The History and Science of Color Film: From Isaac Newton to the Coen Brothers

Color is a subtle tool that can transport us from our ordinary lives to extraordinary worlds of cinema. Peel back the layers of history and look at how color was first understood and implemented in the world of film.

If you have any further questions be sure to check out our questions page on Filmmaker IQ:

[rushfari]

Dear Mr. Bearded talking guy: I don't know why, but I sit for hours and watch your videos. I find it fascinating, and I greatly appreciate learning real information with depth. You have a gift of teaching in a way that few do. Thanks.

[StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo]

There are many trolls on YouTube, but the one's who dislike Filmmaker IQ videos are some of the most unreasonable of all. I have a fine arts degree and these videos dig deeper than the more lab based courses out there.

[Daashkira]

Just wanted to say thank you. I use your lessons in my High School Course: History and the Appreciation of Film, to build in the technical aspects of film with its historic and cultural developments. I really appreciate what you do and so do my students.

[moustikdu]

Pathecolor was developped by the French "Pathe" company, one of the biggest film equipment and production company in 1908. It is one of the oldest cinema company still in action. Nowadays in France we can still see movies in Pathe Cinemas, I was amazed to discover that they had such an impact on color films! Great videos as always

[sterstam]

in my top 3 education channels on YouTube

[briannakadlecik]

This video is so helpful! I am talking a film history class and your videos are really helping me visualize what is written in my text book.

[Davidalp]

Just to say that actually the first Two Colour Technicolor (process number one) movie first produced and shot in the USA was: "THE GULF BETWEEN" in 1917 starring Grace Darmond and Niles Welch.  It was shot completely out of doors (using natural light) in sunny Florida.  It is sadly now a lost film with only a couple of frames extant that we can examine,  but the colour looked pretty good.  "THE TOLL OF THE SEA" was five years later,  and still exists to this day.  (apart from the last reel)... Plus, the first feature film to use 3-Strip Technicolor was MGM's "THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE" in 1934; although it was only utilized in one musical number.  There were several other 1934 productions in 3-strip Technicolor, featuring either Technicolor "sequences" - or 20 minute short subjects:  For example:  "SERVICE WITH A SMILE",  "LA CUCARACHA", "THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" and "KID MILLIONS".  

[JSB]

That was so well explained! And I agree about the 1938 version of "Robin Hood". That is a beautiful film. No Robin Hood ever came close.

[FilmmakerIQ]

Good point! Its amazing how many even mainstream films we're losing as the prints fade.

[JarrodTetreault]

I know you don't need to hear it again, but I can't help myself. I just love your delivery! There is something that is just so old school in how you deliver your lines. Don't listen to anyone who asks you to memorize. I grew up as a kid in the 70's and a teen in the 80's... back when the news anchors would read from giant cues or feeds beside the camera.... the important thing is that you read everything with GREAT vocal inflection, and I can never turn away once I start watching

[curtchiarelli]

This is a well-produced and researched history of color technology in motion pictures. A lot of fascinating information is packed into its relatively brief running time!

[jknuttel]

Amusing: Around the 8:20 mark this gentleman talks about William Friese-Greene and we see a picture of Robert Donat, who played Friese-Greene in a 1951 British film called "The Magic Box".

[relsewards]

one of the best explanations i've seen.

[FilmmakerIQ]

Yes... we'll have a lesson on Digital color correction and grading next week.

[stolenhal]

My grandfather worked under the owner of technicolor, who also happened to own the patent on the Bic ballpoint pen. They were the first to bring full feature length films to the airline industry. It involved the creation of a micro film to prevent change overs, self projecting sound and most importantly silent projectors.

[littlemascara]

Always curious as to films history of color. Great info, thanks and well done!

[mychalsimmons]

John!!! You are the Fascinating love this channel

[erett]

Your videos are better than the film school I attended! I could have saved a lot of  time and money watching your videos and spending time shooting. Keep it up!

[dave-yz]

I only just discovered your channel few days ago and already watched few of your videos. I never knew there was so many different ways film colours was made.

[sadiqmohamed]

Just discovered this channel via this video. Not a bad history of colour film. Obviously not exhaustive, but enough to cover the highlights and point the viewer in the right direction to find out more.

I have personal knowledge of Martin Scorsese's preservation project, as I saw his lecture at the BFI in London. He showed two trailers for "Gone With The Wind". The first was on Eastman stock and was what we had come to expect. Faded and mainly pink. The other was an original Technicolor print released to first run theatres in the US in 1939. It drew audible gasps from the audience. The colour was all there in full and the film looked almost 3D. Another think he showed us was clips from "The Leopard" (1963) with Burt Lancaster. Again the difference was astonishing.

Eastman Kodak, thankfully, got such a fright they did the work and produced more stable chemicals for both the film base and the colour layers so film stock is now much more stable. They also invested heavily in Digital Imaging and produced some of the earliest CCD image sensors. Now the main aid to preserving film is the digital intermediate, and this in fact is the only way to preserve the old 3-strip Technicolor movies. Technicolor no longer have any die-transfer printers, and I haven't been able to find out what happened to the equipment they sold to China.