After a long exhausting day, some people turn to the smell of popcorn or delicious snacks in a dark room with a huge screen, which can turn out to be the most relaxing thing in the world. I count myself as one of those people.

Movies can entertain you, take your mind off almost everything, and even teach you things. Movies can be more than just something you see when you have nothing else to do and want to pass time, so let’s explore the magic of movies.

It has been a long road for movies to become the way as we know them today. The first public screening of something similar to a movie was shown by the Lumière brothers in Paris in 1895. It only showed a train in motion, but it was the first motion picture people have seen. Naturally, the first movies were in black and white, without sound, and only a minute long. It took quite a few years to make longer movies and even cut several shots together. The first film studios were built in 1897 and the first camera to take panning shots was created in 1898. At the beginning of the 1900’s, the first feature-length movie was made by an Australian production and actors began to receive credit for their work, which created a whole new profession.

Over the years, the industry was able to gradually make movies longer than just a couple of minutes, but they still had not found a way to give the actors their voices. Those movies were shown with a live orchestra in front the screen filling live sound effects along with what the character were saying shown on the screen between scenes. However, Warner produced the first sound movie, The Jazz Singer, which featured both dialogue and singing.

The world quickly embraced this new medium and used it first as mostly an informative tool. People previously received the news only through the radio, but now they were able to see them as well. Although television was invented, not many were able to afford one so most people went to the cinema to see the news and afterwards a short movie like A Trip to the Moon (1902), which is considered as the first science fiction movie ever made.

One of the first movies in colour was The Wizard of Oz (1939). The moment the film industry found out how to let they movie characters speak, they also let them sing and dance, thus creating iconic films such as Singing in the Rain. Movies have the purpose to show you how beautiful life can be so simply break out into a tap dance! On the other hand, it is nice to see a reality where dancing is the solution to everything and it sounds like a way better way to cope with all the negativism in the world and sometimes you really do want to follow their path and sing your way through the world!

We then saw the start of post-classical storytelling begin and in the 1970’s, more controversial movies were created with them filled with violence, such as Dirty Harry.

The movie industry evolved rapidly from then to today, and now they are always full of colour, fun, full of action and CGI, and to be even with you in the room thanks to 3D and 4D technology. They have come from informing humanity to also entertaining them. They always had an influence and have been important, just the purpose changed.

Today, we do not have the latest news show prior to the movie, but instead we get to see one movie trailer after another to know what will bring us to the cinema the next time we are there. Thankfully to its growth, we can choose from a wide range of genres for any and every kind of mood we are in.

Thanks to the invention of the internet and social media, people from all over the world can connect over a movie, celebrities, and genres, along with fandoms being formed. Movies have become something people started bonding over and have become a safe haven for them.

Unfortunately, everything has a sad side as well since many people have made fun of for being a nerd. However, these days it seems being a nerd or fan about things is almost seen as a positive thing rather than being offensive.

Movies have taught many of us something and have a meaningful space in our existence.

The Notebook shows you what real love can look like. You learn about faith in the Titanic with a blooming love story between Rose and Jack. The Step Up Franchise teaches you how people find themselves through music and dance, ow these two things can save someone’s life to build a better future for themselves. Star Wars gave many their first role model with Princess Leia, along with an actress who knows how to take the spotlight.

Spock from Star Trek shows that it is okay to be who you are. Call Me By Your Name explores the love between two men and tells that it is beautiful to feel free and follow your heart. A superhero movie can be everything for a little kid who needs someone to look up to and finds inspiration in his favourite hero and aspires to be like her or him. There is an emotional interview from Chadwick Boseman, who plays Black Panther, tells the story of two little boys who died of cancer who looked up to the character he played.

Movies can educate you about the all kinds of things, entertain and address things that society may not talked about, and they break those barriers and build a path for it to continue and live on. They can be so much more and it is amazing to travel, explore new worlds, and dive into someone else’s life and see how they are dealing with their problems.

So plan your next visit to the cinema, enjoy the magic of cinematography and relish how far the industry has grown. Relax and let yourself caught into the story and breathe in every second of the beauty of storytelling and everything involved within the creation of the story.

Do you love movies as much as we do? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The post The History and Importance of Movies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Not many young people can say that they’ve watched lots of vintage movies in their lifetime, but there are so many great ones out there that everyone should give one a try. From those who love drama to those who love musicals, there’s something in this list for everyone!

