 This documentary is produced by one of the world s foremost authorities and biographers of  Edwin S. Porter  (qv). Since little is known of Porter s personal life, the emphasis here is on his technique and contributions to the art of the cinema. This film also serves as a documentary on the origins of the American cinema; Porter s work is showcased in the context of the whole American cinema of his day, from mutoscope parlors to the advent of the projected image.