Film trailers have been around for as early as the 1930's, with notable trailers including Snow White and Gone with the wind. Over time, every aspect of trailers have improved massively, especially the editing and cinematography.
Snow White - 1937
In 1937, the first Snow White trailer was released, and as you can imagine, is very different to film trailers today. They used a technique of a narrator reading good reviews from newspapers in the hope of advertising the film in order to persuade viewers to go and see the film themselves. The most notable thing that I picked up on, was that there were no clips from the film itself used in the trailer. They didn't have any moving images, just paintings and Walt Disney talking the viewers through the dwarves in the film, which at that time, was the best they could do. Also, the text used in the trailer is of a very large size which fills up the majority of the screen making it look very unprofessional. Looking at the trailer now, it is very poor, however when it was released it would have been one of the best at that time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncMKymAOy1I
Gone with the wind - 1939
Two years after the Snow White trailer was released, Gone with the wind produced a similar trailer. The trailer itself is literally a person turning the pages of a book, that's it. Before turning the pages, they ensure that enough time has been left for the viewer to read the large old fashion styled text on the pages which explains the film and its actors/actresses. The music used throughout is a kind of evil stereo-phonical sound to build suspense.
The second trailer that I watched is more advanced than the first as this actually includes clips from the film as well as a narrator talking over. They both include similar soundtracks that now sound very out-dated as well as text covering the frame. In this trailer, the title of the film is repeated a number of times by the narrator as well as being displayed on the screen several times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUA5jB2MPCc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFu-jemU-bA
Casablanca - 1942
As the years went on, more and more trailers started to use lengthy clips from the film in order to give the viewer an idea on the storyline. If it appealed to them, then they would go and see the film which meant that the trailer had been effective in its aim of advertising the film to viewers. In the Casablanca trailer, it is all black and white. There is no sign of colour what so ever which makes it less appealing to viewers. There are a number of transitions used for making the clips flow including wipes and swirls. Again, there is a narrator with a stereophonic soundtrack playing in the background, and the title of the film is displayed and said by the narrator numerous times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJvlGh_FgcI
Cinderella - 1950
By now, film trailers had started to get put together effectively and an improvement had been made. In the Cinderella trailer, there are various scenes from the film used in an attempt to entice viewers and persuade them to go and see the film. Large text and a narrator/voice over was still being used, however sound effects and music brightened it up and made it more appealing to viewers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUxAlnYP5aU
Psycho and Dr Strangelove - 1960s
Probably two of the most famous film trailers of all time were produced in the 1960s with Psycho and Dr Strangelove. Both trailers were black white with the Psycho trailer being a six minute long introduction/walk-through of the film by its creator Alfred Hitchcock and Dr Strangelove being a one minute montage of very fast jump cuts and edits. Both very bizarre in their own way, yet both successful in promoting the two films as they are now two of the most famous films of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps8H3rg5GfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gXY3kuDvSU
Forrest Gump - 1994
As the years went on, film trailers had improved massively with things such as music, colour and edits and were now effective in appealing to a large audience. The forrest gump trailer had been well put together with smooth edits of clips from the film and the viewer could identify a clear storyline. The trailer captures emotion well and advertises the film perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNh9Es8Ut6U
Walking Tall - 2004
During the 2000s, film trailers reached their peak. The Walking Tall trailer included everything a great trailer could ask for - edits, synchronisation, background music, audio and clips from the film, narration and text. It advertised the film very effectively and was well synchronised making it look very professional. Its duration was just over two minutes which is now the most common length for a film trailer. We can tell that the trailer is effective as the viewer is able to identify a clear story-line due to it following Todorovs Narrative well by including each stage of the theory - Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition of disruption, Attempt to repair and Reinstatement of equilibrium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X67H5J9ZMds
Warrior - 2011
The Warrior trailer does a great job in advertising the film as it includes a number of different emotions. It is very powerful and allows the viewer to identify what genre the film is - action/sport due to the clips used. The soundtrack changes tone throughout to match the feeling that is being given off. For example, it is very slow and quiet during emotional scenes such as at the start, however when the trailer kicks in and the action scenes start happening, it has a fast pace. Overall, I really enjoyed the trailer and thought it was very effective as it made me go and see the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY7HcUACs58
In conclusion, the history of film trailers has changed dramatically as the years have went by. I feel that trailers are still improving and that they continue to be a huge part in the marketing campaign of films. Without an effective film trailer, the movie stands very little chance of becoming a success.
