Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers [Blu-ray]

Kino's new Blu-ray compilation, "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers" proves that film historians can get things wrong - or at least not completely correct. So much praise has been paid to cinema's earliest patriarchs in the last century, while the creative contributions made by their female contemporaries has gone largely unheralded - even outright ignored. Happily, this oversight can finally be put right with the help of this outstanding collection of over 50 meticulously restored films, spanning the years from 1911-'29.Among the directors whose work is highlighted are Alice Guy-Blaché and Lois Weber, who deserve recognition right alongside D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille as groundbreakers during those early years. The films cover a variety of genres including melodramas, comedies, westerns and serials, and deal with social issues like birth control, abortion, sexual harrassment, and religious/political hypocrisy. Oftentmes there is a remarkable display of sophistication in lighting, staging, performance and editing that equals or outdoes the work of more celebrated filmmakers of the day. For example, Lois Weber's one-reeler SUSPENSE (1913), contains a few innovative POV shots, and what is believed to be the first use of a triptych split screen to depict simultaneous action.The bulk of this material has been transferred from 35mm nitrate prints in either 2K or 4K resolution, but with an extensive collection as this, image quality will vary and a few selections have severe nitrate decomposition. However, even in the most damaged cases appreciation for the films' historical importance is not lost. Fortunately, the majority of them look stunning in HD - so much so that nuances in facial expressions register with a clarity that propels these people from a century ago into our time; they now become distinct individuals, not just so many generic faces. For the most part, the newly commissioned music scores do a fine job in supporting the visuals, though there are a few titles for which better musical choices should have been made.The extra material is exceptional, and includes an 80-page booklet with essays, photos and information on each film. There are also interviews with authors and preservationists from The Library of Congress. Some of the films have secondary commentary tracks which offer additional insights.In the final analysis, "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers" is essential viewing for anyone interested in expanding their appreciation for our cinematic heritage.My highest recommendation.

Wow! For a hundred bucks you get A 6 Blu-Ray set of 55 films and documentaries! If you are into the silents, then you must pick this up. It is the best collection of films made by American women filmmakers of the silent era. Get your copy before it goes out of print.

So excited to own a historical piece of motion pictures by women. I've waited a long time for this.

