alternatehistory.com

RCH Poll: The 1917 Academy Awards

OK, so we got some great AH ideas for films to inaugurate American cinema a la Birth of a Nation. We got the idea that our films should compete in the Academy Awards, but seeing as the Academy didn't exist in the 1910's, we'd like you to help us decide.

So without further ado, here are the nominees for Best Picture (also Best Director).

The Ubiquitous Assassin (1914)

Set in Syria, use some tricks to maintain a certain degree of authenticity. The story revolves around a young Muslim noble living in Egypt during the days of the Crusades whose parents are murdered in front of his eyes after they left the place by an unknown assailant. He is comforted by a older gentleman who then introduces him into the world of the Assassins. The Assassin would kill the murderer of his parents and set to discover his identity and then movie ends.

Dracula, by Jack Donaghy

The film employs close ups, differing color filters, wipe cuts*, and an organ, violin, and possibly a female opera singer for a soundtrack

*like Kurosawa and Lucas use OTL

Dead Rising (1915), directed by The Crow

It's autumn in a sleepy sub-urban town. You are introduced to the sheriff busily sipping his coffee. When phones begin buzzing. Several accounts of people viciously attacking each other. You begin hearing gun shots and yells and crashes and explosions etc.. As it goes on people begin showing up. As well as the undead who are disposed of with off camera shootings but I want some close ups of bodies though gorey as you can get in the 10's. Of course at some point a dead body will rise from the dead. Things go on until one of the people is found to be infected. Cut to black. :cool:

Birth of a Nation (1915), directed by DW Griffith

No intro needed :mad:

The Glory (1916), directed by John Fredrick Parker

about the 20th Maine Regiment. Incorporates early use of close-ups, longshots, and the like, but also multiple angles in the battle scenes, including a number of pans and tracking shots. Showed both white and African-American soldiers in a heroic light, and pushed the way films could end, fading to black following the Lincoln assasination.

American Blood (1916), directed by Al Bundy

Robert Krust is a soldier in a regiment of the US army. He serves his time in the middle of the civil war. One time, his regiment tries to attack an enemy's fortress, but the attack fails, and almost all soliders of his regiment are either dead or captured. Miracously, Krust survives and makes it back to his quarter. There, his supreme officers tell him, that he'll be drafted to another army, and they can't do much for his imprisoned colleagues. But Krust disobeys his superiors order and tries to free them on his own.

Krust and the Confederate forces have some battles in the wide lands of North and South Carolina, but Krust gets assistance by slaves who resist their masters. So, Krust and his African helpers go to the P.o.W camp, and free Krust's people. After an epic shootout between Krust's men and Confederate soldiers, Krust returns home.

Let it begin :D
Top