The rise of the American film, a critical history. With an essay: Experimental cinema in America, 1921-1947.

Part one: Fade-in (1869-1903) -- First stages : trade, technique, pictures -- George Melies : "artificially arranged scenes" -- Part two : Foundations (1903-1908) -- Art : Edwin S. Porter and the editing principle -- Business : toward national expansion -- Social : first American story films -- Part three : Development (1908-1914) -- The struggle for control -- D. W. Griffith : new discoveries -- First school of directors : specialization of crafts -- Pre-war films : significant trends -- Part four : Transition (1914-1918) -- Large-scale operations -- D. W. Griffith : The birth of a nation and Intolerance -- Toward style -- Charles Chaplin : individualist -- Movies in the World War -- Growing sophistication of film content -- Part five : Intensification (1919-1929) -- Big business -- Additions to film art -- A throng of directors -- The decline of D. W. Griffith -- Films of the post-war decade -- Part six : Maturity (1929-1939) -- New affiliations and consolidations -- Refinements in technique -- Contemporary directors -- Walt Disney : virtuoso -- Significant contemporary film content -- Supplement : Experimental cinema in America 1921-1947.