Average customer rating:
- A Thorougly Enjoyable Book
- SILENCE IS INDEED STILL GOLDEN!
- Silent Stars--an essential reference work
- Okay but...
- Beautiful Photographs but Dreadful Read
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Silent Stars
Jeanine Basinger
Manufacturer: Knopf
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0679438408
Release Date: 1999-10-26 |
Amazon.com
Through concise biographies, explorations of filmographies, and captivating still shots, Jeanine Basinger offers remarkable insight into both the on- and offscreen lives of the cinema's first stars. Basinger shows an incredible knack for getting past the average movie fan's barriers to appreciating silent film actors: the larger-than-life acting style, frequently goofy plots, and general difficulty in finding films of all but a few luminaries like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Deft plot synopses, careful explanations of the skills needed for silent acting, and a genuine affection for the movies she's describing allow Basinger to give the reader a real sense of why these early actors were so beloved--and why they are so deserving of tribute. Mary Pickford, long unfairly maligned for playing saccharine little girls, is revealed to be a shrewd and highly professional performer, involved in every aspect of film production, careful to expand beyond her audience's expectations of her, and possessing deft comic flair. The lives and careers of two silent cowboys, the soulfully stoic William S. Hart and the flamboyant Tom Mix, are also compared and contrasted--oddly enough, to the detriment of neither. The book also covers the great sex symbols like Pola Negri and Rudolph Valentino and takes a welcome dive into the comedies of Mack Sennett. Equally engaging as browsing material or a cover-to-cover read, Silent Stars gives voice to both the sung and unsung pioneers of film. --Ali Davis
Book Description
From one of America's most renowned film scholars: a revelatory, perceptive, and highly readable look at the greatest silent film stars -- not those few who are fully appreciated and understood, like Chaplin, Keaton, Gish, and Garbo, but those who have been misperceived, unfairly dismissed, or forgotten.
Here is Valentino, "the Sheik," who was hardly the effeminate lounge lizard he's been branded as; Mary Pickford, who couldn't have been further from the adorable little creature with golden ringlets that was her film persona; Marion Davies, unfairly pilloried in Citizen Kane; the original "Phantom" and "Hunchback," Lon Chaney; the beautiful Talmadge sisters, Norma and Constance. Here are the great divas, Pola Negri and Gloria Swanson; the great flappers, Colleen Moore and Clara Bow; the great cowboys, William S. Hart and Tom Mix; and the great lover, John Gilbert. Here, too, is the quintessential slapstick comedienne, Mabel Normand, with her Keystone Kops; the quintessential all-American hero, Douglas Fairbanks; and, of course, the quintessential all-American dog, Rin-Tin-Tin.
This is the first book to anatomize the major silent players, reconstruct their careers, and give us a sense of what those films, those stars, and that Hollywood were all about. An absolutely essential text for anyone seriously interested in movies, and, with more than three hundred photographs, as much a treat to look at as it is to read.
Customer Reviews:
A Thorougly Enjoyable Book.......2005-01-27
I wanted to learn more about the silents, and started with "The Parade's Gone By". It was good, but a bit too technical. What I really wanted was to know about the great personalities of the silent screen, and this book fills the bill. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would have liked even more profiles. Each chapter deals with a silent star, some quite well known, some not so. There is also an excellent overview of silent films in general. The author writes in an enjoyable, easy-going manner, but there is plenty of information, and great photos. There are wonderful takes on Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino, Pola Negri, Gloria Swanson, The Talmadge Sisters, Lon Chaney, John Gilbert, and so many more, even Rin Tin Tin! Really a great read, with some unforgettable tid-bits. (You'll never believe what Pola Negri said she would always remember Valentino for, or where Rin Tin Tin drew his last breath). Wonderful book.
SILENCE IS INDEED STILL GOLDEN!.......2003-05-26
They had faces then . . . those silent screen icons known as Clara, Lon, Pola, Gloria, Mabel, John, Mary, Douglas, Rudolph --- even Rin-Tin-Tin. From the pen (and meticulously researched and always thoughtful mind) of film scholar Jeanine Basinger comes this must-have tome, as important for its reconstructed historical chronicle as it is for its wit, humor and revelatory insights. Those expecting gossip will find it; those yearning for an academic, yet never boring, read will find it as well. The 300-plus photos are an added treat; was there anyone more handsome than Ramon?
Silent Stars--an essential reference work.......2003-01-26
There is very little I can say about this book except that i totally and completely recommend it to anyone who loves silent pictures as much as I do.
Okay but..........2003-01-05
The main reason why I liked this book were her chapters on Colleen Moore and Constance Talmadge, which otherwise have little information given about them. Sure she lets the character's image get in the way, but that is the way they were presenting themselves!
