The Story of Film - Hardcover

Cousins, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 186205942X ISBN 13: 9781862059429

Publisher: Pavilion Books, 2013

Synopsis

An updated edition of the most accessible and compelling history of the cinema yet published, now also a fascinating 15-hour film documentary 'The Story of Film: An Odyssey'. Film critic, producer and presenter, Mark Cousins shows how film-makers are influenced both by the historical events of their times, and by each other. He demonstrates, for example, how Douglas Sirk’s Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s influenced Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s despairing visions of 1970s Germany; and how George Lucas’ Star Wars epics grew out of Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress.The Story of Film is divided into three main epochs: Silent (1885–1928), Sound (1928–1990) and Digital (1990-Present), and within this structure films are discussed within chapters reflecting both the stylistic concerns of the film-makers and the political and social themes of the time. Film is an international medium, so as well as covering the great American films and film-makers, the book explores cinema in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America, and shows how cinematic ideas and techniques cross national boundaries. Avoiding jargon and obscure critical theory, the author constantly places himself in the role of the moviegoer watching a film, and asks: ‘How does a scene or a story affect us, and why?’ In so doing he gets to the heart of cinematic technique, explaining how film-makers use lighting, framing, focal length and editing to create their effects. Clearly written, and illustrated with over 400 stills, including numerous sequences explaining how scenes work, The Story of Film is essential reading for both film students and the general moviegoer.

About this title

From the Author:

Mark Cousins is an author, film critic, producer, and documentary filmmaker. He is the former director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and a regular contributor to Prospect, Sight and Sound, and the Times.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pavilion Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 186205942X
• ISBN 13: 9781862059429
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 512