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See also: Film Criticism, Theory & History New and Featured; On Individual Films and Media > Film Criticism Backlist Designing Dreams: Modern Architecture in the Movies Donald Albrecht In one of the most unusual and rewarding developments in the popular arts in the twentieth century, the pioneering work of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier became accessible to the public through the perfectly suited medium of the movies. This beautifully illustrated book documents this cross-pollenation as evidenced by Hollywood movies of the 1920's and 1930's. Softcover, 204 pp. $49.95. Novels into Film George Bluestone First published in 1957, this seminal work of film theory analyzes the process by which novels are transformed into films. Beginning with a discussion of the aesthetic limits of both the novel and the film, George Bluestone goes on to offer close readings of six films based on novels of serious literary merit: The Informer, The Grapes of Wrath, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejustice, The Ox-Bow Incident, and Madame Bovary. Softcover 237 pp. $32.95. Hollywood's Revolutionary Decade Charles Champlin In 1968 Hollywood adopted a ratings system that revolutionized the form and content of movies, allowing them to explore areas like sex, politics, and violence with bold visual images, shocking language, and new ideas about how films are made. As American movies in the 1970s captured a society in upheaval, Charles Champlin captured the movies in his reviews. Here are 50 reviews of what he considers the most important films of that decade. Softcover, $23.95. The Undercut Reader Critical Writings on Artists' Film and Video Nina Danino & Michael Maziere This Reader is a collection of writing and visual works from Undercut, the only UK magazine dedicated to artists' film and video from 1980 to 1990, combined with newly-commissioned articles by leading critics in the field. Undercut critically explored the aesthetics and politics of film and video practices within the context of visual arts and independent cinema. Softcover 277 pp. $41.95. Experimental Cinema: The Film Reader Wheeler Winston Dixon & Gwendolyn Audrey Foster Divided into four section -- The Orgins of the American Avant-Garde, The 1960s Experimental Cinema Explosion, Structuralism in the 1970s, and Alternative Cinemas -- this anthology of essays illuminates the key periods in the evolution of experimental cinema. Filmmakers discussed include: Stan Brakhage, Michael Snow, Andy Warhol, Kenneth Anger, Hollis Frampton, Jack Smith, and many others. Softcover, 356 pp. $34.95. The Emergence of Cinematic Time Mary Ann Doane It this ambitious and highly original work, Mary Ann Doane examines the connection between cinema and temporality during the late modern (late nineteenth and early twentieth century) period. Drawing from philosophy, history, art history, and film studies, this scholarly text will provide fascinating reading for anyone seriously interested in visual culture. Softcover, 288 pp. $41.95. Only Entertainment Richard Dyer The idea of entertainment is a guiding principle for both makers and audiences of films, television programs and other media. Yet, while entertainment is often derided or praised, the concept itself is often taken for granted. Only Entertainment explores entertainment as entertainment, asking how and whether an emphasis on the primacy of pleasure sets it apart from other forms of art. Softcover, $34.95.   The Great Movies Roger Ebert " This is a wonderful book, an appreciation of the greatest movies by the greatest movie enthusiast - and also the shrewdest, the most humane and clear-sighted. I read this book with pleasure, enlightenment, and a desire to see many of the movies again, because I had missed what Roger saw." Paul Theroux Hardcover, $41.95. I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie Roger Ebert New from Roger Ebert...More scathing than a thumbs down, more inflamed than burning film in an overheated projector, such are the reviews that Roger Ebert has penned about bad movies. I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie collects more than two hundred of this most biting, sarcastic and funny critiques, selected from those unlucky movies that garnered a rating of a mere two stars or less. Softcover, $22.95. Roger Ebert's Book of Film Roger Ebert From Tolstoy to Tarantino, the finest writing from a century of film. Roger Ebert has selected and introduced an international treasury of more than one hundred selections that touch on every aspect of film-making and film going. There are the stars (Capote on Monroe), the directors (John Huston on himself), the makers and shakers (Darryl F. Zanuck), the critics and theorists (Pauline Kael) and the novelists (F. Scott Fitzgerald, Larry McMurtry). Hardcover, $44.95. Back to top

