Customer Reviews

Frank Borzage: The Life and Films of a Hollywood Romantic

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When film lovers and critics talk about a director with a definite-yet-indescribable style, they usually talk about "the Lubitsch touch". Yet, during my first semester of film school, my professor showed our class the visual and rhythmic devices that Lubitsch used to create his touch. Frank Borzage, on the other hand, truly has a definite-yet-indescribable touch to all his films. And this book describes, analyzes and unites the director's work and life in a very impressive and interesting volume.

There are some flaws, mainly having to do with the author (a Swiss academic) writing about Hollywood. For instance, there are some lengthy phrases used to describe aspects of film-making that could be described better (and more accurately) by movie industry terms. Also, in writing about Borzage working at Warner Brothers, he confuses the 2 addresses of that movie studio: during the Depression Warners was on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, but by World War II they had moved to the town of Burbank. Dumont keeps referring to Warners Studios on "Sunset Boulevard in Burbank" and no such thing exists.

Still, my hat is off to this book, which crystalizes the thoughts and philosophy of one of the great artists of motion pictures.