Public protests changed the film business when it came to showing movies in theaters. From 1905, films were shown almost exclusively in small nickelodeon movie theaters. For five cents, viewers were treated to a bill of very short films or a longer one called one-reelers (because a movie could fit onto one projector reel) that were no more than 10- 15 minutes. These movies had self-contained plots within their short timeframes.
Director D. W. Griffith, when he saw several Italian imports that were much longer than the standard one-reeler, realized the potential of expanding plots would be much more of an enriching experience for his audience. He had earlier produced a two-part (in essence a sequel to the first movie) motion picture, "His Trust" and "His Trust Fulfilled" which was separately played. However, the two-part film, even though having the same characters, had two different plot lines. To see "His Trust" and "His Trust Fulfilled," viewers were charged by Nnckelodean theater owners two separate times.
When Griffith's June 1911's "Enoch Arden" was released as a two-reeler, 33 minutes long, theater owners resorted to their standard practice of charging the regular price for first half, then cleared out theater. To see the second half, viewers had to pay again.
Public clamor following this procedure was so great theaters decided to charge double to see the entire movie without interruption. Biograph Studios, who funded the production of Griffith's film, recognized theater owners were profiting by charging more for viewing the movie. The studio ended up upping the rental expense for the two-reeler. "Enoch Arden" was just the start of longer movies being produced in the United States. Because of the small theaters nickelodeon owners had, there would be a demand for larger movie venues since more people were willing to stay longer even though it would cost more. The era of cramped nickelodeons was slowly drawing to a close.
On a technical note, Griffith was getting more comfortable with improving the aesthetics of his films. He directed his cameraman to get in tighter for a two-shot closeup of the husband/wife duo (photo seen below). He realized by showing a closer examination of the pair's emotions the audience would realize the tremendous love between the two before they split.
For those who are familiar with the Tom Hanks film "Castaway," the 2000 movie is quite similar to Griffith's. In fact, it appears to be a direct rip-off. "Enoch Arden" is based on the Alfred Tennyson 1864 dramatic poem of the same name. The United States has a law in the books, The Enock Arden Law, that grants a divorce or a legal exception to a person allowing individuals to remarry if his or her spouse has been absent for a number of years--usually seven--without explanation. After seven years, the missing spouse can be declared legally dead.
Director D. W. Griffith, when he saw several Italian imports that were much longer than the standard one-reeler, realized the potential of expanding plots would be much more of an enriching experience for his audience. He had earlier produced a two-part (in essence a sequel to the first movie) motion picture, "His Trust" and "His Trust Fulfilled" which was separately played. However, the two-part film, even though having the same characters, had two different plot lines. To see "His Trust" and "His Trust Fulfilled," viewers were charged by Nnckelodean theater owners two separate times.
When Griffith's June 1911's "Enoch Arden" was released as a two-reeler, 33 minutes long, theater owners resorted to their standard practice of charging the regular price for first half, then cleared out theater. To see the second half, viewers had to pay again.
Public clamor following this procedure was so great theaters decided to charge double to see the entire movie without interruption. Biograph Studios, who funded the production of Griffith's film, recognized theater owners were profiting by charging more for viewing the movie. The studio ended up upping the rental expense for the two-reeler. "Enoch Arden" was just the start of longer movies being produced in the United States. Because of the small theaters nickelodeon owners had, there would be a demand for larger movie venues since more people were willing to stay longer even though it would cost more. The era of cramped nickelodeons was slowly drawing to a close.
On a technical note, Griffith was getting more comfortable with improving the aesthetics of his films. He directed his cameraman to get in tighter for a two-shot closeup of the husband/wife duo (photo seen below). He realized by showing a closer examination of the pair's emotions the audience would realize the tremendous love between the two before they split.
For those who are familiar with the Tom Hanks film "Castaway," the 2000 movie is quite similar to Griffith's. In fact, it appears to be a direct rip-off. "Enoch Arden" is based on the Alfred Tennyson 1864 dramatic poem of the same name. The United States has a law in the books, The Enock Arden Law, that grants a divorce or a legal exception to a person allowing individuals to remarry if his or her spouse has been absent for a number of years--usually seven--without explanation. After seven years, the missing spouse can be declared legally dead.