Flashback: A Brief History of Film (4th Edition)

Consolidating major figures and film movements into their decade of greatest influence or prestige, this “no-nonsense” book offers a generously illustrated, concise, and very readable history of fiction movies with an emphasis on American cinema. Eclectic in methodology and written in a plain English style that audiences can relate to, it examines the full scope of traditional film history and criticism, viewing film as both an art and an industry— as it mirrors popular audience values, social ideologies, and historical epochs. Film discussions include titles such as Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park, There's Something About Mary, Face Off, the Lion King, Saving Private Ryan, Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, Choosing Amy, The Piano, Menace II Society, Sweet Hereafter, The English Patient, Sense and Sensibility, Shakespeare in live, The Full Monty, The Crying Game, Life is Beautiful, and like Water for Chocolate. For anyone who enjoys going to, and thinking about, the movies.

LOUIS GIANNETTI is a Professor of English and Film at Case Western Reserve University inn Cleveland. In addition to being a professional movie reviewer for several years, he has written many scholarly articles for such journals as Literature Film Quarterly, The Western Humanities Review, and Film Criticism. Dr. Giannetti is also the author of the popular textbook, UNDERTANDING MOVIES, EIGHTH EDITION (Prentice Hall, 1999). Other books include a collection of theoretical essays, GODARD AND OTHERS: ESSAY ON FILM FORM (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press and Tantivy Press, 1975), and MASTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA (Prentice Hall, 1981), a history of American fiction films from the perspective of eighteen major figures.

SCOTT EYMAN is the Books Editor for The Palm Beach Post. He has won awards for his journalism, criticism, and television writing. His other books include FIVE AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHERS (Scarcrow Press, 1987); MARY PICKFORD: AMERICA'S SWEETHEART (Donald I. Fine, 1990); ERNST LUBITSCH: LAUGHTER IN PARADISE (Simon & Schuster, 1993); THE SPEED OF SOUND: HOLLYWOOD AND THE TALKIE REVOLUTION 1926-1930 (Simon & Schuster, 1997); and PRINT THE LEGEND: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN FORD (Simon & Schuster, 1999).