I can understand selecting just a few people. Enough has been said about the greats like Lillian Gish and Charlie Chaplin and she does clarify this in the dedication page. There was a chapter that annoyed me. I don't care how influential he was. Rin Tin Tin is a dog! She could have put a human in his spot. What about the vastly ignored Louise Fazenda instead?
Beautiful Photographs but Dreadful Read.......2000-10-09
I'm a huge fan of the silent cinema and it is the primary focus of my film studies, which is why I would recommend this book only if you have the money to spend on its beautiful pictures. Otherwise I'd save my money. There's been enough written so far that we don't need another book full of the fan's perspective. Basinger has allowed her own personal attachment to these films to cloud her writing which just drips with sentiment that is out of place. Brownlow has just as much love, if not more, yet his work is far more personal and enjoyable. Her goal in writing the book, she claims, was also to talk about those stars who have been forgotten or are misperceived by today's public but she only talks about the latter. Of my associates everyone that I spoke with had known all of the stars discussed with the exception of Colleen Moore(!!!). For crying out loud she includes Mary Pickford, the Talmadge sisters, Rudolph Valentino, and Douglas Fairbanks. Sure they might have stereotyped images connected with them, but that's for a reason. Only a personal agenda motivates her to write about them and explain how she finds substance to Valentino's acting, or how Fairbanks was just as funny in his comedies as he was exciting in his swashbuckling. This book would have been far more enjoyable if it had dealt with stars that truly were forgotten of which there are far too many.
Book Description
A provocative and dynamic force in American culture since the early twentieth century, movies have presented several generations of American writers with a new, fascinating, and challenging subject. How writers rose to the challenge, and in the process created an extraordinary body of work-passionate, contentious, restlessly curious-makes for a dazzling and constantly entertaining volume. "I have focused," writes editor Phillip Lopate, "on film criticism as an art in itself-the magnet for strong, elegant, eloquent, enjoyable writing."
American Movie Critics is an anthology of unparalleled scope that charts the rise of movies as art, industry, and mass entertainment. Beginning in the silent era-with poets Vachel Lindsay and Carl Sandburg hailing the new medium and Edmund Wilson paying tribute to Chaplin's Gold Rush-the collection traces the rapid evolution of the medium in an age of tumultuous political and social changes. Here are the great movie critics who forged a forceful vernacular idiom for talking about the new art: Otis Ferguson in the 1930s finding in James Cagney "the dignity of the genuine worn as easily as his skin"; James Agee in the 1940s on American war films and the advent of Italian neo-realism; Manny Farber, Pauline Kael, Andrew Sarris, Molly Haskell, Vincent Canby, and others from what Lopate calls "the golden age of movie criticism" from the 1950s through the '70s, a period when enthusiasms ran high, and arguments over style and content often took on a larger-than-life quality. Here too are the finest film reviewers on the contemporary scene, including Richard Schickel, Roger Ebert, and Manohla Dargis.
Joining the full-time film writers are many distinguished American authors weighing in on a range of cinematic experiences, including Ralph Ellison, Susan Sontag, James Baldwin, Brendan Gill, and John Ashbery. Together they define an often underappreciated genre of American writing, a tradition filled with the "energy, passion, and analytical juice" that for Lopate mark the best in movie criticism.
Phillip Lopate, editor, is an essayist, novelist, and poet, whose books include Bachelorhood; Against Joie de Vivre; Portrait of My Body; and Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan. He has edited The Art of the Personal Essay and, for The Library of America, Writing New York: A Literary Anthology. His selected film criticism appeared in Totally Tenderly Tragically, and he currently serves on the selection committee of the New York Film Festival.
The proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to support the mission of The Library of America, a nonprofit organization created in 1979 to preserve America's literary heritage by publishing and keeping permanently in print authoritative editions of America's best and most significant writing.
Customer Reviews:
Great book, but where's the index?.......2007-01-28
I was surprised not to find an index in this otherwise excellent book.
Screen Tests.......2006-10-25
I wanted a book that would cover a wide array of reviews and struck gold with this one. Though now that I think of it, maybe I should have held out for one that included non-American writers in it. I'm such a dunce, I didn't see until too late that, on the title page, clearly marked, it reads, "A special publication of the Library of America." No wonder it's so America-centric, but I picked up the book and opened it by happenstance to Penelope Gilliatt's scintillating review of Fassbinder's Petra Von Kant, and naturally I took the book to be more international in scope than it actually is. In what universe do people think of Gilliatt as a US writer? It doesn't really matter because what remains deserves four stars.
