scenes” observes Providentially, rather out-of-date basics of the film technique are eccentric enough to preserve the modern touch of the picture, which was intended not to divert from the trendy artistic shape. Through the film, the maker was able to concentrate on giving a special significance for the audience to understand the future influence, which the film will have on other film industries, in terms of presenting a detailed aspect of expressionism and the deep subconscious mind of the characters. It is with the impact made by the artistic set designs that the German film industry inspired the other film industries of the world. The stark lightening effect embedded into the expressionistic technique, as discussed above is one of the pioneering efforts made by German filmmakers, which in paved way for adaptation of the same ideas into the other film industries. The aspect of probing into the psyche with a horror effect was one of the initial impacts which German film industry had on world cinema. While the film called, Metropolis released on 1927 also made a remarkable impact on world cinema through its features such as editing, screening etc. When it was released at several parts of main cities such as Australia, the extraordinary picturisation of the film was appreciated through out. In one of the reviews published in The Herald, Melbourne, Metropolis was praised as “Many spectacular films have come from Hollywood. Some have cost an immense sum of money, but not one of them can be compared with Metropolis, the most remarkable photoplay that has been shown in Melbourne. In general, any American-made picture has never equalled conception, its astounding settings, and its wonderfully managed mob scenes. The photography is a revelation”. The film Metropolis not only was introduced as one of the motion pictures of the day, but also appreciated for the treatment of mass emotions Other films include Triumph of the Will, was one of the better examples of propaganda films in the world Cinema. Filmmaker Riefenstahl’s innovative techniques such as moving cameras, aerial photography, distorted perspective in addition to music and cinematography techniques gained a good impression and recognition in the film history. The innovative film technique such as the moving camera with an “elevator attached to the mammoth flagpoles behind the speaker’s podium, as well as another on Hitler’s personal Mercedes….also featured the use of telephoto lenses to create a distorted perspective” says Wikiepedia [2007] The recognition was extended in other countries such as United States, France and Sweden, which in turn awarded Riefenstahl for the same. This film influenced other filmmakers of various countries in the form of implementing their understanding of art and morality in filmmaking. Widely distributed in Europe, Triumph of the Will was never shown in the United States, although a copy was held at the Museum of Modern Art. Americans first saw excerpts of Riefenstahl's film as sequences intercut into] Frank Capra's documentary series, Why We Fight (1942–1944). Documenting the Olympic games in Berlin in 1936, Riefenstahl's Olympia was meant to demonstrate both Germany's cooperation with—and its superiority over—competing nations” observes, Edward Dmytryk, 1945). The aim of the propaganda film is to convince the viewers with a certain point of view, consequently Triumph of the Will took the propaganda of presenting a Nazis point of view. Though the reception for this film was very dull, the impact of Naziz imagery created presented in this film was later followed by Charlie Chaplin in his “The Great Dictator”[ a satire on Hitler’s Nazism]. And later, the impact created by certain of the scenes from this film have been imitated in Star Wars Episode IV : A New Hope as well as Star Wars film version, The Last Emperor, Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings, The Lion King, Richard III, etc observes Wikiepedia [2007]. Expressionistic techniques, on the other side of the German film industry had its influence over other film makers of other countries, for example the period 1919 to 1933 faced a huge movement in the history of German cinema, which in turn reflected its influence on the other film industries. It is this technique of German filmmakers, which made other country filmmakers to look at German cinema with surprise and wonder. Since German film industry suffered a tough time in terms of less financial backup during the end of World War I, they could not think of investing a lot in making a film, so they choose the expressionistic aspect in filmmaking. “Because the resulting European films are often limited-budget, intellectually challenging productions that lack the Hollywood big-star, action/blockbuster formula, their mass appeal has been limited” observes Flippo [2007] Where as, Ziesing [2007], on the other hand observes “The German Expressionist cinema from 1919 to 1933 was a new movie style that revealed a few widely regarded films. As adapted for film Pam Cook describes expressionism in her Cinema Book as an "extreme stylization of mise en scene... " and "The stylistic features of German Expressionism are fairly specific and include chiaroscuro lighting , surrealistic settings and, frequently, a remarkable fluidity of mobile framing." Flashback adds that German Expressionism "concentrated on a heavy use of light and dark contrasts, exaggeration, tilted angles, a dream like atmosphere" and "German films of this area are united by their uncanny evocation of stimmung ..." , these features had a great impact on almost all the film industries of the world cinema. The expressionistic techniques allowed people to look at German cinema The impact of German film industry on world cinema is felt by many critics and analysts, for example Flippo [2007] observe that “Hollywood would not be what it is today without this Austrian and German impact. Even if non-German names like Bergman, Fellini, Truffaut, and Kurosawa