How to Use the Moviola (1980s)

Описание: How to Use the Moviola.

Instructional film demonstrating the use of the Moviola upright 16mm film editing machine.

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The Moviola is an upright, motorized film editing machine designed for viewing, synchronizing, and cutting 35mm or 16mm motion picture film and magnetic soundtracks, utilizing foot pedals for precise control of playback and a microscope attachment for frame-accurate inspection. Invented by Dutch-American engineer Iwan Serrurier in 1924, it revolutionized post-production workflows by enabling editors to monitor footage in real time while making cuts, replacing labor-intensive manual splicing methods.

Originally conceived by Serrurier in 1917 as an expensive home movie projector—priced at around $600, equivalent to several months' wages for many—the device saw limited consumer success when first manufactured in 1923. Its transformation into a professional editing tool occurred in 1924 after an editor at Douglas Fairbanks Studios suggested modifications for studio use, leading to the patenting of a "Film Editing Machine" that same year. The Moviola's compact, desk-like design, often likened to the size of a small refrigerator, featured dual reels for picture and sound, allowing seamless synchronization essential for early talkies following the advent of synchronized sound in 1927.

For nearly 50 years, the Moviola dominated Hollywood editing rooms, serving as the primary upright editor for picture assembly until the 1970s, when flatbed machines like the Steenbeck gained prominence for their multi-reel capabilities and ergonomic advantages. It remained a staple for sound editing into the early 1990s, gradually supplanted by digital nonlinear editing systems. The device's enduring legacy is evident in its role in crafting iconic films across genres, with notable users including editors like Walter Murch, who praised its tactile precision. In 1979, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded a Technical Achievement Oscar to Mark Serrurier, Iwan's son, for advancing the Moviola from its 1924 origins to sophisticated models like the Series 20. The Moviola Corporation, founded in 1919, evolved into a provider of modern editing equipment before multiple ownership changes, including sales to Magnasync in 1966 and J&R Film in 1984.