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The Haunted Smile The Story of Jewish Comedians in America Lawrence J. Epstein The Mark Brothers, Jack Benny, Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason, Rodney Dangerfield, Mel Brooks, Alan King, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, and Jerry Seinfeld are just a few of the Jewish-Americans who have entered the canon of great comedians. Bringing together biographical sketches and sample routines from the very best Jewish-American comedians, author Lawrence J. Epstein offers us a deep and subtle understanding of how Jewish culture and American openness gave birth to a new style of entertainment. Softcover, 356 pp., $23.00. Miller's Movie Collectibles Rudy & Barbara Franchi This book is both a catalogue of movie memorabilia and a beginner's guide to the hobby and business of collecting. More than 300 photographs show wide range of movie collectibles, from Gone With The Wind posters, to Dorothy's ruby slippers. Hardcover, $36.95. The Cineaste Interviews on the Art and Politics of the Cinema Dan Georgakas & Lenny Rubenstein The art and politics of the cinema have been the twin concerns of Cineaste ever since its founding in 1967. This collection of provocative interviews, culled from the magazine's archives, gives an international perspective on the politics of filmmaking. Softcover, 396 pp. $27.95.  Moving Pictures Torben Grodal A bold new theoretical account of the role of emotions and cognition in producing the aesthetics effects of film and television genres. It argues that film genres are mental structures which integrate sensations, emotions, and actions, activating the viewer's body and mind. Highly original, the work will interest scholars in a wide range of fields from aesthetics to psychology in addition to researchers in the area of film and television theory. Softcover, 306 pp. $43.50. Heartbreak and Vine Woody Haut A companion piece to Woody Haut's two acclaimed histories of post-war American crime fiction, Pulp Culture and Neon Noir, Heartbreak and Vine tells the story of the intimate links between crime fiction and films. Recounting the experiences of several screenwriters, this book provides an entertaining and elucidating alternate history of Hollywood. Softcover, 312 pp. $29.95.   Film, Television And The Left: 1950-1970 Bert Hogenkamp This book is a comprehensive survey of the left's approach to films and television from the period after the second world war until the beginnings of the growth of independent cinema in the late 1960s. Softcover, $37.95.   The American Horror Film: An Introduction Reynold Humphries Encompassing a rich history -- from Bela Lugosi to the Blair Witch Project -- The American Horror Film surveys the subject without sacrificing insight for breadth. The focus throughout is on the major filmmakers and pertinent critical approaches. An ideal introduction for the uninitiated, and a fresh resource for fans of the genre. Softcover, 216 pp. $34.95. The Bad Mirror Jack Hunter These 18 chapters, culled from each of the 18 volumes in the Creation Cinema library, represent the best in scholarship on the subject of cult, exploitation, and underground cinema. Subjects of focus run the gamut, from "meat movies" and beat cinema, to freak films and hard-core pornography. Softcover, 282 pp. $20.99. Making Pictures A Century of European Cinematography IMAGO Revel in the extraordinary beauty of cinema's most remarkable images in this stunning tribute to one-hundred years of European cinematography. In addition to a comprehensive historical analysis of the cinematographer's art, this unique volume also includes 100 incisive analyses of key films in the evolution of film technology and visual expression. A wonderous book, Making Pictures is illustrated cover-to-cover with over 500 photographs, both in colour and black & white. Hardcover, 481 pp. $100.00. Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust Annette Insdorf In this third edition of Indelible Shadows, Annette Insdorf continues to investigate questions raised by films about the Holocaust; for instance, how does one make a movie that is both morally just and marketable? This intelligent account analyzes theoretical issues and provides sensitive readings of individual films. Softcover, 410 pp. $41.95. Myth, Mind and the Screen John Izod Mind, Myth and Screen is a systematic attempt to apply Jungian theory to the analysis of films as well as a variety of cultural icons and products. Through this examination, John Izod shows how Jungian theory can bring new tools to film and media studies and new ways of understanding screen images and narratives. Softcover 237 pp. $36.95. ScreenPlay: Cinema/ Videogames/ Interfaces Geoff King & Tanya Krzywinska The diverse essays in this collection investigate the relationship between cinema and videogames, and the extent to which the tools of film analysis can be applied to games, in particular how the pleasures -- and frustrations -- of computer games can be compared with those of cinema. Softcover, 229 pp. $36.95. Driving Visions Exploring the Road Movie David Laderman From the visionary rebellion of Easy Rider to the reinvention of home in The Straight Story, the road movie has established itself as an autonomous film genre. In this book-length analysis, David Laderman begins by identifying the road movie's defining features and then proceeds to trace the historical and aesthetic evolution of the genre through a discussion of key films. Solftcover 322 pp. $41.95 Watching Movies Rick Lyman Collected from the pages of the New York Times, this anthology of interviews allows several of Hollywood's best actors, directors, screenwriters, and producers to reflect on the films that they consider seminal or influencial on his or her career. The chapters offer a broad scope of perspectives: from Ron Howard on The Graduate, to John Travolta on Yankee Doodle Dandy. Softcover, 262 pp. $19.95. Cinema 16: Documents Towards a History of the Film Society Scott MacDonald This collection of letters, programs, notes, and conversations situates the rich history of Cinema 16 in the context of post-war American culture. The institution's vital role in supporting independent filmmaking is elucidated in detail. Softcover, 468 pp. $37.95. The End of the World The Apocalyptic Imagination in Film & Television John W. Martens Apocalyptic films imagine the end of the world, and explore the nature of good and evil. By examining films ranging from The Exorcist to Mad Max, from Blade Runner to End of Days, this book proposes that while apocalyptic films rely on ancient apocalyptic texts, they alter them in such a way as to address our own fears and anxieties at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Softcover 267 pp. $24.95. American Gangster Cinema: From Little Caesar to Pulp Fiction Fran Mason Touching on issues as diverse as masculinity, consumerism, technology, and "the American Dream", this book provides a fascinating look at the evolution of gangster films. Films discussed include: Scarface, Goodfellas, The Public Enemy, Miller's Crossing, The Godfather Trilogy, Reservoir Dogs, and several others. Softcover, 184 pp. $33.95. Black City Cinema African American Urban Experiences in Film Paula J. Massood Paula J. Massood writes with passion and intelligence in this astute examination of the reoccuring significance of the urban landscape in African American cinema. Films discussed include Hallelujah, Cabin in the Sky, Cotton Comes to Harlem, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, Superfly, She's Gotta Have It, Do The Right Thing, Shaft (2000), and several others. Softcover, 268 pp. $32.95. The Big Tomorrow Lary May In this daring reexamination of the connections between national politics and Hollywood movies, Lary May offers a fresh interpretation of American culture from the New Deal through the Cold War -- one in which a populist, egalitarian ethos found itself eventually supplanted by a far different view of the nation. Softcover, 348 pp. $29.95.   From Moscow to Madrid Postmodern Cities, European Cinema Ewa Mazierska & Laura Rascaroli Eclectic and interdisciplinary, From Moscow to Madrid engages with diverse films and tackles questions about postmodernity and about the transformation of European cities. A fascinating exploration with relevance to Film Studies, Urban Theory, Cultural and Social Studies, and Politics. Softcover, 260 pp. $36.95. Underground U.S.A.: Filmmaking Beyond the Hollywood Canon Xavier Mendik and Jay Schneider Underground U.S.A. offers a fascinating overview of this area of maverick movie-making by considering the links between the experimental and exploitation traditions of the American underground. This volume brings together leading film-writers and filmmakers who take as their focus those directors, films and genres not easily assimilated by the mainstream. Softcover, 235 pp. $32.95. How to Read a Film: Movies, Media, Multimedia James Monaco 2nd Edition. If you go to the movies, you need this book. It is the source on film and media. The book pulls together all the elements necessary to best discern all that a film is attempting to communicate. A must for buffs, students and fans. $43.95. Back to top

