Jesse L. Lasky, Samuel Goldfish, Cecil B. DeMille, and Arthur Friend form the “Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company”. Their first film, “The Squaw Man”, is directed by Cecil B. DeMille and shot in and around Los Angeles, California.
To compete with the foreign multi-reel, “feature” films, the American film industry is forced to embark in earnest on the production of longer films.
The Famous Players Film Company hires Mary Pickford and pays her $2,000 per week.
Eastman Kodak releases the first panchromatic film, which is sensitive to the whole tonal range.
Mack Sennett’s Keystone Picture Company hires the young British comedian, Charles Chaplin, at a salary of $150 per week.
D.W. Griffith leaves Biograph and signs on with the “Reliance-Majestic” production company that uses the Mutual Film Corporation to distribute its films. Reliance-Majestic agrees to let him direct two to three feature-length films a year.
Significant Films:
The Famous Players Film Company releases its first film, “The Prisoner of Zenda”.
The nine-reel Italian film, “Quo Vadis?”, is shown on Broadway making it the longest film ever presented in the U.S. to date.
“The Adventures of Kathlyn”, is released. It is considered to be the first true motion picture serial.
The Producer/Director Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (aka: Dadasaheb Phalke), the “Father of Indian Cinema”, releases India’s first feature-length film, “Raja Harischandra”. The movie runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes.