A Misguided History of Film: Presidential Edition, Part I
A sarcastic and misguided critique of landmark films released during US presidential terms.
Co-authored with Demetrios Festa
Film is still a young art, so I thought it would be interesting to analyze its technological and aesthetic progression through the lens of Presidential Administrations. I selected the best films from each presidency after the invention of cinema and offer a modern analysis of each work that gives no regard to the phrase “apples to oranges.” Movies are a lot like fruit, actually. The older they are, the better off you are just throwing them out.
Honorable Mention: Rutherford B. Hayes
Those of you who are not history enthusiasts might not know that the seeds of modern cinema were sown during the Hayes Administration. But much like Hayes’ policies, the development of film throughout his term was one-dimensional and is only remembered fondly because it made people excited for the future.
Notable Film: The Horse in Motion 1878
Cinephiles often laud Eadweard Muybridge’s illustrations as the first moving images. When viewed through a rotating device, The Horse in Motion showed the potential of animation and demonstrated how the human mind can take adjacent images and “fill in the space” with movement.
Unfortunately, this work hardly counts as a film. Muybridge was so caught up in visual theory that he must have assumed viewers of his art would also “fill in the story” with their own plots and characterization. Where is this horse going and who is riding it? Just two of the many holes in The Horse in Motion. If you want a better example of a horse on screen, I suggest checking out War Horse, a narrative that shows WWI (a conflict not even hinted at in The Horse in Motion) and demonstrates why a horse’s discomfort is more unsettling than millions of human deaths.
Verdict: Warrants naysayers.
24. Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland could be called the Grover Cleveland of presidents — a man with the remarkable distinction of being the one president in US history to serve non-consecutive terms. His administration was marred by economic adversity and lack of creative solutions, leading his critics to complain at his serious lack of imagination- an apt description for the movies of that era.
Notable Film: Roundhay Garden Scene 1888
Louis Le Prince, an early photographic innovator, captured this glimpse of a garden in Leeds, England. The Roundhay Garden Scene is thought to be the oldest surviving film in existence… apparently so old, it existed before creative titles. While this makes the list by virtue of being a full-fledged film, the lack of resolution on this scene is troubling, as is the underdeveloped frame.
There is also a lack of character diversity, as we only ever see pompous aristocrats, strolling on an undoubtedly undeserved break between tea and an afternoon ride on their carriage. Further, the film fails to live up to its most basic premise as it does not feature any semblance of a garden.
Verdict: Mis-Leed-ing, botanists beware.
23. Benjamin Harrison
What can you say about Benjamin Harrison that hasn’t already been said? No, I’m asking… Aside from being a part of the least-iconic presidential duo with his grandfather William Henry Harrison, this man was known for expanding the role of the executive office and attempting, and failing, to enforce African American voting rights. Historians have ranked this man’s presidency low, but have asserted that his personal commitment and integrity were unmistakable. In other words, historians awarded President Harrison with a metaphorical participation award trophy of presidential rankings.
Notable Film: Newark Athlete 1891
At this time in cinematic history, most cameras were designed to be small and portable, often totally reliant on natural lighting. Thomas Edison, however, created a camera that could capture footage indoors and in higher quality. It utilized a horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, and printed onto wide film. Pretty useful, right? … Wrong. The device was so big that it needed to remain stationary with subjects performing within its line of sight.
While this footage picked up more depth and details than anything else of that era, the subject of this footage presents more questions than answers. The most pressing question in this film: How can this man be called an “athlete?” His stature is unimposing and his routine is uncoordinated. For someone to be recorded in those days, one would assume they would have been a master at their craft, with the filmmakers considering the sight to be of utmost interest. If that man constituted an athlete in their books, I question their judgment. But hey, at least the subject finished his job, unlike President Harrison’s grandfather.
Verdict: Pushes cinematic technology while celebrating athletic mediocrity.
22. Grover Cleveland
As noted earlier, Cleveland is the only man with a second entry on this list. So aside from igniting generations of debate about whether his times in office should be counted as more than one “presidency” did he also witness interesting film entries? If you are reading this article in the 21st century your answer to this question will likely be a resounding “No.”
Notable Film: Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat 1895
Still, you can’t tell the history of film without mentioning the Lumière Brothers. This duo entered the limelight during President Cleveland’s time in office and offered the first projected cinematic footage in history. Contrasted with the typical medium of the “peepshow” kinetoscope where viewers would see a small contained image, the Lumière Brothers’ provided audiences with a life-sized thrill.
Today, a scene shot with a totally stationary camera is often referred to as a Lumière sequence. It’s said that when an audience first viewed Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat they ran out of the viewing because they thought an actual train was going to hit them, NOT due to the picture running out of steam.
Unfortunately, nothing these men ever captured or produced can hold a candle to Lumière from Beauty and the Beast. This flamboyant candelabra who sang “Be Our Guest” was a far superior Lumière. With his stellar choreography and impressive vibrato, this beloved Disney character proved that with a even an everyday object can bring a smile to your face! A shame that the Lumière brothers were too caught up with mundane vehicles to realize art and expression are far more interesting than a daily commute.
Verdict: A film that only LeFou could love.
21. William McKinley
McKinley’s presidency saw the dawn of an era where cinema was becoming mainstream. Innovative pioneers all across the world began to leap into the picture, bringing in stories and spectacle in attempts to shock and entertain audiences. Sadly, none of these artists made anything half as surprising as Leon Czolgosz’s final performance: Assassinating President McKinley.
Though McKinley’s presidency may have been cut short, it did see the beginning of renowned filmmaker Georges Méliès’ career.
Notable Film: The Four Troublesome Heads 1897
In the late 1800s, Georges Méliès was able to reverse engineer a camera and became the first master of cinema. As we see in The Four Troublesome Heads, Méliès was able to create astonishing effects by constructing elaborate sets and and manipulating film frames themselves.
For as good as that movie was, though, his best work didn’t come until the 20th century, dispelling any notion of greatness in the 19th century, which would have made this a more interesting timeline and, frankly, a better article. Nothing Méliès made prior to A Trip to the Moon would be interesting to modern audiences, so I’ll show that now.
Verdict: Not as good as A Trip to the Moon.
20. Theodore Roosevelt
Everyone loves Teddy, I mean, how could you not? He was the inspiration for the Teddy Bear, for crying out loud! The man was a moral paragon of his day and demanded greatness from both himself and everyone around him (unlike most in the film industry today). And unlike his paltry predecessor, when an assassin tried to kill him, Roosevelt not only survived, but gave a spirited speech to a large crowd. History remembers this man with the utmost fondness. The same cannot be said for the movies released during his term.
Notable Film: The Great Train Robbery 1903
The Great Train Robbery was a huge milestone film, as it spanned over a number of different shooting locations, as compared to when most films of that era only had one or two scenes. The most memorable moment in this film is the ending shot, when a robber aims a gun straight at the POV of the camera, horrifying audiences of the time and living on as an iconic shot…at least, that’s what the film community would have you believe.
The truth is, most audiences of today wouldn’t recognize this moment outside of references in cartoons or modern movies, like Goodfellas, so the idea that this silent crime film has lived on seems like a bit of a stretch. Name one line of dialogue from that movie. I’ll wait.
Verdict: Silent but deadly.
19. William Howard Taft
Taft is best remembered as the president who was so rotund he got stuck in his own bathtub. He is also the president that led Roosevelt to run under the Bull Moose Party, resulting in Taft being a one-term president. There’s no great story here, he was a mediocre president and still got to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Is there no justice? Man, I miss Teddy. And apparently so did the film industry…
Notable Film: Roosevelt in Africa 1910
Theodore Roosevelt was a dedicated outdoorsman and had a strong commitment to conserving our land so future generations could enjoy their beauty- so much so, that he took more for us! On the expedition documented in Roosevelt in Africa, Teddy ventured to exotic places throughout the African sub-continent, hunting big game and proving just how masculine he could be.
While audiences were won over by this glimpse into a foreign land and culture, Roosevelt was unable to ride the popularity into a successful bid at reelection at the request of the aforementioned Bull Moose Party. Taft’s bland reelection bid split the votes and the presidency went to some dweeb called Woodrow Wilson.
Verdict: Bull Moose? More like Bull@%$!
18. Woodrow Wilson
President Wilson guided the US into WWI, forging an important (temporary) role for us in the League of Nations and expanding our booming industrial base. He was also was a huge cinephile, or at the very least, was a huge fan of this next title, screening it at the White House and praising its alleged historical accuracy.
Notable Film: The Birth of a Nation 1915
Georges Méliès may have been the first master of film, but D.W. Griffith was its first visionary. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation was a milestone in film because it was, in many ways, the first modern narrative. It told a complex story of characters interwoven in the Civil War and Reconstruction. The movie jumps across different perspectives and culminates in an iconic horse charge, becoming the biggest cinematic success in history at that point.
With all that said, this film is quite controversial because of many unfortunate and dated elements, which can be summed up in one image:
As you can see, these horses are covered with blankets, several of which are impeding their line of sight. This is in direct violation of the policies the American Humane Association fights hard to protect and would never fly today. Lucky for us, film has moved forward into a more enlightened era where animals are treated with the basic rights and dignity they deserve.
Verdict: Would fare poorly in a Gallup poll.
17. Warren G. Harding
Teapot Dome Scandal!! Alright, now that we’ve gotten the historical elephant out of the room, I can assure you that this analysis won’t be me just stringing together a bunch of tea puns. I’ll chai not to, anyway. Harding expanded the office of president, but not in the traditional sense- he hit new lows. Scandals, corruption, and dying. In other words, he embodied this next movie.
Notable Film: Nosferatu 1922
The 1920s were a remarkable time for German cinema. Characterized by a budding expressionist movement, Germans produced several classics, like Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. But few titles hold up to the test of time better than F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, a nightmarish depiction of a vampire that set new standards for a film’s atmosphere and evocative performances. The tone, style, and intensity truly transcended the medium and may be one of the greatest movies of the silent era.
Of course, that is the same thing that keeps this era from being viewed more favorably on this list. For one, they had to settle on making an original story and character for Nosferatu to avoid copyright infringement from the Dracula estate, a problem that modern corporations would avoid by just buying them out or making a fledgling sequel. Further, the auteurs of that era were too reliant on evoking an atmosphere to keep an audience’s attention. No thought was put into the sounds moviegoers might be hearing at the theatre. Water dripping down from the ceiling. People shifting in their seats. That guy Cornelius who keeps coughing. Why did he even come out? How is he even enjoying himself? Isn’t he embarrassed? Or even uncomfortable??
Verdict: Silent film’s final nail in the coffin.
16. Calvin Coolidge
Claude Fuess called Coolidge a man who “embodied the spirit and hopes of the middle class” and “could interpret their longings.” If more film producers shared that sentiment, perhaps we’d get more Avatars and fewer pretentious titles like Moonlight. Anyway, Coolidge was quite reserved, so reserved in fact that a reporter once told him “I bet I could get three words out of you,” to which Coolidge quipped “You lose.” It’s probably safe to assume that he had similar remarks to the movies of that era, or more accurately, that he had no remarks for these movies.
Notable Film: The Jazz Singer 1927
Well, I’ll be- Ladies and Gentlemen, we have ourselves a Talkie! The Jazz Singer was the first movie to not only feature synchronized speech, but a synchronized score. Al Jolson performed a series of original songs and popular standards and captivated audiences with his energized performances and captivating charisma.
The film takes a turn for the worse, however, when Jolson applies blackface makeup and begins to perform a minstrel show. Aside from the clear racism in this scene, it raises serious questions about whether “minstrel” refers to 20th century vaudeville, or 16th century music. To many crowds, ‘minstrel’ would conjure up the image of a jester, or perhaps a musician one would encounter at a festival before trying to woo the fair lady of House Norman. Anyway, perpetuating a misconception is irresponsible, and that information would have been readily available, even in those days.
Verdict: A blunder of historic proportions.
With that, I close part one of this cinematic tour through presidential history. We have journeyed through several mediocre presidents, influential film, groundbreaking technology, and Theodore Roosevelt. Unfortunately for modern viewers, what most of these films had in technological creativity, they lacked in character development (so I guess not much has changed between then and now?).
Part I Verdict: Much like the majority of the presidents during this time, the movies inspired humanity to say “we can do better than this.”
To see how the next generations of filmmakers came up short, check out Part II.
Thanks for reading! You can check out the Movie Musing podcast for some slightly more serious analysis. Edited by Mark Febrizio, and Demetrios Festa.
