In Glorious TechniColor A Century of Film and How It Has Shaped Us

by Francine Stock

At the end of the nineteenth century, audiences were enthralled by the flickering image of an oncoming train in a Lumiere Brothers' short film; more than a hundred years later the immersive fantasy of Avatar enveloped audiences around the globe. Film is a communal dream, in which our fears and fantasies are revealed, often to startling effect. It has influenced our behaviour in small but significant ways, from the widespread abandonment of vests after Clark Gable's example in "It Happened One Night" to gangsters holding their weapons at movie-cool angles, improving their image but not their aim. It has intertwined with politics, helping to forge national identity, galvanise against a wartime enemy or warn of social upheaval via horror or science fiction. It has burrowed deep into our psyche, changing perceptions of history and memory - one study showed soldiers' recall may sometimes owe more to war films than actual experience. It has even raised romantic expectations that for us, too,

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

356 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2011

Reviews

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting although I wish I had time to watch all the films referred to.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase In Glorious Technicolour here for just $12!

A detailed look at film up until 2011, this is a must for any film buff. Francine Stock places each film in its context, looking at what it was influenced by and how it has influenced others. Full of interesting information and written in great detail.

Elisa - The Book Grocer

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't quite do it for me, which is disappointing because it's been on my to-read list for a long time. Although it's very comprehensive in its scale and the author is clearly very knowledgable I just didn't find it as informative as I wanted it to be or at least not as informative about the stuff that I'm interested in as i wanted it be.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive review of films and film making from the beginning up to 2011. Using a selection of significant films, the author describes how the film has influenced or been influenced by the period in which it was made. Travelling through each decade in turn, she shows in detail the progression of film making almost up to the present. Fascinating for anyone interested in films.

[Ann Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not always in agreement with her choices but enjoyable all the same

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive in its scope of describing how the films of the 20th century influenced popular culture. Worth reading a few times, as there are a host of films to research and view in between each read.