This book covers the life and aesthetic qualities of the work of the European film-maker Jean-Marie Straub (1933- ). It contains introductory chapters on the biography and artistic milieu of Straub and continues with a chapter-by-chapter critical treatment of each of his films: "Machorka-Muff"; "Not Reconciled"; "Chronicle…

This book is a collection of essays by the author on film criticism. An auteurist and historical approach is taken to the primarily American films discussed. The essays are organized by basic theme: "Critical Credos and Causes,""Personal Styles,""Genres,""Politics,""Odes and Obits," and "Arts and Letters." Each essay centers either on an important…

This brief history of the cinema surveys the birth, development, and modern period of silent and sound films. The approach seeks out major "auteurs" of film, discusses their more artistic works, and places them in historical perspective. Commentary on the aesthetic nature of film includes speculation on the relationship of sound to…

The medium of film is uniquely suited to the representation of social problems such as racism. By stressing major issues of racism--slavery, the black cultural heritage, black power, and the black civil rights movement--and coupling these issues with films which give a realistic view of the substance and problems of racism, both concepts…

This book is a critical, genre study of surrealist films including a general discussion of the backgrounds, influences, and overall traits of surrealism as a mode of artistic response to an absurdist world. Citing the impetus of Jacques Vache and Andre Breton as the originators of surrealism, the work expands upon the themes of fractured realism…

This book is the text of an interview with the French film-maker, Jean Cocteau. It is the corrected edition, with a new introduction by George Amberg, of the English translation of the early 1950 conversation in French. Cocteau discusses the aesthetics, creative aspects, and production processes of his own films and films in general. His approach…

The state of the motion picture industry is reviewed, focusing on needed change in the practice of product placement. The study of the placements of advertising in films should be of interest to the student of visual literacy. Product placers are using films to advertise their products to entertainment seekers. The viewer, often a child, may not…

The leftist radical ideas current in the 1960s and 1970s are expressed in the films discussed in this cinema study guide. The radical film takes extreme and avant-garde approaches to the somewhat publicly taboo topics of sex, social issues, and religion. Among the films discussed, I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) and SOMETHING DIFFERENT show women in their…

This study guide for high school and college students examines selected, revolutionary political films made by Godard, Rocha, Solanas, Sanjines, and others, notably Czech and Cuban film-makers. This guide stresses an aesthetic, auteuristic approach and touches upon film production procedures. The films recommended for study range in technique from…

This survey of the history of world cinema begins with the "Pre-history" of film making and covers developments, by major periods, through 1972. The film making of all major countries, except Australia, receives attention, and the appendixes contain a note on animated films, a selected filmographies list, and a bibliography. Aspects of…