Blogging from A to Z (2021)

After my return to reviewing in late 2020, I thought what better way to get back in touch with people than taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

This challenge is a yearly event running in April which challenges bloggers to write a post on each day of the month beginning with a sequential letter of the alphabet (Sundays off!).

I last did this challenge all the way back in 2012, when I wrote the A to Z of comedy characters, and these turned out to be some of my most popular posts. However, since I've returned to reviewing, I have removed all non-review posts so sadly they are banished to history.

2021's theme was Pre-1920s Films

I have always been passionate about understanding the origins of cinema, so in 2021 I reviewed landmark pre-1920s films. That's right, every film reviewed is over 100 years old. In January I reviewed one of Charlie Chaplin's early films, The Kid, to celebrate its 100th birthday, and it was an absolute classic.

There is a lot to learn from old cinema and I spent three months working on the A-Z, so it was a fascinating experience for me as well. For example, did you know that the first narrative film was directed by a woman? In this A to Z I explored not just films but actors, studios, directors, technology, techniques and more!

A lot of films from this era are now available copyright free, so where available I have included a copy of the films. They will vary in length from a few seconds to a few hours, so there is something for everyone. Your comments are, as always, welcome and encouraged, and I hope you enjoy both reading along and watching along as we celebrate early cinema!

Links on all A-Z posts, along with a clue on the topic, are below!

• Adventures of Dollie, The (1908) (Directors)
• Birth of a Nation, The (1915) (Landmarks)
• Cabiria (1914) (World Cinema)
• Dawn of Netta, The (1912) (Film Studios)
• Execution of Mary Stuart, The (1895) (Techniques)
• Fée aux Choux, La (1896) (History)
• Great Train Robbery, The (1903) (History)
• Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906) (Genres)
• In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914) (History)
• Jean and the Calico Doll (1910) (Animals)
• Kiss, The (1896) (Censorship)
• Lonedale Operator, The (1911) (Techniques)
• Making a Living (1914) (Actors)
• Night Before Christmas, The (1905) (Events)
• One-Man Band, The (1900) (Techniques)
• Pauvre Pierrot (1892) (Genres)
• Queen Elizabeth (1912) (Film Studios)
• Roundhay Garden Scene (1888) (History)
• Sprinkler Sprinkled, The (1895) (Advertising)
• Trip to the Moon, A (1902) (Genres)
• Unseen Enemy, An (1912) (Actors)
• Visit to the Seaside, A (1908) (Technology)
• What Happened To Mary (1912) (Formats)
• X-Rays, The (1897) (Techniques)
• Yankee Doodle Goes To Berlin (1919) (Propaganda)
• Zhuangzi Tests His Wife (1913) (World Cinema)

Thank you to everyone who visited and left comments during 2021's A to Z!