What is the first occurence of a sequence of short shots of the same length separated by fade ins/outs?

Question

This technique is used in several movie trailers to give a feeling of stress, anxiety or urgency. It is also used in several movies (mostly thrillers, action or horror movies), sometimes even before the opening credits.A typical example would be a sequence showing a terrorized woman running in a forest to escape a killer. The sequence would alternate the following close-ups separated by quick fade ins/outs: 1. The woman's feet running and sometimes tripping 2. The killer's feet walking at a quick pace 3. The woman quickly looking behind her to estimate her chances of escaping the killer 4. The killer holding a big knife covered in bloodWhat is the first occurence of this technique?

Answer 1

The technique of cutting between shots to heighten emotion, suspense, and meaning is commonly attributed to Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein in 1925. It is generally called "Soviet montage," or simply "montage," and the technique can be seen most famously in his film Battleship Potemkin, which features a sequence of a baby carriage rolling down a staircase while an army approaches. The sequence is so famous, in fact, it has been replicated in other famous films, like Brian De Palma's 1987 film The Untouchables.