A Chronology of Film: A Cultural Timeline from the Magic Lantern to the Digital Screen

by Ian Haydn Smith

A Chronology of Film presents a fresh perspective on the medium by taking a purely chronological approach to its history, tracing the complex links between technical innovations, social changes, and artistic interventions.

Organized around a central timeline that charts the development of film from the earliest moving images to present-day blockbusters, it features key films, together with commentaries and contextual information about the social, political, and cultural events of the period in which they were produced. Special feature spreads highlight important technical developments and key practitioners. Covering a wide selection of genres, styles, and directors, this Chronology is invaluable as a comprehensive guide to film in all its different forms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500298564
• ISBN13: 9780500298565
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 272 Pages