Before, it was considered
that the history of the cinema in Azerbaijan
is calculated from the film named "In
the land of oil and millions", shot
in 1916 in Baku. However in several issues
of the newspaper "Caspian" of
1898 cinematographer Aydin Kazimov found
out information about that a number of documentary
and art plots about Baku life were demonstrated
in Baku on the 2nd of August, in 1898: "The
fire of the oil fountain in Bibi-Heybat",
"The Oil fountain in Balakhani",
"Seeing-off of the Emir of Buhara in
the port". These films were shot by
the citizen of Russia, Frenchman by birth,
A. M, Mishon who had lived in Baku for 25
years. He was the secretary of Baku scientific
photo-circle, publisher, and operator. In
the same year A. M. Mishon shot the film
"You caught" which had been the
beginning of the Azerbaijan cinema. The
comic plot, happened in one of Baku gardens,
formed the basis of the film. This film
had been shown for the first time in Baku
in the theatre - circus of V.I.Vasiljeva-Vjatskina
on the 2nd of August in 1898.
In 1913 representatives of foreign firms
shot great number of documentary shorts.
They reflected only the certain part of
life in the town.
Interesting events taking place in the streets,
in the port, at the stations, and also fountains
and sights of the city served as a basis
for the subject of documentary films.
The feature film «In the land of oil and
millions» began to be shot in 1916. It is
connected with the name of joint-stock company
"Film" of brothers Piron. The
film was shot according to the same book
by Ibrahim bay Musabayov «In the land of
oil and millions» with support of Baku millionaires.
A social inequality, cruelty of the rich,
greed to money - all this, though in a simple
form is reflected in the film. The film
was shot in Baku and its environs. But the
scenes of pavilion were shot in Tbilisi.
One of the interesting episodes of the film
is a large-scale fire occurred in Salimov’s
oil-field in Balaxani.
Having included in it scenes of fire in
the form of sensation, producer B. Svetlov
and G. Lemberg raised the efficiency of
the film greatly. A lot of actors were invited
from the theatres of Baku for shootings.
Our well-known actor G. Arablinsky acted
in a leading role. He had perfectly played
the role of millionaire Lutfali bay. Besides,
tar player Qurban Primov and singer Jabbar
Gariagdi oglu had taken part in the wedding
scene of the film.
Before the film was released, an advertising
campaign was realized, advertisements were
given in Baku newspapers. Besides it, special
booklets were published with the libretto
and separate shots of film.
Despite of some defects, Musabayov’s film
«In the land of oil and millions» played
an important role in the national art of
Azerbaijan and was an incitement to development
of the national cinema in the first years
of the Soviet authorities in Azerbaijan.
Later on the film developed on the basis
of existent base.
In 1923 Management of Azerbaijan Photo-cinema
(MAPC) was founded at the Commissariat of
Enlightenment. In 1924 the two-part film
«The Legend about the Maiden tower» (Giz
Qalasi) was shot and released. From the
Azerbaijan actors Ibrahim Azeri was acting
in this film. In 1924 the second film "Owl"
(Baigush) was shot. Actors Abbas Mirza Sharifzade
and Agarza Guliyev were acting in leading
roles. In 1925 actor Abbas Mirza Sharifzade
was the producer of the film "Bismillah”.
Actors Mirzaaga Aliev and Mustafa Mardanov
were shot in leading roles. That year the
film studio gathered around itself a big
group of actors. After that the Management
of Photo-Cinema of Azerbaijan enlarged and
began to be called "Azerkino".
On the 2nd of August, in 2001 the 103rd
anniversary of Azerbaijan cinema was solemnly
celebrated according to the decree of the
President H. Aliev "About establishment
of the Day of Azerbaijan cinema", dated
18.12.2000.
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