Great

I saw portions of this Blu-ray on TCM and at the Roxie Theater in San Franciso.TCM did their own researched introductions with the producers of this Blu-ray set, giving us background on each woman filmmaker.I can not say if these are the interviews with historians tha will bevon this set, thus I recorded the introductions to include with the set.I can say that I have not seen most of the films here and they are well done. The restorations are not of Criterion quality, you will see dirt specs & lines here and there. However the images are sharp and clear, most coming from the Library of Congress. A few are previous Kino releases. Original color tints and hand-colored segments are retained here.The film DREAM LADY is in the worst condition. The negative is damaged with white spots through out the entire film. It looks like it was snowing. True digital restoration is needed fir thus title.SOMETHING NEW may be the first informercial. Over half of the 60 minute film isdemonstrating how well the Maxwell car climbs over rocky hills, frame bending and twisting. The heroine even hugs the car at the end for saving her. The picture looks great, but the soundtrack (I can’t quite call it music) is horrendous. It sounds like the technician accidentally encoded the recordings of a band tuning their instruments instead of the music intended for the film.Some of films are a little heavy on the social commentary theme, several discs are devoted to this. But others are comedy and western themed and have no distinction as to the gender of the filmaker. Proof of equality.The details are sparse here, so here is a listing from the press release.DISC ONE: ALICE GUY-BLACHEMixed Pets [AM], Alice Guy Blaché, 1911, 14.1 min.Tramp Strategy [AM], Alice Guy Blaché, 1911, 12 min.Greater Love Hath No Man [AM], Alice Guy Blaché, 1911, 16.25 min.Algie the Miner [AM], Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 10 min.Falling Leaves, Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 11.75 min.Little Rangers, The, Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 11.5 min.Canned Harmony, Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 16 min.Fool and His Money, A, Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 10.75 min.High Cost of Living, The, Alice Guy Blaché, 1912, 14.5 min.* Coming of Sunbeam, The [AM], Alice Guy Blaché, 1913, 11.25 min.* Burstup Homes' Murder Case, Alice Guy Blaché, 1913, 14.75 min.* A House Divided, Alice Guy Blaché, 1913, 13.2 min.Matrimony's Speed Limit / NYWIFT, Alice Guy Blaché, 1913, 14 min.Ocean Waif, The, Alice Guy Blaché, 1916, 36.3 min.Colleen Bawn, The, Gauntier, Gene (sc), 1911, 35 min.On the Brink, Lois Weber, 1911, 12.5 min.* Cricket, The, Wilson, Elsie Jane, 1917, 12 min.Introduction to Series, approx 13 min.Alice Guy-Blache documentary, approx 10 min.About the Restorations, approx 7 min.DISC TWO: LOIS WEBERFrom Death to Life, Lois Weber, 1912, 13.75 min.Fine Feathers, Lois Weber, 1912, 15 min.Rosary, The, Lois Weber, 1913, 14.5 min.Suspense, Lois Weber, 1913, 11.25 min.Lost By a Hair, Lois Weber, 1914, 4 min.Hypocrites, Lois Weber, 1915, 51.5 min.Sunshine Molly, Lois Weber, 1915, 31.5 min.Idle Wives, Lois Weber, 1916, 23.5 min.* Too Wise Wives, Lois Weber, 1921, 69.5 min.What Do Men Want?, Lois Weber, 1921, 40.75 min.Lois Weber documentary, approx 12 min.DISC 3: GENRE PIONEERS* Hazards of Helen Ep. 09: Leap From the Water Tower, Helen Holmes, 1915, 11 min.Hazards of Helen Ep.13: The Escape on the Fast Freight*, Helen Holmes, 1915, 11.25 min.Hazards of Helen Ep. 26: Wild Engine, The, Helen Holmes, 1915, 10.5 min.* Purple Mask, The; Episode 5, Part 1, Grace Cunard, 1917, 13 min.Purple Mask, The: Episode 12 (Vault of Mystery), Grace Cunard, 1917, 19.5 min.Purple Mask, The; Episode 13, Part 1 (The Leap), Grace Cunard, 1917, 10.5 min.A Daughter of "The Law", Grace Cunard, 1921, 21.75 min.Eleanor's Catch, Madison, Cleo, 1916, 13.25 min.49 - '17, Baldwin, Ruth Ann, 1917, 70.25 min.Caught in a Cabaret, Mabel Normand, 1914, 23.5 min.Mabel's Blunder, Mabel Normand, 1914, 16.5 min.Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day, Mabel Normand, 1916, 13 min.* Mabel Lost and Won, Mabel Normand, 1915, 13.5 min.That Ice Ticket, Gibson, Angela Murray, 1923, 10 min.Ethnographic Films, Hurston, Zora Neale, 1929, 12.5 min.Mabel Normand documentary, approx 7 min.Serial Queens documentary, approx 7 min.DISC 4: SOCIAL COMMENTARY 1Where Are My Children?, Lois Weber, 1916, 65 min.Her Defiance, Madison, Cleo, 1916, 21 min.When Little Lindy Sang, Warrenton, Lule, 1916, 10.25 min.Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingle with the West, Wong, Marion E., 1916, 35 min.Scandal (aka Scandal Mongers), Lois Weber, 1916, 35.5 min.Dream Lady, The, Wilson, Elsie Jane, 1918, 53.75 min.* Something New, Shipman, Nell, 1920, 56.75 min.Social Commentary, approx 12 min.DISC 5: SOCIAL COMMENTARY 2Risky Road, The, Park, Ida May, 1918, 2 min.Bread, Park, Ida May, 1918, 16 min.Salome, Nazimova, Alla, 1923, 71.5 min.Red Kimona , Davenport Reid, Dorothy, 1925, 77 min.* Motherhood: Life's Greatest Miracle, Lawrence, Lita, 1925, 59.25 min.Linda, Davenport Reid, Dorothy, 1929, 73.25 min.DISC 6: THE FEATURE FILMCall of the Cumberlands, The, Ivers, Julia Crawford, 1916, 64 min.* Broadway Love, Park, Ida May, 1918, 61 min.Back to God's Country, Shipman, Nell, 1919, 73.5 min.Song of Love, The, Marion, Frances, 1923, 81 min.The End of an Era, approx 10 min.

This is not a history it is a set of films with no background.

I was very disappointed when I received my Kino collection because the very movie I wanted is not part of the DVD set. I did not know this because nothing is on the page saying which movies the DVD set contains and the reviews, for the most part, are from people that bought the Blu-ray set. The movie I wanted, BROADWAY LOVE, for some reason, is a "bonus" and only include in the Blu-ray set. Why Kino didn't add it to the DVD collection is anybodies guess.

I am demanding partial refunding, but there is no button for that.The corners and edges of the DVD box were unfortunately quite worn out, although it was still wrapped in foil. That definitely shouldn't have been so.I will not send it back at the expense of the environment. But I think I should have received an intact product. The bubble foil envelopes either do not work properly or the product was damaged before shipping.

This is a mind blowing collection! It was a labour of love to put these films together—and it shows. The quality of some of the restorations are incredible. There are fragments of movies too (as portions have been lost). And these fragments are gems unto themselves so their inclusion is appreciated.***Make sure to buy the Blu-Ray version as it contains several more hours of film/video. It doesn’t make sense to buy the DVD collection.***I haven’t seen all 23 hours of film just yet but the journey thus far has been rewarding. I am a big fan of silent film and own a lot of titles. I’ve seen a few titles in this collection already (on screens in theatres) but there remain so many titles completely unfamiliar to me. This box set is an absolute gem and I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with both quality and content.