The Film Factory: Russian and Soviet Cinema in Documents 1896-1939

by Ian Christie (Editor), Richard Taylor

The Film Factory provides a comprehensive documentary history of Russian and Soviet cinema. It provokes a major reassessment of conventional Western understanding of Soviet cinema. Based on extensive research and in original translation, the documents selected illustrate both the aesthetic and political development of Russian and Soviet cinema, from its beginnings as a fairground novelty in 1896 to its emergence as a mass medium of entertainment and propaganda on the eve of World War II.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

484 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Ian Christie is Professor of Film and Media History at Birkbeck, University of London.

Reviews

[Richard B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm marking this as read even though I didn't read every single page of this book. The book is an amazing resource for anyone interested in Soviet cinema. It brings together writing from all the key plays in the movement up till the end of the 1930s. Organized chronologically it paints a picture of what was happening at the time. You have articles from film makers, critics reviews, manifestos, outcomes of various congresses on cinema etc etc. All fascinating stuff. Definitely a book to dip in and out of and one I'd recommend for an fans of film history.

[Caitlin]

The Film Factory: Russian and Soviet Cinema in Documents, 1896-1939 by Ian Christie (1994)