With hundreds of rare photographs, set sketches, and original renderings showcasing films of every era and genre—many shown here for the very first time—author Cathy Whitlock offers movie fans a backstage pass to 100 years of Hollywood’s most memorable film sets. In the vein of Deborah Landis’s Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design, Whitlock’s Designs on Film delivers a fascinating tour through Hollywood’s back lots, including the stories of how numerous movies came to their final on-screen looks—whether by collaboration, conflict, or divine chance. Movie enthusiasts, set designers, and fans of classic and modern Hollywood will thrill for this look behind the scenes of Tinsel Town’s greatest triumphs.
Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[Designs on Film] traces the art of building pretend worlds. Starting back in the pre-talkie years, and moving through Hollywood’s golden age and the epic-crazy ‘60s, right up to contemporary Hollywood, the book is packed with insider tidbits about the wildly inventive—and improvisational—business of movie-making.” (Wall Street Journal )
“Whitlock makes a major contribution to movie literature by saluting undersung production designers, set decorators and art directors.” (Los Angeles Times )
“An amazing glimpse into art direction.” (The New Yorker )
“This lush book of pictures and drawings showcases big-screen glamour over the decades, from the opulence of Cleopatra to the more modern majesty of Batman. (Entertainment Weekly )
“A compendium of images celebrating iconic interiors and architecture….[Whitlock] sifted through decades of archival photographs to assemble this rare glimpse into the world of Hollywood art direction and set design. ” (Dwell )
“Whitlock makes a major contribution to movie literature by saluting undersung production designers, set decorators and art directors.” (Los Angeles Times )
“An amazing glimpse into art direction.” (The New Yorker )
“This lush book of pictures and drawings showcases big-screen glamour over the decades, from the opulence of Cleopatra to the more modern majesty of Batman. (Entertainment Weekly )
“A compendium of images celebrating iconic interiors and architecture….[Whitlock] sifted through decades of archival photographs to assemble this rare glimpse into the world of Hollywood art direction and set design. ” (Dwell )
From the Back Cover
Who can forget the over-the-top, white-on-white, high-gloss interiors through which Fred Astaire danced in Top Hat? The modernist high-rise architecture, inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, in the adaptation of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead? The lavish, opulent drawing rooms of Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence? Through the use of film design—called both art direction and production design in the film industry—movies can transport us to new worlds of luxury, highlight the ornament of the everyday, offer a vision of the future, or evoke the realities of a distant era. In Designs on Film, journalist and interior designer Cathy Whitlock illuminates the often undercelebrated role of the production designer in the creation of the most memorable moments in film history. Through a lush collection of rare archival photographs, Whitlock narrates the evolving story of art direction over the course of a century—from the massive Roman architecture of Ben-Hur to the infamous Dakota apartment in Rosemary's Baby to the digital CGI wonders of Avatar's Pandora.
Drawing on insights from the most prominent Hollywood production designers and the historical knowledge of the venerable Art Directors Guild, Whitlock delves into the detailed process of how sets are imagined, drawn, built, and decorated. Designs on Film is the must-have look book for film lovers, movie buffs, and anyone looking to draw interior design inspiration from the constructions and confections of Hollywood. Whitlock lifts the curtain on movie magic and celebrates the many ways in which art direction and set design allow us to lose ourselves in the diverse worlds showcased on the big screen.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Snort
Format:Hardcover
The product copy above does not do justice to this splendid and sumptuous doorstopper on Hollywood art direction. The photographs are the payoff here, literally hundreds of production stills detailing on-the-set constructions and activity. My eye tells me that I have not seen most of these photos before in other Hollywood books. I think the book would serve better if it cut off after the 1970s and included more on the silent era and 1930s when the concept of art direction in film was nurtured and flourished. The 80s are focused on special effects and much of the new millennium material look like nothing more than Town & Country layouts. Nonetheless, the bulk of the book will take the Golden Era Hollywood fan to another place and time in American history, creative and socially.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The introduction "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" (from "The Wizard of Oz"), is the first inkling the reader has that a magical journey is in store. Besides archiving a treasure-trove of movie history spanning the last 100 years, this book is also a stunning tribute to interior design and set decoration. As breath-taking as these photo's are, and no doubt valuable because they're rare and/or never-before-published originals, the stories behind the stories are equally riveting, and a salute to Hollywood. Especially - as the author notes - "to its unsung hero's and heroines": the people behind the curtain who brought their talents to the silver screen for all of us to revel in. Following the yellow brick road in this must-own book will delight, enchant, and surprise reader's from all walks of life.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By FineArtBuyer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Save your money. The idea of this book is good but it just doesn't deliver. Most of the pictures have been published in other books and many of the pictures don't have much to do with film production design...they're just pretty pictures from the movie or a publicity still photo. There's not enough information about the artists or production designers and the small amount of actual written material is bland, not very informative and full of factual errors. This book needed a lot more research, better photo choices and missed the chance to publish unusual, interesting drawings from art directors and production designers. A new book about film production design would be great, but this book isn't it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pathetic!
Pathetic!
This unbelievably sad example of a picture book (rightfully noted elswhere- most from other volumns) IS SO empty of any new information and WORSE, it is one of the... Read more
This unbelievably sad example of a picture book (rightfully noted elswhere- most from other volumns) IS SO empty of any new information and WORSE, it is one of the... Read more
Published 21 months ago by musical fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely to look at, delightful to hold
This book is a fitting tribute to one of the most vital - and, too often, unexamined - elements of a film's community: production design and set decoration. Read more
Published on May 2, 2011 by Cowboy Hank
5.0 out of 5 stars
Behind the Curtain
I was transported by this well-reserached and edited history of the innermost workings of the Artistic and Creative members of the Hollywood Movie Industry, Being a major cinephile... Read more
Published on April 19, 2011 by Marcia Sherrill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Succesfull gift Purchase
It was a Valentines Day gift for my wife - a movie maven,
she's read it from cover to cover - and just loved it!
she's read it from cover to cover - and just loved it!
Published on March 16, 2011 by Frankoaz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great pictures. Text a bit suspect
I have only flicked through this book and noticed a few annoying errors in the text. Ken Adam did not work on the Bond's from Dr No to Goldeneye he finished on Moonraker 16 years... Read more
Published on February 17, 2011 by Markonesmile
5.0 out of 5 stars
Would love to see more books from Cathy Whitlock on art direction!
-Hundred of beautiful full page film stills, behind the scenes photos, and illustrations of production designer's set ideas for realized films. Read more
Published on February 16, 2011 by MGK
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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