Lopate doesn't go just for the simple nobrainer essays by each of the authors, but he actually spends time thinking of new ways to showcase their skills. Thus for James Agee we don't get the old Silent Clowns piece, or the one onm MONSIEUR VERDOUX nor Val Lewton. He goes for the unfamiliar nearly every time, which is nice. (The only exception I can see offhand is Molly Haskell on "The Woman's Film," but that's nice in a quite different way since Haskell's essay is so lengthy and comprehensive hat it is only occasionally reprinted anywhere, despite its historical significance.
Bell Hooks and John Ashbery have certainly written better work elsewhere. But it is nice to see James Harvey and Stuart Klawans, both so underrated, here given pride of place. And having Libby Gelman-Waxner in a book of this kind is certainly a victory for gay incursion into the canon. James Baldwin on LADY SINGS THE BLUES and Paul Schrader's "Notes on Film Noir" would alone make a great book, and there are literally dozens of others of equal quality. Gee, that Renata Adler could sure bite back, couldn't she? I don't remember her as so aerbic as she is here about Richard Brooks' film of IN COLD BLOOD. Talk about cold blooded, she's the kind of writer about whom I used to think, admiringly, "She's so New York," when I meant, acidic.
Fast and reasonable.......2006-07-06
I was surprised, first of all, that the book was available. It had been published the day before. I was also surprised at how fast it came--only about 3 days. And, of course, the price was terrific!
Gift for a grandchild.......2006-07-05
The book was selected as a gjft because it seemed to be an excellent choice for a grandchild (age 19) who is very interested in all aspects of film.
Movies are our(US) great cultural form.......2006-06-06
A popular entertainment that sometimes aspires to...and occasionally achieves the status of art. Criticism has always been a stressed and intricate exercise, something that few reviewers manage to excel at ...and those who do may come to regret it.(Just ask a few of Ammie's top reviewers)
The problem is, (stated in AMC) "the job of the American film critic is complicated by the fact that virtually all Americans regard themselves as astute judges of movies." This is because we've all seen so many films in theaters and on TV, but moreover it's really because reviewing combines an activity that almost everybody does...watching movies. And with an activity that almost everybody thinks they can do...writing. The truth is that almost nobody has seen as many movies of such widely varying quality as film critics have, and writing turns out to be harder than it looks..
The movies have been a prime subject for successive generations of American writers who, in response, have produced an extraordinary body of work--writing known for its craft, passion, restless curiosity, sparkling wit and, often, defiance of accepted conventions. Edited by renowned essayist Phillip Lopate is joined on the panel by film critics Richard Schickel, Kenneth Turan and Manohla Dargis....for a roundtable discussion of film criticism as a vibrant art form.
The daunting task of how do we give constructive criticism without appearing phony or cushioning the criticism to a point where the buyer does not take it seriously? Its not easy. Being critical takes time and practice...that is, if you want your criticism to be presented in a positive way and used effectively.
All of this and more are discussed within the binding of AMC.
Product Description
Olive Thomas was one of Hollywood's first true movie stars. Born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, in 1894, she moved to New York at age sixteen and began to pursue an acting career. By 1915, she had landed a job as one of Ziegfeld's famous "Follies" girls. Before long her beauty was discovered by Hollywood, where she quickly became one of the biggest names in motion pictures. Her marriage to film star Jack Pickford further enhanced her popularity. Olive's death by poison on September 10, 1920, created a media circus. This biography begins with Olive's birth, follows her trip to stardom, and covers in detail the circumstances surrounding her mysterious death at age 25. Rare and beautiful photographs and a complete filmography are included.
Customer Reviews:
Well Worth A Read.......2007-08-24
I certainly enjoyed this book. The vicious reviewers love to hack up other people's style of writing and research. They miss the point. That being said, kudos to Vogel for her great book. Olive Thomas was a very enigmatic figure in silent movies and her tragic end worth reading about. I love how Vogel leaves the reader the chance to decide how it all really ended. The book is focused and very in depth. Really enjoyed it. It's not a long read and that's better for stars of the silent era that fans don't remember. When they are not too long, readers really do get a better fix on them. If I could give Vogel and this book more than 5 Stars I would!
Worthwhile.......2007-07-25
As being pretty much the ONLY Olive Thomas biography out there, I can't really say anything bad about it. The book is well written, and there are some very lovely pictures of Olive. But the magazine article quoting got to be too much because it was on every page.
AT LAST! Regaining an almost lost star........2007-06-12
There are so many interesting actors and actresses who have been among the most famous people and have been called great stars at their time which are now almost forgotten in the sands of time.