Read on to discover some of our favourites!

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

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Originally a novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a small town in Alabama about a young girl named Scout and her father, Atticus Finch’s defending of a black man against rape charges. This movie deals a lot with controversial topics of the time and it tugs at the heartstrings of viewers. Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch and he is still an archetype for the “good guy”.

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Gone with the Wind is based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, and it is set in the southern United States during the American Civil War. The main character, Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) resides on a southern plantation and follows her survival through the Civil War and Reconstruction. It also features her love affairs with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). It was very successful at the box office and while it is a very long movie, it still captivates audiences with its emotional, and romantic plot.

Casablanca (1943)

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Casablanca is set in the city of Casablanca, Morocco during the second World War. The movie’s protagonist, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), owns a nightclub in Casablanca where his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) shows up with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) who is a rebel on the run from the Germans. Ilsa asks Rick to help him get them out of the country. This is one of the most famous MGM movies of all time for its suspense, drama and romance. The line, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” is a line that is known by many and captures the bittersweet romantic tone of the film.

West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story is the first musical on this list and also a later movie. It is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet which is set in New York City on the streets of the upper west side, where two gangs are battling for control of some turf.  Tony, who is basically Romeo (Richard Beymer), is a part of one of the gangs and falls in love with a rival’s sister, Maria (Natalie Wood). The songs, lines, and plot are very well-known to many musical watchers and it is loved around the world.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

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A popular movie to watch around the holidays, It’s a Wonderful Life, follows George Bailey (James Stewart) who one day wishes he had never been born. An angel (Henry Travers) who has yet to gain his wings, is sent to earth in order to make George’s wish come true. As George is shown how many lives he has changed, and impacted, he realises how different those lives would be if he was never there. A beautiful, Christmas favourite, it entrances you each time you watch it.

My Fair Lady (1964)

My Fair Lady, is another musical that is known by many. It started out as a musical on Broadway and then was adapted into a movie.In this movie, a phonetics professor, Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) takes it upon himself to transform a Cockney working-class into someone who could be passed as a member of high society. His subject is Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) who agrees to speech lessons to improve her job prospects. They both clash but then form a bond that is then threatened by an aristocratic suitor (Jeremy Brett). This is a funny movie musical that entertains all ages.

Meet Me In Saint Louis (1944)

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Judy Garland is an actress that was beloved in vintage movies. She could sing, dance, act, and was just a beautiful presence in any movie she starred in. One of her more famous movies, was Meet Me in Saint Louis (which I have personally watched many, many times). This romantic, musical comedy, is centered around four sisters right before the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The movie shows the sister’s education in the ways of the world which includes life and love. The movie is split into four seasons and is so much fun with the singing and dancing. It combines fun and happiness, with sadder and darker moments but is ultimately a fun movie for all ages to enjoy.

The Sound of Music (1965)

This movie musical, is based on a real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers who were a well-known concert group right before World War II. Maria, a tomboyish young woman at an Austrian abbey becomes a governess in the home of a naval captain who is widowed with seven children. Maria (Julie Andrews) brings love, happiness, and music into the home and quickly bonds with the seven children. The Sound of Music is such a fun musical with hilarious and touching songs that you will find yourself singing all the time. But, the movie also brings in the Nazis and the war which gives you a dash of reality.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, this movie musical tells the story of  Dorothy (Judy Garland) who is whisked away in her house with her dog, Toto, when a tornado rips through Kansas. The two land in the magical land of Oz where they are told to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Wizard in the Emerald City in order to get back home. On the way, they meet a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) that wants a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who wants courage.  The wizard asks them to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) in order to get the things they want. This is a fun movie that is popular more with younger audiences but can still be enjoyed by everyone.

Singing in the Rain (1952)

Singing in the Rain, is a movie that is set during the late 1920s when movies went from silent to sound. Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are two silent movie stars whose latest movie is made into a musical. Since Lina can’t sing, and has a whiny high pitch voice, a chorus girl is brought in to dub her singing and dancing. Don is ecstatic until Lina finds out. It stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Jean Hagan. It is hilarious and so much fun, with songs that are ridiculously catchy.

Have you ever watched any of these classic movies? Are there any other movies that you think should be on this list? Tell us in the comments below!

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