Great American Film Directors: From the Flickers Through Hollywood's Golden Age

Grade 6-12 If Smith doesn't catch an audience with names such as Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, she'll hook them with movie titles such as African Queen, It's a Wonderful Life, Gold Rush , and Prizzi's Honor. The author has blended the personal stories of ten directors with explanations of film techniques and historical data to create a readable, informative book. Directors included are Frank Capra, Charles Chaplin, George Cukor, D. W. Griffith, Howard Hawks, John Huston, John Ford, Buster Keaton, Alfred Hitchcock, and Orson Welles. While the brevity of the book makes it impossible to include lengthy biographical information, Smith does relate many anecdotal points to show the wide range of personalities and interests in the film world. Two black-and-white photographs are included in each chapter. This book documents a historical perspective without falling into the textbook style of writing, making it a valuable choice for film classes. It is far more readable than Meyer's Magic in the Dark (Facts on File, 1985). Judie Porter, Media Services Center, Portsmouth School Department, R.I.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.