I believe that the effect goes back to the silent era.  It was common
enough in films of the 1930s to be spoofed in several cartoons
(especially Tex Avery's).  Try the Film Literature Index in your
library's reference section for specific articles, etc.

Don Larsson

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"Only connect"  --E.M. Forster
Donald F. Larsson
Department of English, AH 230
Minnesota State U, Mankato (56001)
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Celeste Kearney [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 5:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: split-screen effect

Does anyone know of films that used the split-screen effect for
telephone conversations prior to Pillow Talk (1959)?  Also, have any
scholars written specifically on this effect?

Thanks!

mary


Mary Celeste Kearney
Assistant Professor
Department of Radio-Television-Film
The University of Texas at Austin
Office: 512-475-8648
Fax:    512-471-4077

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