Material Detail

This book is subtitled, 'The Transformation of Performance Style in the Griffith Biograph Films.

' Between 1908 and 1913, D. W. Griffith played a key role in the reformulating of film's narrative techniques, thus contributing to the creation of what we now think of as the classical Hollywood cinema. This book is the only extensive treatment of a critical period in the history of film acting: the emergence of the realistic "verisimilar" style in Griffith's biograph films. Roberta Pearson shows how Griffith gradually abandoned the deliberately affected "histrionic" acting style derived from the nineteenth-century stage. No longer did actors mime distress by raising their arms to heaven or clutching their heads - a subtle facial expression, a slight change in posture would convey a character's extreme emotions instead.Pearson makes detailed comparisons of certain Biograph films and brings a freshness to her analysis by closely examining contemporary journalistic writing, acting manuals, and the recollections of actors of the time. Her work is important for anyone interested in early cinema and performance, and it will enliven the study of American cultural history and mass communications.'

This will delete the comment from the database. This operation is not reversible. Are you sure you want to do it?

Thank you for reporting a broken "Go to Material" link in MERLOT to help us maintain a collection of valuable learning materials.

Would you like to be notified when it's fixed?

Your email address

Do you know the correct URL for the link?

Suggested URL

Your broken link report has been sent to the MERLOT Team. Thank you for helping MERLOT maintain a current collection of valuable learning materials!

Your broken link report failed to be sent. Please try reloading the page and reporting it again. Thank you! Sorry for the trouble.

If you feel this material is inappropriate for the MERLOT Collection, please click SEND REPORT, and the MERLOT Team will investigate. Thank you!

Your inappropriate material report has been sent to the MERLOT Team. Thank you for helping MERLOT maintain a valuable collection of learning materials.

Your inappropriate material report failed to be sent. Please try reloading the page and reporting it again. Thank you! Sorry for the trouble.

Your inappropriate comment report has been sent to the MERLOT Team. Thank you for helping MERLOT maintain a valuable collection of learning materials.

You are being taken to the material on another site. This will open a new window.

Do not show me this again

You just viewed Eloquent Gestures. Please take a moment to rate this material.