One of them is beautiful Olive Thomas (1894-1920)- the original Flapper-girl. Her name would probably be completely unknown had not fate provided an early death for her at the young age of 25. Yet most of her films are indeed forgotten or actually lost and have hardly been watched by anybody for more than 85 years.
This book helps to trace the life and career of the charming Follies-girl, the highly gifted movie actress and wife to Mary Pickford's little brother Jack. It gives insight into her life and tries to sketch her personality. Her mysterious death is extensively dealt with as well and you may find an answer for yourself among all the different stories offered regarding what really had happened in that fatal night in Paris when Olive Thomas met her fate.
A very well researched and well written biography with many photos and interesting anecdotes. A biography that has been overdue for decades. Now at last there is a book about this outstanding silent star. And hopefully it will help to keep her name and face from falling into oblivion or being merely remembered for her tragic early death.
Not Worth the Price.......2007-05-01
Olive Thomas is a mystery in modern times to those who are familiar with her story. She began on the Ziegfeld stage as one of the most talked about beauties. Her looks led her to the silver screen where she was hailed as the princess of Selznick Studios. She married into Hollywood royalty when she wed rambunctious Jack Pickford who eventually was the only source for clues to her demise. Thomas died at age 25 thanks to swallowing mercury bichloride pills in a Paris hotel during their second honeymoon. Whether this was a suicide, a murder, or an accident is left to history.
Also included at the end of Olive's story is a filmography for her career including synopsis, cast lists, and the status of the film today.
One major flaw with this book is that Vogel seems unfocused. There is a lot of information about Jack Pickford and Marilyn Miller, information that really has little to do with Thomas. The story jumps around chronologically and suggests many different conclusions to Thomas' death, but no solid explanation. Also, her early life is barely touched upon; her stage and screen career and early death are the focus. Granted, the information is valuable because so little is available, but the format of the book is disappointing, especially for its price. Vogel seemingly did not intend to create the definitive biography on Thomas as she often isolates her information to a time period. She references the "recent" release of The Flapper on DVD and has a fascination with translating dollar amounts into modern prices.
This book is certainly entertaining, though brief, but hardly stands as a worthy evaluation of Olive Thomas' career.
Terrific Tribute To A Forgotten Star.......2007-04-07
Olive Thomas must be thrilled that 87 years after her death there is finally such a wonderful tribute to her. This biography tells you everything you need to know about her rise to fame, her sad marriage to Jack Pickford, her mysterious final hours, and even where you can catch a glimpse of her ghost! After you have finished reading it you feel like you got to know the real Olive. Her fans won't be disappointed and classic movie buffs will love learning about this tragic star. It's an easy book to read filled with rare photos and a very detailed filmography. It's worth every penny of the price.
I would also recommend Michelle's latest book Hollywood Blondes: Golden Girls of the Silver Screen
Book Description
Louise Brooks has become one of the most spectacular icons of early cinema. Her distinctive "bob" haircut looks as modern as they did when she first appeared in films in 1925. Louise Brooks was born on November 14, 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas, and by eighteen had established herself as a dancer with the Ziegfeld Follies, and was receiving film offers from both MGM and Paramount. In 1928, she starred in William Wellman's Beggars of Life. Meanwhile she was mingling with the high and mighty of Hollywood, having a passionate affair with Charlie Chaplin, spending weekends at William Randolph Hearst's castle and captivating such men as William S. Paley, the founder of CBS. Her brief, yet spectacular role in Howard Hawks' A Girl in Every Port impressed G.W. Pabst, the German maestro who was seeking an actress for his upcoming production, Pandora's Box. He rejected Marlene Dietrich in favor of Brooks, who went to Berlin and made not only Pandora's Box but also Diary of a Lost Girl, forever ensuring her status as a screen icon.This exquisitely produced album celebrates Lulu with rare film footage stills, private photos, letters, interviews, and text by renowned film critic Peter Cowie, exploring this influential cult figure and abiding symbol of the Jazz Age.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-08-10
I too rate this book five stars. Louise Brooks fans are so hungry for new information about her they will rate practically anything new about her five stars - but this one deserves it. More photo than text, many of the photos are movie stills, but there are some candid shots of her, including some that I have not seen before, a few of which alone make the book worth the price.
There appear to be a few minor errors of fact, such as page 144, where the author makes reference to Buck Rogers, but he obviously means Buck Jones. None of the several such errors are significant and do not detract from the quality of this work.
One interesting line in this book, pages 209-210 quotes Miss Brooks as saying she had not seen Charlie Chaplin since 1928. If correct, that differs from the biography which implies they did not see each other after their affair in 1925. If this author is correct (and it is plausible, since Miss Brooks was in Hollywood in 1928 and presumably so was Chaplin), how many times did they see each other after 1925, and what, if anything did they do together?