Snow White - 1937
In 1937, the first Snow White trailer was released, and as you can imagine, is very different to film trailers today. They used a technique of a narrator reading good reviews from newspapers in the hope of advertising the film in order to persuade viewers to go and see the film themselves. The most notable thing that I picked up on, was that there were no clips from the film itself used in the trailer. They didn't have any moving images, just paintings and Walt Disney talking the viewers through the dwarves in the film, which at that time, was the best they could do. Also, the text used in the trailer is of a very large size which fills up the majority of the screen making it look very unprofessional. Looking at the trailer now, it is very poor, however when it was released it would have been one of the best at that time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncMKymAOy1I
Gone with the wind - 1939
Two years after the Snow White trailer was released, Gone with the wind produced a similar trailer. The trailer itself is literally a person turning the pages of a book, that's it. Before turning the pages, they ensure that enough time has been left for the viewer to read the large old fashion styled text on the pages which explains the film and its actors/actresses. The music used throughout is a kind of evil stereo-phonical sound to build suspense.
The second trailer that I watched is more advanced than the first as this actually includes clips from the film as well as a narrator talking over. They both include similar soundtracks that now sound very out-dated as well as text covering the frame. In this trailer, the title of the film is repeated a number of times by the narrator as well as being displayed on the screen several times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUA5jB2MPCc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFu-jemU-bA
Casablanca - 1942
As the years went on, more and more trailers started to use lengthy clips from the film in order to give the viewer an idea on the storyline. If it appealed to them, then they would go and see the film which meant that the trailer had been effective in its aim of advertising the film to viewers. In the Casablanca trailer, it is all black and white. There is no sign of colour what so ever which makes it less appealing to viewers. There are a number of transitions used for making the clips flow including wipes and swirls. Again, there is a narrator with a stereophonic soundtrack playing in the background, and the title of the film is displayed and said by the narrator numerous times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJvlGh_FgcI
Cinderella - 1950
By now, film trailers had started to get put together effectively and an improvement had been made. In the Cinderella trailer, there are various scenes from the film used in an attempt to entice viewers and persuade them to go and see the film. Large text and a narrator/voice over was still being used, however sound effects and music brightened it up and made it more appealing to viewers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUxAlnYP5aU
Psycho and Dr Strangelove - 1960s
Probably two of the most famous film trailers of all time were produced in the 1960s with Psycho and Dr Strangelove. Both trailers were black white with the Psycho trailer being a six minute long introduction/walk-through of the film by its creator Alfred Hitchcock and Dr Strangelove being a one minute montage of very fast jump cuts and edits. Both very bizarre in their own way, yet both successful in promoting the two films as they are now two of the most famous films of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps8H3rg5GfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gXY3kuDvSU
Forrest Gump - 1994
As the years went on, film trailers had improved massively with things such as music, colour and edits and were now effective in appealing to a large audience. The forrest gump trailer had been well put together with smooth edits of clips from the film and the viewer could identify a clear storyline. The trailer captures emotion well and advertises the film perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNh9Es8Ut6U
Walking Tall - 2004
During the 2000s, film trailers reached their peak. The Walking Tall trailer included everything a great trailer could ask for - edits, synchronisation, background music, audio and clips from the film, narration and text. It advertised the film very effectively and was well synchronised making it look very professional. Its duration was just over two minutes which is now the most common length for a film trailer. We can tell that the trailer is effective as the viewer is able to identify a clear story-line due to it following Todorovs Narrative well by including each stage of the theory - Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition of disruption, Attempt to repair and Reinstatement of equilibrium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X67H5J9ZMds
Warrior - 2011
The Warrior trailer does a great job in advertising the film as it includes a number of different emotions. It is very powerful and allows the viewer to identify what genre the film is - action/sport due to the clips used. The soundtrack changes tone throughout to match the feeling that is being given off. For example, it is very slow and quiet during emotional scenes such as at the start, however when the trailer kicks in and the action scenes start happening, it has a fast pace. Overall, I really enjoyed the trailer and thought it was very effective as it made me go and see the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY7HcUACs58
In conclusion, the history of film trailers has changed dramatically as the years have went by. I feel that trailers are still improving and that they continue to be a huge part in the marketing campaign of films. Without an effective film trailer, the movie stands very little chance of becoming a success.
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