Film

This book takes an accessible approach to the movies: an era-by-era survey with a personal angle. This lively, compact history of film offers the most direct experience of the great movies of the 20th century to be found between covers. The book is divided into 10 chapters, each dedicated to a specific time and place in cinema history. Each is written by an eminent critic (or critics) with specialist knowledge, and consists of an introductory overview, followed by a personal selection of 15 of their favourite films. Their pick gives the reader an enormously varied selection; old favourites such as "King Kong" and "The Hustler" are found alongside rarities that have previously been the private domain of the experts. Each film is described and dissected in a self-contained essay that covers who made it and why, its artistic features and matters of technical interest, and the broader context in which it was made. Most important of all, each critic discusses his or her personal reasons for choosing it. Vividly written and lavishly illustrated with stills from the films, this book brings 100 years of film history to life.S.