The Golden Age of Cinema

Lights! Camera! Action! The Golden Age of Cinema is a term to describe the pivotal years in the history of filmmaking.

The Golden Age of Cinema began in the 1920s and lasted until the late 1940s. During these years, technology improved, films changed from silent, black, and white creations to full-length-colour productions which were based on a vast number of genres. In this scene, students can explore a cinema and find out about key developments in the film industry between the 1920s-1940s.

# Learning objectives

Understand the term ‘Golden Age’ {.info}

Understand how cinema and the film industry have changed over time {.info}

# What was cinema like in the 1920s?{.objective .objective1}

By observing the short feature film inside the cinema, students can learn that short feature films in the genre of Horror and Romantic Comedies were products of the 1920s. Walking around the cinema, students will be able to identify film making equipment that was used to aid the short feature films in this decade.

# What was cinema like in the 1930s?{.objective .objective2}

The introductions of the Hayes and Colour Films in the 1930s allowed for a new type of cinema experience. Here students can observe a range of adverts that were introduced to advertise products to consumers, before they would watch a film at the cinema. Students are also able to identify the letter rating system that was introduced to help ensure the mass of society watched appropriate films for their age range.

# What was cinema like in the 1940s?{.objective .objective3}

Full length feature films originated in the 1940s along with new teams that specialised in creating special effects for films. Students can identify how films were produced in the 1940s and consider whether there are any similarities or differences when compared to today.