Question

Although "The Great Train Robbery" and "The Lonedale Operator" run for roughly the same amount of time and tell a somewhat similar story, the first contains 15-17 shots, and the latter more than 100, indicating an increased interest in dropping out narratively unnecessary time and space in narrative film.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

The statement is true, indicating the evolution in narrative techniques with increased use of film shots to create dynamic storytelling. Early films often featured trains due to their symbolic representation of modernity and because of society's fascination with tales of the West, where outlaws like the James gang were idealized.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is true that 'The Great Train Robbery' and 'The Lonedale Operator' run for roughly the same amount of time and tell somewhat similar stories, but they differ significantly in the number of shots: 15-17 shots in the former and more than 100 in the latter. This change reflects an evolution in film editing and narrative techniques, where there was an increased interest in eliminating narratively unnecessary time and space, creating a more dynamic storytelling experience in narrative films.

'The Great Train Robbery', produced by Thomas Edison's studios and made by Edwin S. Porter in 1903, is an example of early filmmaking and contextualizes the allure of trains in films. Trains symbolized the remarkable changes in perceptions of time, space, distance, and leisure brought about by the Second Industrial Revolution.

The train robberies and Western settings connected with the audience's sense of adventure, and the outlaws' actions were romantically perceived as a stand against corporate greed, echoing sentiments held by some members of society at the time.