Episodes
1. Les inventeurs ou la rencontre des photographes et des fantômes
September 24, 1978
Claude-Jean Philippe sees the invention of cinema as the meeting of photographers and ghosts. This film chronologically follows the progress of two inventions: Joseph Plateau's discovery of the persistence of retinal images, the perfection of his phenakitiscope, and Nieppe's invention of photography. The Lumière brothers' cinematograph is the culmination of this double discovery.
Guest Stars:
Thomas A. Edison, Étienne-Jules Marey, Émile Reynaud
8. Episode 8
November 12, 1978
Guest Stars:
Alberto Cavalcanti, Jean Epstein, Jacques Feyder, Marcel L'Herbier, Georges Lacombe
11. Episode 11
December 3, 1978
Guest Stars:
Man Ray, René Clair, Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, Erik Satie
12. Episode 12
December 10, 1978
Guest Stars:
Jean Epstein, Gina Manès, Léon Mathot, Blanche Montel, Maurice Touzé
13. Les Années 20: De l'impressionnisme au cinéma pur
December 17, 1978
Cinema owes a lot to this experimental laboratory that was the French avant-garde between 1919 and 1924. Based on this observation by Henri Langlois, Claude-Jean Philippe shows that these filmmakers (Louis Delluc, Marcel L'Herbier) accused their difference, like the impressionist group. On the other hand, at the end of the 1920s, everyone dreamed of a "pure cinema".
Guest Stars:
Alberto Cavalcanti, Jean Epstein, Marcel L'Herbier, Abel Gance, Henri Chomette