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DICKSON GREETING 

(Edison Manufacturing Company, © USA, 1891)

Produced by: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise 

Starring: William K.L. Dickson 

Runtime: 0:18 min. 

Rated: U.

Illo Tempore Film Awards history 

Edison Manufacturing Company (William K.L. Dickson, William Heise) - Winner, Best Picture

William K.L. Dickson - Nominee, Best Actor 

William Heise - Winner, Best Cinematographer  


Review by Aaron Time

        Probably the first successful motion picture production, Dickson Greeting, presents a short scene in which William K.L. Dickson is captured while performing an artistic greeting. The whole film is just a recurrence of one 3 seconds shot. 

        Taking into account the fact that the production was simply a test for Edison’s kinetograph, the result is remarkable. The film (if we are to accept it as one) still manages to impress in originality in the traditional sense. Apart from being the first picture, what catches one’s attention most is the content. Dickson makes an invitation to the wonderful world of cinema at a time when no one had faith in the future of moving images. Edison, through refusing to copyright his invention, proved that lack of confidence. Nevertheless, there is nothing in the production itself to suggest any of the arguments from that time. It is a barrier-breaker in any sense of the word.

        The film was first exhibited on the 20th of May 1891, to the members of the members of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs, and was received with great success. The New York Sun gave a most positive review, by remarking: “Every motion was perfect”. And indeed there is little to object to. Dickson and Heise had created something that the public, and in particular the American one, were expecting since at least 1879. Muybridge’s moving images, because they were so unrealistic, mainly due to the use of the white background, were not able to do more than just raise momentous excitement. All the spectators could see was a moving image.

        Dickson Greeting brought a high degree of realism, entwined with the use of artistic expression. The figure was not even a caricature. The movements of the performer were natural, not exaggerated. The character became a symbol. He portrayed the image of the adventurer who became satisfied with his achievement, and was thus expressing his joy to the world by inviting it in his small capsule. 

        The production won two Illo Tempore Film Awards, including Best Picture.

        William K.L. Dickson, the only nominee denied the award, intrigues most through his movements, and facial expression, which is incredibly telling. His performance, which got him a nomination for Best Actor, is worth praise, particularly since most of the post-1900 productions, lacked that quality of naturalness, which Dickson so exquisitely possessed. 

        The other victory was given for Best Cinematography, where William Heise took the entire credit. The use of the black background and the subtle frontal illumination give the impression of a show in creation. The setting is built in such a way that the performer is emphasized, but not exposed.

        Dickson Greeting remains a simple sketch though, of little interest to the general public. In spite of all the poetic power it contains, the film is nothing but the testimony that motion pictures were to become a popular source of entertainment and a form of art in its own right. 

★★☆☆☆

 


Copyright © Illo Tempore Film Awards 2003. The copyrights of the pictures are kept with the authors.

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