I marvel at how much we don't know about Miss Brooks. I'm waiting for some one to publish her diaries, although I am a firm believer that diaries are private and should not be published without the permission of the writer (which is not possible in this case), but I think such a publication would give us a fascinating and insightful look at this extraordinary legend.
Finally, I am most grateful to this author for sharing his knowledge and experiences about Louise Brooks with the rest of us. It's great reading!
This book is worth the money.......2007-03-14
I love this book. The text is fascinating and the pictures are great. I love the big books with nice pictures they have out on some stars now, and this one is just great. If you like the "coffee table" sort of books about the stars another good one is Century Girl by Lauren Redniss, about the life of Doris Eaton Travis. The whole thing is like a beautiful collage!
Large Format Lulu!!.......2007-02-23
Louise Brooks finally gets the beautifully produced book she deserves.
Great selection of photos.....large format book.....
Five stars from me!
lulu lives on.......2007-02-19
This is an excellent book for those of us that enjoy silent movies. It is filled with wonderful photographs of this too little appreciated (in her day) actress. I highly recommend it.
I can't believe I am the first to review!?.......2007-02-11
far more qualified people can comment on the contents of this book. All I can say is this is the definitive collection of images of Brooks. This with Barry Paris' biography and you have it all.
Average customer rating:
- One of the greatest books on the silent age
- An Incredibly Thorough Look at the Silent Film
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An Evening's Entertainment: The Age of the Silent Feature Picture, 1915-1928 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 3)
Richard Koszarski
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Transformation of Cinema, 1907-1915 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 2)
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The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931 (History of the American Cinema, 4)
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The Emergence of Cinema: The American Screen to 1907 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 1)
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ASIN: 0520085353 |
Book Description
The silent cinema was America's first modern entertainment industry, a complex social, cultural, and technological phenomenon that swept the country in the early years of the twentieth century. Richard Koszarski examines the underlying structures that made the silent-movie era work, from the operations of eastern bankers to the problems of neighborhood theater musicians. He offers a new perspective on the development of this major new industry and art form and the public's response to it.
Customer Reviews:
One of the greatest books on the silent age.......2006-11-28
This is a must have for any film buff . This volume is endlessly fascinating as it covers all areas of the silent film age from the studios to the theatres and everything in between. The author speaks in a factual style without being dry and the photo's all serve to illustrate the text. I have seen and read an endless amount of books on film being a dye-in-the -wool film fanatic all my life and this book stands amongst the most informative, fascinating well researched volumes I have ever seen. You know you love a book when you can't put the darn thing down, which was the case with this one.
An Incredibly Thorough Look at the Silent Film.......2002-08-05
Don't be fooled by the slimness of this book. It is packed with information and is extremely useful in giving the reader a view of the American film industry in the heyday of the silent era.
One can read not only about popular genres and movie stars, but about how the studios came into existance (and Koszarski presents this in a clear, understandable way), and how movies were shown to the public, including the legendary "dream palace" movie theaters.
I am left breathless by this book. Was there an aspect of movies in the 1920s that Koszarski overlooked? If so, it must be unimportant. He mastered an incredible amount of information and presented it very clearly and concisely here. Highly recommended to all interested in the American film industry.
Book Description
Combining film history and social history, Kevin Brownlow surveys the treatment of contemporary social problems by film directors and producers in the early part of the century. This is the definitive history of silent films, documenting many that have been lost or forgotten.
Customer Reviews:
MR. BROWNLOW DOES IT AGAIN.......2000-01-13
Another awesome achievement by Kevin Brownlow. A fascinating and informative document for everyone who cherishes the silent film era.
Another must-have book from Kevin Brownlow!.......1999-02-14
This is a fabulous book, covering some of the more risque elements of the silent film era, as well as covering political issues. Loved Mr. Brownlow's coverage of HYPOCRITES (1915), a Lois Weber film which exists but is unfortunately as yet inaccessible on video. Can't wait for his Mary Pickford coffee table book to come out, hopefully in the next few months!
Book Description
Patrice Petro challenges the conventional assessment of German film history, which sees classical films as responding solely to male anxieties and fears. Exploring the address made to women in melodramatic films and in popular illustrated magazines, she shows that Weimar Germany had a commercially viable female audience, fascinated with looking at images that called traditional representations of gender into question.
Interdisciplinary in her approach. Petro interweaves archival research with recent theoretical debates to offer not merely another view of the Weimar cinema but also another way of looking at Weimar film culture. Women's modernity, she suggests, was not the same as men's modernism, and the image of the city street in film and photojournalism reveals how women responded differently from men to the political, economic, and psychic upheaval of their times.
