The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris
Directors and Directions, 1929-1968
"The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968" is a seminal work in film criticism that categorizes and evaluates American film directors from the early sound era through the 1960s. The book introduces the auteur theory to American readers, arguing that directors are the primary authors of a film, imprinting their personal vision despite varying levels of control over production. It organizes directors into tiers, from "Pantheon Directors" to "Less Than Meets the Eye," providing insightful critiques and celebrating the distinctive styles and thematic preoccupations of directors like Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, and Orson Welles, among others. This influential text has shaped both academic and popular film criticism, emphasizing the artistic integrity and authorial vision of directors in the creation of cinema.
The 3214th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1968
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 383
- Original Language
- English
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- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 2nd on Sight & Sound’s Top Five Film Books (Sight & Sound Magazine)
- Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books (Time Magazine)