Genre and Contemporary Hollywood Steve Neale Focusing on Hollywood in the 1980's and 1990's, this anthology of insightful essays examines the cycles and trends exhibited in genre films. Every genre is considered: teenpics, biopics, animated films, comedies, westerns, horror films, gangster films, Shakespearian adaptations, and war films. A richly detailed introduction to the subject, ideal for students and film fans alike. Softcover, 322 pp. $41.95. An Introduction to Film Studies Third Edition Jill Nelmes An Introduction to Film Studies has established itself as a leading textbook for students of cinema. This completely revised and updated third edition guides students through the key issues and concepts in film studies and introduces some of the world's foremost national cinemas. To top it all off are 112 film stills, making this essential reading for any student of film. Softcover, 500 pp. $44.95. The Great American Playwrights on the Screen Jerry Roberts Here is a complete, up-to-date record of movie and television productions of classic and contemporary works by America's greatest playwrights. Organized in an easy-to-use A-Z format, this volume features more than 200 playwrights and compares and contrasts the adapted versions of their works. An unique resource for academics, students of drama, actors, directors, and producers. Softcover, 573 pp. $37.95. All About Thelma and Eve: Sidekicks and Third Wheels Judith Roof A meticulous rereading of Hollywood from the margins, All About Thelma and Eve offers an inventive look at female comic secondary characters who, though never on center stage, play an indispensible role in enriching and complicating the course of the narrative. Softcover, 212 pp. $28.95. How Hysterical: Identification and Resistance in the Bible and Film Eric Runions This innovative book on the relationship between the bible and cinema looks at several films alongside their analogous biblical texts. Through accessible engagement with feminist, queer, postcolonial and ideological critical theories, How Hysterical discusses the processes by which biblical and filmic texts can challenge the perceived norms that drive politics and culture. Softcover, 208 pp. $36.95. Naked Lens: Beat Cinema John Sargeant Naked Lens is a vital collection of essays and interviews focusing on the most significant interfaces between the Beat writers, Beat culture and cinema. New, updated and expanded version. Softcover, 255 pp., $32.95. Back to top

Cinema's Illusions, Opera's Allure: The Operatic Impulse in Film David Schroeder Inventor Thomas Edison originally saw the moving picture as a tool for presenting opera. While this did not become film's primary use, the influence of opera on cinema is striking. This book examines how the influence is seen in works of many contemporary and past cinematographers and directors. Hardcover, $54.95. The Age of Gold: Surrealist Cinema Robert Short The Age of God revisits the two quinessential films of Surrealist cinema -- Un Chien Andalou and L'Age d'Or -- and places them within the context of the subversive cultural movement that was Surrealism. The expertly written text is supplemented by a host of striking images which clearly illustrate the Surrealists' themes of sex, mutilation, sadism, murder, and excremental mania. Softcover, 188 pp. $26.95. The Invention of the Western Film A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half-Century Scott Simmon This exciting publication ranges across literature, visual arts, social history, ideology, and legend to provide, for the first time, and in-depth exploration of the early western. From short kinetoscopes of the 1890's through the "classic" features of the 1940's, this encyclopedic book revitalizes familiar Western icons and recovers forgotten masterworks from the genre's formative years. Softcover, 393 pp. $44.95. Silent Players Anthony Slide 100 of the best, brightest, and most unusual silent film actors and actresses are profiled in this illuminating collection of biographical and autobiographical sketches. Silent Players also offers fascinating insight into silent film performance, from makeup to acting techniques and pantomine to the role of the director. A remarkable resource for fans of the silent cinema. Hardcover, 439 pp. $65.95. Disney The First 100 Years Dave Smith & Steven Clark Disney: The First 100 Years explores the Disney story -- the story of a man, a family, and a company. You'll meet the people