A visual history of the silent film draws on Library of Congress archives to trace its evolution from the early narrative shorts of the 1890s through the full-length features of the 1920s, in an account that also cites the careers of such contributors as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, and Rudolph Valentino. 15,000 first printing. - (Baker & Taylor)
Drawing on the Library of Congress's massive collection of silent films and film memorabilia, Silent Movies explores the fascinating world of silent film, from its birth in the 1890s with the earliest narrative shorts, to the brilliant full-length features of the 1920s. The producers, directors, and actors in silent movies created an art form and established a narrative and visual style that continue to this day. At the same time, silent movies created a new kind of celebrity - the movie star - and movie executives quickly learned how valuable a marketing vehicle the early stars could be. Douglas Fairbanks, Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Harold Lloyd, John Gilbert, and dozens of others appear here in all their glory.
Silent Movies explores the birth of film technologies, including color photography and sound effects; the importance of silent movies from around the world; the innovation of marketing and promotion through posters, fan magazines, and lobby cards; the rise of the director, from D. W. Griffith to Erich von Stroheim to King Vidor; as well as the restoration work being spearheaded by the Library of Congress, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and others. Lavishly and lovingly illustrated with more than 400 posters, paper prints, film stills, and other images - most of which have never been published before - Silent Movies will take its place as the defining work on this fascinating aspect of American culture. - (Blackwell North Amer)
Drawing on the extraordinary collection of The Library of Congress, one of the greatest repositories for silent film and memorabilia, Peter Kobel has created the definitive visual history of silent film. From its birth in the 1890s, with the earliest narrative shorts, through the brilliant full-length features of the 1920s, Silent Movies captures the greatest directors and actors and their immortal films.
Silent Movies also looks at the technology of early film, the use of color photography, and the restoration work being spearheaded by some of Hollywood's most important directors, such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
Richly illustrated from the Library of Congress's extensive collection of posters, paper prints, film stills, and memorabilia -- most of which have never been in print -- Silent Movies is an important work of history that will also be a sought-after gift book for all lovers of film.
- (
Grand Central Pub)
A gorgeous, lavish history of silent movies - with more than 400 amazing images - captures the birth of film and icons like Chaplin, Garbo, Clara Bow, and Valentino.
Drawing on the extraordinary collection of The Library of Congress, one of the greatest repositories for silent film and memorabilia, Peter Kobel has created the definitive visual history of silent film. From its birth in the 1890s, with the earliest narrative shorts, through the brilliant full-length features of the 1920s, SILENT MOVIES captures the greatest directors and actors and their immortal films. SILENT MOVIES also looks at the technology of early film, the use of color photography, and the restoration work being spearheaded by some of Hollywood's most important directors, such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
Richly illustrated from the Library of Congress's extensive collection of posters, paper prints, film stills, and memorabilia-most of which have never been in print-SILENT MOVIES is an important work of history that will also be a sought-after gift book for all lovers of film. - (Hachette Book Group)
Peter Kobel is the former managing editor of Premiere magazine and has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Weekly. - (Blackwell North Amer)
Peter Kobel is the former managing editor of Premiere magazine, and has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Weekly.
Martin Scorsese is one of the most respected and influential directors working today. He also serves as president of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation.
Kevin Brownlow is a noted film historian and has written extensively on early film, including The Parade's Gone By and Behind the Mask of Innocence.
- (
Grand Central Pub)
Peter Kobel is the former managing editor of Premiere magazine, and has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Weekly. Martin Scorsese is one of the most respected and influential directors working today. He also serves as president of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation. Kevin Brownlow is a noted film historian and has written extensively on early film, including THE PARADE'S GONE BY and BEHIND THE MASK OF INNOCENCE. - (Hachette Book Group)
Library Journal Reviews
The afterword from the Library of Congress (LC) says this book's purpose is "to increase the visibility of its film collections." It does that. But as a primer on the history and glories of film's silent era, it fails. Journalist Kobel's text is shallow, disorganized, and full of errors, including those of omission and internal contradiction. A photo caption calls Theda Bara "the screen's first star," but the book's spotty A-to-Z section on "The Stars" doesn't include her, also leaving out all of silent film's geniuses of comedy (who receive insufficient coverage in the "Genres" section). Clara Bow is left "reclusive and melancholy" after 1933, with no word on her happy marriage to star Rex Bell or the last 30-odd years of her life. Predictably, the "cameras worshipped" Garbo, but her magical cameraman William Daniels is unmentioned. Some labels get stuck on the wrong person—Valentino was the "first major star to die young"—or trot out unsubstantiated gossip—Valentino had been a "petty thief." LC's images, especially those reproduced in color, are a treat for the uninitiated; few will seem rare or unique to specialists. Only for comprehensive film collections.—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal
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Publishers Weekly Reviews
For decades, silent films have been disintegrating in warehouses or lost to indifference. Director Martin Scorsese, who wrote the foreword to this book, has spearheaded the preservation movement, warning "with every foot of film that is lost, we lose a link to our culture." Kobel, longtime writer about movies, demonstrates the power of silent movies in this spectacular compilation of stills, promo materials and breathtaking posters from the Library of Congress's memorabilia collection. The visual artistry is stunning. Kobel uses these evocative images as a foundation to examine the international film industry from 1893 to 1927. Instead of a chronological treatment, he examines genres such as horror, westerns and comedy, while paying homage to the superb work of art directors, cinematographers and directors. Understandably, a significant section is devoted to actors. As Norma Desmond neatly observes in Sunset Boulevard , "We had faces then." Although early producers were loath to highlight specific actors, fearing their popularity would translate into higher salaries, fans were hungry for information about them. In this treasure trove for film buffs, Kobel details the press campaigns that created stars like Theda Bara and Rudolph Valentino, while fan magazines and newspapers deemed them American royalty. (Nov.)
[Page 54]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.