Final answer:
D.W. Griffith is the American filmmaker considered a pioneer of narrative film, employing innovative techniques such as camera angles and editing, while Georges Méliès is credited as the French pioneer, notable for creating the first science fiction movie, 'Le Voyage dans la lune'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pioneers of narrative film in American and French cinema are widely recognized for their contributions to the art form. The American filmmaker often noted for pioneering narrative film is D.W. Griffith, who is known for taking the camera out of the theatre and employing techniques like camera angles, close-ups, and editing to craft longer narratives. On the other hand, the French filmmaker who contributed significantly to the medium is Georges Méliès, whose work, including "Le Voyage dans la lune" (A Trip to the Moon) from 1902, is often cited as the first science fiction movie and a significant step in narrative film development.