Movies: A Crash Course

by John Naughton, Adam Smith, Terry Staunton

Book Overview

With facts, gossip, pithy text, and a glossary of silver screen jargon, this compact course can turn readers into scintillating cinematic experts in no time. Everything readers need to know to hold... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823009777
• ISBN13: 9780823009770
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Action

History of cinema as it stands has been basically changing over the last decade or so. Like all forms of history, the on-going quality of film history can affect how we regard the past. However with the DVD revolution and the like, more and more of such stuff as the Silent Era and foreign films is resurfacing, affecting how we view current cinema. For instance, it was a popular idea of the past that D.W. Griffith invented all of the techniques used towards how we edit movies today. With more and more pre-Griffith silents appearing, his height on that column is gradually decreasing... This book is, in general, pretty up to date with the current times, ending roughly late nineties or so. Each section of film history has its own two-page spread, which is neat and VERY nice. Some of the choices are kind of surprising, but in a refreshing way, not a "what the--?" way. I don't know much about how it would help someone who doesn't know that much about film, but it seems pretty user friendly and its conciseness prevents it from becoming too much a cineastes booklet. I don't agree with some of their opinions (I happen to like Abbott and Costello, I don't care what you say), but for a quick, "Okay so here's what's up" it is pretty well-made. --PolarisDiB

A Gem!

This little book is as much fun to read as watching one of your favorite films. Not only is it entertaining and informative, but it manages to be comprehensive and highly discriminating at the same time. The authors are fully aware of the "auteurs" who count, of the films that matter. I've read hundreds of film books, and I can guarantee that you won't find a better value.