Historical Dictionary of American Cinema

By (author) Keith M. Booker

Hardback - £104.00

Publication date:

17 March 2011

Length of book:

508 pages

Publisher

Scarecrow Press

ISBN-13: 9780810871922

One of the most powerful forces in world culture, American cinema has a long and complex history that stretches through more than a century. This history not only includes a legacy of hundreds of important films but also the evolution of the film industry itself, which is in many ways a microcosm of the history of American society as a whole.

The Historical Dictionary of American Cinema provides broad coverage of the people, films, companies, techniques, themes, and genres that have made American cinema such a vital part of world cinema. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the history of American Cinema.
Booker (English, Univ. of Arkansas) here offers a dictionary listing genres, directors, writers, actors, and production companies that make up the backbone of American cinema. The dictionary is well laid out with cross-references and a thorough bibliography broken down by subject....A detailed chronology covers American cinema history from 1878 to 2010, and the text features a 12-page introductory essay that takes the reader from the era of silent movies through Hollywood's golden age and into the 21st century. BOTTOM LINE A solid starting point for general readers and casual movie buffs.