French comedies in historical aspect

If we consider that France is the birthplace of world cinema, then it is not surprising that the first to appear was French comedies. The history of the most popular movie genre today began with the "Watered Pollayer" - a production film, shot by L. Lumière in 1895.

Of course, this was not a comedy in the modern sense. The titles already mentioned the content of these short comic staging episodes. The funny effect of short films was achieved through various situations and tricks related to harassment and chasing.

In the "Pursuit of the Wheel" two boys are removed from the cart wheel and let him downhill. It flies with such speed that it beats down on its way a seller who breaks figurines out of plaster. On the way of the wheel there is also a merchant dropping bread rolls from the basket onto the ground. The cyclist is falling and many others. All the victims, one by one, start chasing the wheel. It stops, only rolled out on the shore and bogged down in the sand. The unfortunates with anger break it and with annoyance fight with each other.

At the initial stage of the plot's development, the operator shot a movie camera from one place, i.e. Statically. But with regard to editing, new methods and techniques have already arisen in this area: the scene with each new victim of the wheel was shot as a separate story, framed by the initial and final episode. Therefore, they could be connected as a constructor, in any order.

Later, when the writers and playwrights come to the cinema, the screenplay will start controlling the film process. Directors, guided by them, will begin to shoot professional actors, first theatrical, and create artistic images.

The first popular masters of comedy cinematography were found all over the world imitators. At first, the world idol was the director and actor A. Did (1879 - 1940). He starred in the role of the unlucky Poirot and shot tricks of French comedies, where he played different characters, without creating a type or image. The common trait of his heroes was only dullness. Plots of this "flat" comedian, who did not go beyond the hapless watering officer, remained the same as the nature of the comic in his films - ridiculous stunt pursuit. Positive moments in the game Dida critics considered the sense of rhythm and rigidity of the expressive gesture.

Then the throne of the king passes to Max Linder (1883-1925). French comedies have changed: from falls, kicks and chases, a transition to a search for a comic character and for everyday sketches of the psychological plan took place. Linder created a mask, which had such details as a fashion suit, cane, mustache, and under them - a dazzling bright smile. These masked images are used by modern comedians of world cinema. The comedies of France, as well as the joint production with characteristic images, passing from one tape to another, already managed to enter the classics of the genre. A vivid example is the stray Charlie.

The sources of the comic have changed. From simple and then tricky persecution, Linder went on to the ridiculous effects caused by the character's absurd behavior under the influence of love, intoxication, excessive activity, frivolity and arrogance. Brilliantly mastering the technique of the comic actor, Max joked fun at the inclinations of the hero he created. The young Chaplin fell under the charm and influence of Linder's early films, whose comicism was of a theatrical nature, was based on the direct French vaudeville.

From the forties to the sixties, French comedies (a list of them can not be placed within the framework of this article) with Burville, Louis de Funes and Fernandel, in turn, glorified the homeland and the founding fathers. Their glory was not lost even in the next seventies and eighties, bringing to the fore Kolyusha, Depardieu, Richard, Belmondo, Noire and other wonderful masters of entertainment genre, many of which are being shot at the present time.

Of course, the last French comedies can not be compared to the first, but who will guarantee that without such a long and difficult path of development, they would be just like today, full of sincere humor and would be so popular with the demanding viewer.