Movies · 1914
The Dawn of the Feature-Length Epic
In 1914, cinema evolved rapidly from short novelty reels into ambitious, feature-length storytelling filled with groundbreaking special effects and slapstick comedy. As global tensions flared into World War I, audiences flocked to nickelodeons to witness history-making epics, serial thrillers, and animated marvels.
- Giovanni Pastrone | Italy | Silent Epic
Cabiria
Giovanni Pastrone's monumental Italian silent epic introduced revolutionary moving camera shots and grand sets, deeply inspiring the future of cinematic masterworks.
- Mack Sennett | USA | Feature Comedy
Tillie's Punctured Romance
Produced by Mack Sennett and starring Marie Dressler and Charlie Chaplin, this slapstick extravaganza is recognized as the first feature-length comedy in film history.
- Cecil B. DeMille | USA | Western
The Squaw Man
Cecil B. DeMille made his directorial debut with this box-office hit, helping establish Hollywood as the premier heartland of American filmmaking.
- Winsor McCay | USA | Animated Short
Gertie the Dinosaur
Winsor McCay combined live-action interaction with pioneering keyframe animation, giving life and genuine character personality to a drawn prehistoric beast.
- Pearl White | USA | Action Serial
The Perils of Pauline
Pearl White captivated audiences as a fearless heiress facing deadly peril in this wildly popular, weekly cliffhanger silent film serial.
- D.W. Griffith | USA | Biblical Drama
Judith of Bethulia
D.W. Griffith directed his first feature-length project, starring Blanche Sweet in a lavish biblical story that pushed Biograph Studio's budget to its limits.
- Edward S. Curtis | USA | Docudrama
In the Land of the Head Hunters
Photographer Edward S. Curtis crafted a dramatic narrative feature starring Kwakwaka'wakw actors to document Indigenous traditions and oral history.
- Sidney Drew | USA | Silent Comedy
A Florida Enchantment
Director Sidney Drew starred in this provocative early silent comedy about magical seeds that cause men and women to switch traditional gender roles.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?