History of Narrative Film Pb [Paperback]

ook D.A. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1996

This volume combines a comprehensive and chronologically organized film history with an introduction to the theory and aesthetics of the cinema. The focus of the book is the study of motion pictures as the complex product of both institutional forces - economic, technological, social and political - and individual artistic vision. For the second edition the book has been thoroughly revised and updated to include films released in 1989. There is increased coverage of the major directors, both past and present, and film-making in Australasia, Canada, South America, India, Russia and Eastern Europe is studied in greater detail. It includes more in-depth information on the technical aspects of film-making and on the business side of cinema, for example the rise of independent production in the 1930s, the impact of Goldcrest and Channel 4 as producers in recent cinema and the corporate mergers of the 1980s.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are other one-volume histories of the international film out there, but this is the one to own. Now in its third edition, this book covers the history of the medium from its early photographic experiments to the present day. What it lacks in theoretical insight or close specificity is more than made up for by its sheer comprehensiveness. Exhaustively illustrated with stills in color and black and white, it describes film of every genre, from every imaginable country, and in every era of the century in lively and illuminating fashion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton (May 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393969398
• ISBN-13: 978-0393969399
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Encyclopedic Coverage, May 15, 2000

By 

Donald Beale - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Narrative Film (Paperback)

Even considering its more than 1,000 pages, this book packs an astounding amount of information between its covers. In attempting to provide a comprehensive history, the book's strength sometimes becomes its weakness--on many topics, Cook offers sketchy coverage, occasionally reduced to simple lists of films and filmmakers. A natural hazard, perhaps, of such an undertaking. Despite that, there are many excellent sections, including those on the early development of the film industry and some of the discussions of particular films, directors, and genres, such as Potememkin, Orson Welles, and film noir. Ultimately, it's a worthwhile volume for the reference shelf of anyone interested in film.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best General History available, January 30, 2002

By 

Mad Dog (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Narrative Film (Paperback)

Imagine having the gall to write a history of "Narrative Film" -- not just Hollywood production, but ALL film, from ALL OVER...

Well Cook does, and does it better than anyone else.

The most amazing thing about this book is that is reads so well: you can literally open it up anywhere, start reading, and start learning -- and be entertained at the same time. I just love reading this book.

The second amazing thing is that Cook seems to have seen a lot of movies and taken the time to think carefully about them. As a result his comments, his sense of historical perspective, and his assertions are usually accurate, frequently insightful, and always enlightenling.

If you're studying film in ANY context, this is the book to buy. If you prefer a video store with a foreign language section instead of your local Blockbuster, this is the catalog for you. Within days of reading this book I was making lists of films that I had to see (The Red And The White, and the Wadja trilogy among them), and running out to find them.

For those in need of a text-book, this is the best value-for-money you can get. For thos FEARING a text-book, relax: it's actually a real page turner.

Any short-commings? There are some minor factual errors (the photographs demonstrating zoom, telephoto and wide lenses use inaccurate frames from Barry Lyndon, for example), but nothing to worry about -- there so much about this book that's good it really doesn't make a difference. The only real problem is that it will never be big enough.

This is the book against which the others are judged.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice summary of... well... film, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Narrative Film (Paperback)

Lets think of it like this: If you wanted to know the entire history of narrative film, this will do the trick. So it does its job. Granted, there are some omissions, and some things could be a little more in depth, but when you have a project with the girth that Cook does, it's completely understandable.

It does its job, that's for sure.