Book Description
The magic of the silent screen, illuminated by the recollections of those who created it.
Customer Reviews:
It stands the test of time.......2007-06-23
It is a wonderful thing that this book is back in print. I got my copy a few years ago when I came across a huge street sale on 5th Avenue in NYC - the Gotham Book Mart had a space, and there was a cloth-bound, third printing (1969) edition of "The Parade's Gone By." I paid $27.50, but I would've paid twice that, as I had been looking for the book for some time.
This is, indeed, one of the definitive books about the silent era. Kevin Brownlow is a true scholar of the period, and his affection for this long-gone medium is both apparent and enjoyable to read. Many other books about silent film are weighted towards the stars and directors - Brownlow's book certainly has its fair share of that, as it should - but he explores lesser known areas of the industry, such as cameramen and filming techniques, music during production, stunts, art direction, scenario, editing, and a fascinating and insightful discussion of the melodramatic acting style of the period. Brownlow tries to understand silent films through the eyes of audiences contemporary to the period, not as audiences 40 years later (or today) would view them. This is, indeed, one of the secrets to enjoying silent films. And this feeling is captured by the many interviews of those who worked in the industry in those days.
The photographs throughout the book are quite interesting and informative - not the standard photos we see repeated over and over in other silent film books.
This book will give anyone quite an education in silent film, and deserves a place on the shelf of everyone who is interested in this wonderful and lost medium. You can't have my cloth-bound 1969 edition, but in any form the book is worth having. (Other reviewers' complaints about Clara Bow aside.) Check out also "Hollywood: The Pioneers" by Brownlow and John Kobal, a companion to the documentary series made by them over 25 years ago.
Other books I recommend:
The three volumes of "History of the American Cinema" series entitled,
"The Emergence of Cinema, The American Screen to 1907" by Charles Musser, one of the most engrossing histories of the evolution of the industry and art form you'll ever read,
"The Transformation of Cinema, 1907-1915" by Eileen Bowser, and
"An Evening's Entertainment, The Age of the Silent Feature Picture, 1915-1928" by Richard Koszarski.
These books provide an extremely comprehensive look at all aspects of the industry from its inception, discussing cameras, projectors, film stock, editing, tinting, intertitles, film companies, distribution & exhibition, patents and legal issues, as well as the films themselves. Some may find them rather pedantic - they aren't "light" reads, but are certainly for the serious silent film student...
And, of course, William K. Everson's "American Silent Film," one of the standards...
Also, a rather fascinating and personal history of silent film by James Card, the first curator of the film archive at George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. His book is entitled, "Seductive Cinema, The Art of Silent Film." James Card started this film archive with his own personal collection of about 800 titles; today George Eastman House has over 8,000 silent films in its archive, many of which is the only surviving print in the world. Card met many of the giants of the industry, and discusses his own personal interaction with them - his discussion of Josef von Sternberg is rather humorous. And Card's story about how, in the mid-1940's, he rescued the only surviving print of Herbert Brenon's "Peter Pan" from certain destruction is worth the purchase price...
Lastly, "Silent Cinema" by Paolo Cherchi Usai. This book is intended more as an introduction to and study of film preservation, but as such, it contains information about the industry, techniques, and materials used in producing films 75+ years ago that you won't find in many other places, and well illustrated.
Happy reading, and keep silent films alive!
SERIOUSLY INCOMPLETE.......2007-01-09
THIS BOOK DOES NOT EVEN MENTION CLARA BOW, ALONG WITH GRETA GARBO, THE GREATEST ACTRESS OF THE SILENT FILM ERA, AND ONE OF OUR GREATEST EVER. BUY SOMETHING ELSE OR YOU ARE BEING SERIOUSLY MISLED BY THE DIRECTION THE AUTHOR TAKES.
Silence is golden.......2006-11-10
Kevin Brownlows book is the benchmark for anyone who wishes to study American silent films. The reason I say this is because he talks to the people who made the films - directors, camermen, editors, etc. He gives an insiders view on how the films were made.
In 1980 Thames Television (UK) issued a box set about the history of American silent movies titled Hollywood - Kevin Brownlow was a major contributor to this series and if you are lucky enough to have the videos and this book you should know the complete story of American silent films.
Excellent.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH SILENT PICTURES FROM THIS BOOK.......2006-03-25
When I first read the hardback version of this book back in the 1970's in film school, I fell in love with silent pictures. Kevin Brownlow's writing enabled me to visualize films I had never seen, and feel like I was there when American cinema was being birthed. His descriptions of films like Douglas Fairbanks' Robin Hood caused me to search for decades for copies of these films, just so I could glimpse the breathtaking beauty he describes. I wished I had been born during that era so I could have been a part of that "parade."
