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Movie Info & Details
Release Year2014
Runtime0h 53m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDocumentary
Votes2
DirectorNed Thanhouser
WritersMelissa Steineger, Edwin Thanhouser Jr.
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.5 out of 10
Cast4 credited
Also Known AsThe Thanhouser Studio and the Birth of American Cinema
About The Thanhouser Studio and the Birth of American Cinema
One-hour documentary recounts the untold story of the remarkable rise and fall of the Thanhouser Studio, one of American’s pioneering motion picture studios during the first decade of the twentieth century. It traces the evolution of one family’s career as it transitioned from producing live theater to establishing one of the most successful independent silent motion picture studios. The Thanhouser Studio produced and released over 1,000 silent motion pictures that were acclaimed by critics and seen by audiences around the world. Set against a background of the industry playing out in New York, Florida and California, it is a compelling story of fame and fortune, twisted by the vagaries of fate and ending on a bittersweet note.
Directed by Ned Thanhouser, The Thanhouser Studio and the Birth of American Cinema leans on a strong ensemble — Judith Buchanan, David Robinson, Shelley Stamp — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2014.
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