are more famous in the world of international cinema, German and Austrian directors such as Fassbinder, Sternberg, Lang, Lubitsch, Murnau, Petersen, Preminger, Wilder, Wenders, and others (some of whom are still alive and working) have had an incalculable effect on American movie making” Murderers are among us is yet another remarkable German film which had a great impact on the world cinema in terms of picturising the ruins of Berlin after the fall of Hitler. The film carried the realistic visual look offered with artistic expressionism to reveal the social consciousness of the Germans, was commented as a controversial theme by Americans. As a result some of the Western sectors like America “refused to allow the Germans to make flms, preferring to see what Yankee indoctrination could do, that it was time for the Germans to listen and not express themselves” observes Erickson [200]. The film portrayed the wartime sensations of Germany, in addition to giving a special focus on self-respect and humanity among the Germans, because of these features the film created a strong impact on the viewers and the world cinema. Allan and Sandford [2001] observes that “Wolfgang Staudte juxtaposes the bleak austerity of realistic filmmaking with rapid montage sequences, unusual camera angles, and sharp contrasts of light and darkness to create a pervasive sense of disorienting harsh reality that reflects the fractured lives of the war's survivors”. They also realised the “exaggerated shadows”, “unorthodox living of the tenants”, “ominous darkness”, “the sharp angle of tenement staircase” as features of realism and expressionism. In fact these special shots and features proved to be an innovative attempt in the world cinema. However, since the theme was centred on the ruins of war time after the rule of Hitler, Germans felt like a raising after fall, which was again not approved by certain countries especially America. The tradition of expressionism could be identified in almost all the notable films between the years 1910- 1933, where Germany was able to make out successful films which were treated as competing films with that of Hollywood’s production. The expression of psychological mood, and the influence of the social conditions, which then revealed in films through expression of disturbances and desolation occupied the mood of most of the movies. Where as, after 1924, films such as Metropolis [1926], M [1931] and Kameradschaft [1931] set a new style in filmmaking, and the influence of the styles followed in these films had a great impact on world cinema. Silberman [1980] observes, “In effect, German cinema — from 1914 to 1945 — represents a model of capitalist development from free competition in an open market to an oligopoly of mutual interest groups to a vertical and horizontal monopoly” during the period mentioned above German expressionistic films were able to hold the market. Today German film industry has changed a lot in its structure of making films, as well as implementing technical innovations etc. However, when compared with that of the growth of films in Hollywood and Britain, German films lack the strength from regional and national government. The financial success of German films also proves to be comparatively less satisfactory, observes Rumelin [2001], in a message given to from the position of Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Media. He also points out that though German directors, scriptwriters, actors and technicians can stand in comparison with others from international film industries, “the financial success achieved by German films and their audience acceptance domestically is not satisfactory and, especially abroad need to be improved”. Overall, German films had an influencing impact on the world cinema primarily with their silent picture, then with expressionistic films to a great extent, and then representation of the psyche. Today like other films German films have also become improved in technology and pisturisation, however, financial success has not been reached by German films like that of the films produced in Hollywood or other competing industries. Where as, the subject of social and political moods and aspects of Germany presented in films cannot be challenged by other films, as German films seemed to have occupied a pioneering position in world cinema. Bibiliography: An Expert from Hyde Flippo. 2005. The German Way and more “Cinema”. McGraw-Hill/Passport Books online available from http://www.german-way.com/cinema.html Cinema of Germany. Wikiepedia online available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Germany#New_German_Cinema Dr. Rumelin, Nida. Federal Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and Media. “A Message from the new Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Media- “Medium of Entertainment and Cultural Messenger”. 2001 online available from http://www.germanfilms.de/en/germanfilmsquaterly/previousissues/interviews/amessagefromthenewfederalgovernmen/index.html Erickson, Glenn. “The Murderers are Among US” a Review. Online available from http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s528murder.html John Wayne in Back to Bataan Edward Dmytryk, 1945).online available from http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Romantic-Comedy-Yugoslavia/World-War-II-FILM-INDUSTRIES-AND-CULTURESOF-THE-AXIS-NATIONS.html Metropolis Australian Release 1928. online available from http://web.archive.org/web/20021015003345/www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/Metroi.html Silberman, Marc. “The Nazi film Industry”. From Jump Cut, no.23, Oct. 1980, pp-34-35 .Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media, 1980, 2005. online available from http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC23folder/GermanCinemaRev.html Ziesing, Fabian [2007]. “German Expressionist Cinema 1919-1933]. Film Essays on Fabianweb online available from http://home.nikocity.de/fabianweb/gerexp.html Read More