The first decade of the 20th century witnessed the transformation of motion pictures from a fairground novelty into a legitimate form of artistic expression. This was the era of experimentation, where pioneers like Georges Méliès and Edwin S. Porter discovered the fundamental grammar of film—editing, narrative structure, and special effects. It was a time of wonder, where audiences were captivated by the sheer magic of moving images.
From the fantasy worlds of French cinema to the early narrative attempts in the United States and the United Kingdom, the 1900s laid the groundwork for everything that was to follow. Directors were not just makers of films; they were inventors, magicians, and visionaries explaining a new visual language to the world.