who helped Walt make his dreams come true, see a museum's worth of classic photos, and be there for the opening of the most famous tourist attraction on the planet. Beautifully illustrated in colour and black & white. Softcover, 214 pp. $36.00. Fleshpot Cinema's Sexual Myth Makers & Taboo Breakers Jack Stevenson Fleshpot is an indispensible guide to the alternative realms of erotic cinema, and a delirious sampling of the genres, personalities and trends that have set screens aflame since the dawn of motion pictures. This anthology of texts by an international group of experts and cult film personalities provides a fascinating and informative introduction to this multifarious subject. Softcover, 256 pp. $32.95. Land of a Thousand Balconies Jack Stevenson Most books about B-movies are straight forward genre guides, biographies or encyclopedias. Not this one. In addition to chapters on film showmen, gimmicks and cult films, Land of a Thousand Balconies documents incidents and unusual film happenings, and the special theatres and renegade exhibition spaces where they took place. It's all here, the secret history of cult cinema! Softcover, 189 pp. $29.95. Movie Blockbusters Julian Stringer Movie Blockbusters brings together leading film scholars to consider this most high-profile and culturally significant genre. Drawing on a range of critical perspectives, this book traces how and why the 'event movie' has played such a large role in the popular imagination, tracing a path from the spectacles of the silent era to the effects-laden mega hits of the digital age. Softcover 276 pp. $36.95. Guts & Glory: The Making of the American Military Image in Film Lawrence H. Suid Guts & Glory is the definitive examination of the relationship between the film industry and the United States armed services. In this expanded edition, which contains over 400 pages of new material, Suid meshes his study of the classic war films -- Wings, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Longest Day, Patton, Apocalypse Now -- with his views on the most recent additions to the genre such as, Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down , and Windtalkers. Softcover, 748 pp. $49.50. Screen Saviors: Hollywood Fictions of Whiteness Hernan Vera and Andrew M. Gordon This collaboration by a sociologist and a film critic, using the new perspective of "white studies," offers a bold critique of almost a century's worth of American film. Screen Saviors studies the way in which the social relations that we call "race" are fictionalized and pictured in the movies. Softcover, 202 pp. $37.95.   Republic of Dreams: Greenwich Village, The American Bohemia 1910-1960 Ross Wetzsteon The stories of the people and events that took place in Greenwich Village, which has been called the most significant square mile in American cultural history, are retold here in biography form by Village Voice veteran, Ross Wetzsteon. This captivating book tells the tales of such American legends as Jackson Pollock, Eugene O'Neill, and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Hardcover, $53.50.   Film and Authorship Virginia Wright Wexman During the 1960's when cinema first entered the acadamy as a serious object of study, the primary focus was on "auteurism" -- film authorship. Spanning approaches including poststructuralism, feminism, queer theory, postcolonialism, and cultural studies, the essays in this collection ask, what does auteurship look like today in light of all these developments? Includes an extensive bibliography. Softcover, 270 pp. $36.50. Cinema's Missing Children Emma Wilson Through close analysis of film, television and photographic images, and via intense engagement with difficult emotions, Cinema's Missing Children is the first major study of an area of increasingly cultural importance: the child at risk from abduction, abuse, or illness. This study makes the case for film as a reflection on reality and as a space for revealing personal and cultural anxieties. Softcover, 181 pp. $34.95. Paris Hollywood: Writing on Film Peter Wollen In this new collection of writings on film, esteemed critic/theorist/filmmaker Peter Wollen vents his opinion on a variety of fascinating issues. Included are essays about Blade Runner, Riff-Raff Realism, Architecture and Film, Jean-Luc Godard, Speed and the Cinema, John Ford, as well as many other topics. This eclectic book is both engrossing and intelligent. Softcover, 314 pp. $29.00. Back to top

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Last modified July 15, 2003 . Please note that all prices are in Canadian dollars. All prices are subject to change without notice.