Unfortunately, as happens with most things that are overly romanticized, one day I really was able to see Robin Hood when it finally came out on DVD. It had been fully restored and was a perfect representation of the original. I was gravely disappointed by what I saw.
When I read Brownlow's descriptions of "tinting," I had visualized the kind of tinting that is done in still photography, which looks delicate and subtle. I thought of Broken Blossoms in those tones, and could only imagine how beautiful it was. Unfortunately, in the silent era, what they called tinting is what we today would call adding a color filter. When they wanted a night scene, they cast it in blue; when it was dawn, they made it yellow; when it was sunset, they made it orange; etc. I'm not talking about a subtle hint of color - I'm talking about one strong color that covered the whole screen. I was shocked by this technique, because I thought it destroyed the photography.
His description of the music of the era was that it was something wonderful. The music in Robin Hood is repetitive and never-ending. I found myself longing for a break from it; but it never occurred.
He describes Fairbank's acting as superb; I found it overly theatrical and almost carnivalesque. He was certainly athletic; but he carries it to the extreme of almost seeming like a circus performer, rather than an actor. Other aspects were equally disappointing.
I know that the silent era laid the foundation upon which our entire modern movie industry - art and science alike - was built. I fully appreciate the contributions of all the talented people who came before. But it was, after all, only a beginning, and not the parade - certainly not the golden era - that those who lived then would have us believe. I think that Sunset Boulevard adequately depicts the delusions with which many of the tarnished stars of that era lived.
I appreciate Mr. Brownlow's writing, which is very entertaining and interesting. There is no question that the photographs in his book are authentic and wonderful - almost better than the films they depict. There is not even a question that the era he describes was anything but astounding. But he does present it in a very romanticized light, and it does cause one to long for something that probably never existed, at least not in that idyllic form.
Nevertheless, I still believe this book to be the most definitive work on the silent era in motion pictures.
Waitsel Smith
great book but where is Clara Bow?.......2005-11-16
Great book and I haven't read a better one except that Kevin had the opportunity to interview Clara Bow and he didn't. Shame on you, Kevin! Shame on you! He talked to gaffers and anyone else still alive who was in silent movies but he missed Clara who's bright personality and emotions came alive on screen. She was so energetic and lively! So brilliant in her out going personality that couldn't be missed on screen! No, your Brooklyn accent didn't bother me at all Clara. Luckily Louise Brooks has brought Clara's real talent and one of a kind on screen personality back in her interviews and books and saved Clara from the dustbins of history. Clara's memories of her movie days are gone forever but Kevin could have had them recorded forever. But because his negative opinions overshadowed the truth of Clara's career it is too late. This is a book not to be missed but Kevin was slammed by so many people because he didn't respect Clara and excluded her from his book. Good thing he didn't feel the same way about countless others like Anita Page or so many others. Luckily Clara will be kept alive by imitators such as Betty Boop. Clara was the original flapper, rest in peace, you aren't totally forgotten.
Book Description
Explore the traces of early Hollywood hidden within Charlie Chaplin’s timeless films. This stunning work of cinematic archeology combines Chaplin’s movie images with archival photographs, vintage maps, and scores of then-and-now comparison photographs to conjure up the silent-movie era from an entirely new perspective. By describing the historical settings found in such Chaplin classics as The Kid, City Lights, and Modern Times, Bengtson illuminates both Chaplin’s genius and the evolving city that served as a backdrop for his art. Part time machine, part detective story, Silent Traces presents a unique look at Chaplin’s work, and a captivating glimpse into Hollywood’s most romantic era.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Have!.......2007-03-21
Add me to the list of people raving about this book. If you have the Keaton book (Silent Echoes) you'll love this one too. I can't imagine a Chaplin fan (or any fan of classic movies) who wouldn't want to add this to their collection. That "Add To Shopping Cart" button is calling your name!
Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood through the Films of Charlie Chaplin.......2007-03-09
Excellent book with great number of photographies and explained of very detailed form. I recommend them for buying futures.
