Edison: The Invention of the Movies

This is an impressive set of 4 DVDs that chronicle Edison's contribution to the film industry. It is for the most part in chronological order to demonstrate the evolution more of films than of the industry that goes hand in hand.

You have the option of just watching films or including interspersed interviews. Most documentaries (not this one) have some snot telling you what you can see for yourself or trying to make some left field point as in the film "The Uninvited" (1944) trying to tout is as al lesbian film. In this case, there are a few but they are offset by the excellent reviews by Charles Musser, author of "Before the Nickelodeon". Charles ties all the films and presentations into one coherent offering. Now you do not see this presentation as separate films but more of metamorphosis and have a better understanding and appreciation for the early film industry.

I will not go through the films in detail as that is why you are purchasing the product. I will say that this set should be of interest to historians and the curious in many other fields as it captures sites and attitudes from a time gone by.

It is packed with information and can be quite a chore to watch at one time without taking time to digest. You will also want to view this documentary again to pick up on the nuances missed the first time around.