Franck Ferrand raconte : Les frères Lumière et le cinématographe (Les Grands Dossiers de l'Histoire)

Paris in 1895: A Cultural Hub

The Vibrant Atmosphere of Paris

• Paris is depicted as a bustling cultural capital, attracting writers, painters, thinkers, and musicians from around the world amidst a backdrop of innovation.

• The city is characterized by its inventive spirit, with significant advancements such as the airplane, automobile, and cinematograph being developed during this period.

A Cold December Evening

• On December 28, 1895, the streets of Paris are described as icy and deserted due to extreme cold; however, some omnibuses still operate under gaslight.

• Visitors are invited into the Grand Café des Capucines to experience an extraordinary invention for just one franc.

The First Cinematographic Experience

Entering the Projection Room

• Inside a decorated salon with a white screen and horizontal apparatus, attendees witness moving images that appear lifelike but lack sound.

• The audience reacts with amazement as they see scenes like workers leaving a factory and a train approaching them.

Historical Significance

• Although attendees may not realize it at the time, this event marks the birth of cinema; Jacques Jeansen notes that cinema would soon become integral to modern life in various forms.

The Lumière Brothers' Background

Early Life of Antoine Lumière

• Antoine Lumière faced hardships growing up orphaned at 15; he transitioned from carpentry to painting signs before pursuing photography.

Family Dynamics

• He married Jeanne Joséphine Castille and moved to Besançon where his sons Auguste (born 1862) and Louis (born 1864) were born.

Innovations in Photography

Challenges in Early Photography

• Antoine struggled to make a living from photography due to long exposure times required for portraits.

Breakthrough Developments

• By 1875, he shifted focus entirely on photography after abandoning his singing career. His sons admired his efforts in developing new photographic emulsions.

Pioneering Motion Capture

Learning from Others

• In 1878, inspired by Eadweard Muybridge's work capturing horse motion through sequential photographs using multiple cameras.

Advancements Made by Lumières

• Despite existing dry plates made elsewhere being less sensitive than desired, the brothers aimed for practical solutions that would free photographers from laboratory constraints.

Development of Cinematography

Military Service Impact

• While Auguste served in military service in 1882, Louis continued their work on dry plates which simplified photography significantly upon Auguste's return.

Commercial Success

• Their small blue-labeled plates became globally popular and profitable while allowing more people access to photography without needing extensive chemical knowledge.

Pursuing Motion Pictures

Inspiration from Previous Works

• Motivated by Muybridge’s success with motion capture photos of horses galloping; they sought to create moving images themselves.

Other Innovators

Jules Marey had previously demonstrated early film techniques using paper strips capable of capturing multiple frames per second.

Edison’s Contributions

• Thomas Edison created modern film technology including the kinetoscope which combined film projection with sound possibilities envisioned for future cinema experiences.

Lumières’ Response

• Inspired by Edison’s innovations yet seeking something more natural led Louis Lumière to conceptualize an improved device during an insomniac night in 1894.

Birth of the Cinématographe

Patent Registration

• On February 13th ,1895 ,the brothers registered their patent for what they named "cinématographe," combining filming and projection capabilities into one device .

Filming Begins

• They began creating short films showcasing everyday life scenes such as factory exits or train arrivals leading up towards public presentations .

Public Reception & Critique

First Public Screening

• On December 28th ,1895 ,the first public screening took place at Grand Café where audiences experienced various short films including “The Arrival of a Train.”

Media Coverage

• Initial reviews highlighted how remarkable this invention was despite misconceptions about color projection since all films were black-and-white at that time .

Rapid Expansion & Future Prospects

Growing Popularity

• By mid –1896 ,cinema gained immense popularity across cities worldwide prompting rapid establishment of dedicated theaters .

Refusal To Sell

• Despite lucrative offers reaching up to fifty thousand francs ,Lumières chose not sell their invention preferring instead direct involvement producing films themselves .