Part Two of a Trilogy? One Can Only Hope!.......2007-01-11
In 1999, I posted a 4-star Amazon review of John Bengtson's "Silent Echoes--The Films of Buster Keaton." While I praised the book as a masterpiece of urban archaeology, I think...at the time...I ultimately considered it to be an accomplished curiosity. It's not and, if I had it to do over, I'd opt for a 5+ rating. "Silent Echoes," and now "Silent Traces," are ingenious works of film scholarship that use environment and architecture to map the unique genius of their respectives subjects. At the time of the "Silent Echoes" publication, I lived in California and made a number of trips to LA armed with my now dog-eared copy of the book. (The related website was an equally dazzling revelation in unearthing long-lost LA.) The more I used the book to guide me through the landscape of Keaton's filmography, the more it became apparent that Bengtson was, in fact, charting the manner in which Keaton spun comic genius from the world around him. He constructed a unique world view from the pieces of the real world...a now quaint and unrecognizable LA of a past age more akin to the gentleness of spirit that imbued his work. If nothing else, the book was worth it for its view into the now faded glories of Venice Beach. I'm now on the East Coast, so I'll have less opportunity to trace Chaplin's journey through old LA, but that doesn't make the book any less rewarding. Now, we can only hope that, six or seven years down the road, Mr. Bengtson does the same service to Harold Lloyd, thus completing a study of the Holy Trinity of silent comedy. The rating for the Keaton and Chaplin books: Not enough stars in the heavens!
AN ABSOLUTE MUST!!!!.......2006-12-18
Along with Bengtson's previous SILENT ECHOES (Buster Keaton) this is absolutely amazing stuff!!! I've been fascinated by this before & after photography since purchasing several Dover books (NEW YORK THEN AND NOW; WASHINGTON...etc)in the 1970's (still available at amazon) & Frassanito's series of Civil War books (GETTYSBURG...ANTIETAM, ETC...1980's) that show modern views of battlefield sites (also still avail...). But Bengtson clearly is the undisputed master of such "STUFF". The detective work involved in locating the actual sites where Chaplin (& Keaton) filmed their masterpieces is nothing less than astounding! Why isn't this guy working for our government on some top-secret spy project? I was & am simply blown away by Bengtson's books! I've revisited Chaplin's & Keaton's films & have enjoyed them even more (if that can possibly be) thanks to Bengtson. What's next...Lloyd?...Sennett& Keystone?...Fatty?
AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE FOR FANS OF CHAPLIN, KEATON & SILENT SCREEN COMEDY!!! BUY AT ALL COSTS.
Wonderful Silent Film History.......2006-11-02
It's not often that Charlie Chaplin follows Buster Keaton and damn if I know why, but in this case neither Chaplin nor his fans should mind. John Bengtson succeeds brilliantly at the sort of detective work Sherlock Holmes might have chosen with Moriarty truly gone and Holmes' restless curiosity turned to silent film history. I've lived in Los Angeles all my life and it's fascinating to learn how often I have crossed paths with Chaplin in so many familiar places. The area around the Old Plaza and Olvera Street, now including the block of Ord Street leading down to Philippe the Original, has an expanded and sublime new meaning now that I know around which corner Chaplin and Keaton were each chased by police and just where the little tramp hugged Jackie Coogan.
Average customer rating:
- Film students: read this series
- Scholarly and detailed history
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The Emergence of Cinema: The American Screen to 1907 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 1)
Charles Musser
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Transformation of Cinema, 1907-1915 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 2)
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An Evening's Entertainment: The Age of the Silent Feature Picture, 1915-1928 (History of the American Cinema, Vol 3)
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The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931 (History of the American Cinema, 4)
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Grand Design: Hollywood as a Modern Business Enterprise, 1930-1939 (History of the American Cinema , No 5)
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Boom and Bust: American Cinema in the 1940s (History of the American Cinema, 6)
ASIN: 0520085337 |
Book Description
The origins of motion picture technologies are described and analyzed by Charles Musser in this lavishly illustrated volume. He considers social and economic as well as aesthetic aspects of the beginnings of movie making.
Customer Reviews:
Film students: read this series.......2001-12-26
This is an excellent, comprehensive and well-written analysis of the early cinema. It is written including views of the study of film history as well as numerous concrete examples of films for every point made by the author.
Even if you're not a film student, check out this book. It's so well written that one can easily fall into the interesting history of an emerging art form and industry. The origins of cinema reach far back into the 17th century and, considering the enormous impact that film has on everyone's life, the origins of this most important art form of the past century are vitally important to you.
Scholarly and detailed history.......1997-10-04
The Emergence of Cinema chronicles the very earliest history of cinema with focus on the development of film in America. It begins with the earliest technology of picture projection, and explores with great thoroughness each development in the technology and business of film. It is wonderfully illustrated, and clearly written, so that even the casual student of film history will not be confused or bored. This is a work whose peer I have never seen. If the rest of the series keeps up with the quality here, it will be basic to any film library. Perhaps the depth here will be to great for the truly casual reader; hardly any films here will find their way onto video.
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