A Hand Shake

Plot

This brief experimental film captures the simple yet historically significant moment of William K.L. Dickson and William Heise, two pioneers of early cinema, shaking hands. The camera is positioned to show both men from the waist up as they approach each other and perform the handshake gesture. The entire sequence lasts only a few seconds but represents one of the earliest recorded human interactions on film. This straightforward demonstration was typical of Edison Studio's early test films, which often featured simple actions to showcase the new motion picture technology. The handshake itself serves as a symbolic gesture of collaboration between two of cinema's founding fathers.

Historical Background

1892 was a pivotal year in the birth of cinema, occurring during the height of the Industrial Revolution and a period of rapid technological innovation in America. Thomas Edison's laboratory was at the forefront of this technological revolution, having already perfected the phonograph and working on numerous other inventions. Motion pictures emerged from Edison's desire to create a visual accompaniment to his phonograph, what he called 'talking pictures.' The film was made during the Gilded Age, a time of immense wealth and innovation in the United States, but also of significant social change and industrial expansion. This period saw the rise of mass entertainment and the beginning of what would become the film industry. The creation of 'A Hand Shake' and other early Edison films occurred just before the economic depression of 1893 and during a time when America was positioning itself as a global industrial leader. These early films were created in an environment of fierce competition among inventors, with multiple individuals and companies racing to perfect motion picture technology.

Making Of

The making of 'A Hand Shake' took place during the pioneering days of motion picture invention at Thomas Edison's laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey. William K.L. Dickson, who appears in the film, was Edison's chief assistant and the primary inventor of the Kinetograph camera and Kinetoscope viewing system. William Heise, the other man in the film and its director, was Edison's principal camera operator during this period. The film was shot in the innovative Black Maria studio, which Edison's team had constructed specifically for motion picture production. The studio featured a unique design with a roof that could be opened to let in natural sunlight, as electric lighting was not yet suitable for film exposure. The entire production process was experimental and groundbreaking, with each short film serving as both a test of the technology and a demonstration of its capabilities. The simple act of shaking hands was chosen deliberately as it was a clear, recognizable action that could be easily captured and understood by viewers experiencing motion pictures for the first time.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'A Hand Shake' represents the most basic form of early motion picture photography. The camera was stationary, positioned to capture the action from a single, fixed angle. The lighting came entirely from natural sunlight entering through the retractable roof of the Black Maria studio. The film was shot on 35mm celluloid using Edison's Kinetograph camera, which was powered by an electric motor to ensure consistent speed. The frame rate was approximately 40-46 frames per second, much faster than the 24 fps that would later become standard. The composition is simple and functional, with the subjects centered in the frame to ensure maximum visibility. There was no camera movement, no close-ups, and no variation in shots - techniques that had not yet been invented. The visual quality would have been grainy and lacking in detail by modern standards, but was revolutionary for its time. The entire sequence was captured in a single continuous take, as editing techniques had not yet been developed.

Innovations

A Hand Shake" represents several major technical achievements in the history of cinema. It was filmed using Edison's revolutionary Kinetograph camera, one of the first motion picture cameras capable of capturing continuous movement. The film was shot on 35mm celluloid, establishing a format that would become the industry standard for over a century. The use of perforated film edges for smooth movement through the camera was a significant innovation. The film demonstrated the successful capture of human movement at a consistent frame rate, a major breakthrough in motion picture technology. The production took place in Edison's Black Maria studio, the first purpose-built motion picture production facility, featuring innovative design elements like a rotating structure and retractable roof for optimal lighting. The film's existence proved that motion pictures could record and reproduce human action with reasonable clarity. It also demonstrated the viability of short-form content for the emerging medium of cinema. The technical success of this film and others like it paved the way for the commercial development of motion pictures as an entertainment medium.

Music

No soundtrack was created for 'A Hand Shake' as it was a silent film made before the development of synchronized sound technology. The Edison Kinetoscope was a visual-only device, and audiences would have viewed the film in silence. In some exhibition contexts, particularly when films were later projected for audiences, live musical accompaniment might have been provided by a pianist or small orchestra, but this was not part of the original presentation. The film was created during a period when Edison was simultaneously working on combining motion pictures with his phonograph technology to create what he called the Kinetophone, but this synchronization technology was not yet perfected when 'A Hand Shake' was made. The absence of sound was typical of all films from this era, and audiences of the 1890s were accustomed to silent visual entertainment. Modern restorations or presentations of the film may include musical accompaniment, but this represents an addition rather than an element of the original work.

Memorable Scenes

• The entire film consists of a single memorable scene: William K.L. Dickson and William Heise approaching each other and shaking hands, representing one of the first recorded human interactions in cinema history

What Critics Said

As an experimental film from 1892, 'A Hand Shake' was not subject to contemporary critical review in the modern sense. It was primarily viewed by scientists, inventors, and curious patrons at Edison's laboratory or at early exhibitions of the Kinetoscope. Early reports from those who experienced Edison's motion pictures expressed wonder and amazement at the technology itself, with little attention paid to artistic merit. The New York Times and other publications of the era covered Edison's inventions as news items, focusing on the technological achievement rather than critiquing the content. Modern film historians and critics view 'A Hand Shake' as an invaluable historical document that provides insight into the earliest days of cinema. It is appreciated not for its entertainment value but for its historical importance and what it reveals about the origins of motion picture technology. Contemporary scholars examine it as part of the broader context of Edison's contributions to cinema and the development of film as an art form.

What Audiences Thought

The original audience for 'A Hand Shake' consisted primarily of visitors to Edison's laboratory and early adopters who paid to view films on the Kinetoscope machines. These viewers were experiencing motion pictures for the first time, and their reactions were typically ones of astonishment and wonder at the technology itself rather than appreciation of the content. Reports from the era suggest that audiences were fascinated by the lifelike movement and the ability to see recorded action, regardless of how simple the subject matter might be. The film, along with other Edison shorts, was shown at the first dedicated Kinetoscope parlor that opened in New York City in 1894, where patrons paid 25 cents to view five films. Modern audiences encountering 'A Hand Shake' through film archives, museums, or digital collections typically view it with historical curiosity, appreciating its place in cinema history while recognizing its limitations as entertainment. The film serves as an educational tool for understanding the origins of cinema and the technical limitations faced by early filmmakers.

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