| The Einstein Theory of Relativity | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Dave Fleischer |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 20 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent |
The Einstein Theory of Relativity (1923) is a silent animated short film directed byDave Fleischer and released byFleischer Studios.
In August 1922,Scientific American published an article explaining their position that a silent film would be unsuccessful in presenting thetheory of relativity to the general public, arguing that only as part of a broader educational package including lecture and text would such film be successful.Scientific American then went on to review frames from an unnamed German film reported to be financially successful.
Six months later, on February 8, 1923, the Fleischers released their relativity film, produced in collaboration with popular science journalistGarrett P. Serviss to accompany his book on the same topic. Two versions of the Fleischer film are reported to exist – a shorter two-reel (20 minute) edit intended for general theater audiences, and a longer five-reel (50 minute) version intended for educational use.[1]
The Fleischers lifted footage from the German predecessor,Die Grundlagen der Einsteinschen Relativitäts-Theorie,[2] directed by Hanns-Walter Kornblum, for inclusion into their film. Presented here are images from the Fleischer film and German film. If actual footage was not recycled intoThe Einstein Theory of Relativity, these images and text from theScientific American article suggest that original visual elements from the German film were.[3]
This film, like much of the Fleischer's work, has fallen into thepublic domain. Unlike Fleischer Studio'sSuperman orBetty Boop cartoons,The Einstein Theory of Relativity has very few existing prints and is available in16mm from only a few specializedfilm preservation organizations.
Media related toThe Einstein Theory of Relativity at Wikimedia Commons
The full text ofThe Einstein Theory of Relativity at Wikisource | This article related to a short animated film is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
