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The Movies
Griffith, Richard And Arthur Mayer, Movies, The
494 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
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82 people want to read
About the author
Richard Griffith
3 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard^^Griffith
Richard Griffith (1912-1969) was an art critic, film historian, and a member of the staff of The Museum of Modern Art 1940-1942 and 1949-1965.
Griffith was assistant to the Curator of the Film Library from 1940 to 1942, and assistant to the Director from 1949 to 1951. He succeeded Iris Barry as Curator of the Museum's Film Library in 1951, and resigned from the Museum because of ill health in 1965. At the Museum Griffith presented major film cycles, including one on Marlene Dietrich, and established the Film Preservation Fund, through which hundreds of classic motion pictures were saved. He died in an automobile accident near his home in Winchester, Virginia, on October 17, 1969.
Richard^^Griffith
Richard Griffith (1912-1969) was an art critic, film historian, and a member of the staff of The Museum of Modern Art 1940-1942 and 1949-1965.
Griffith was assistant to the Curator of the Film Library from 1940 to 1942, and assistant to the Director from 1949 to 1951. He succeeded Iris Barry as Curator of the Museum's Film Library in 1951, and resigned from the Museum because of ill health in 1965. At the Museum Griffith presented major film cycles, including one on Marlene Dietrich, and established the Film Preservation Fund, through which hundreds of classic motion pictures were saved. He died in an automobile accident near his home in Winchester, Virginia, on October 17, 1969.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 30, 2016
I have always loved the movies. In a theater, with the collective reactions, you are magnetically intimate with a crowd of strangers who feel as you feel. It's the greatest thing you can do with a gaggle of total strangers, in the dark. Probably...
I went to one of those rural Roman Catholic schools where they pin bedsheets over the gymnasium stage and herd all the kids in to watch Ben Hur (the GREAT one with Charleton Heston), The Ten Commandments, The Sound of Music. I didn't retain much religion but I cottoned to film, to stories, to the legendary players and scenes. Buster Keaton doing the crazy – no nets, no CGI – just one-take, eyeball popping stunts. Saturday nights with Elwy Yost, seeing all the best films.
“They call me... MISTER TIBBS!” [Sidney Poitier, In the Heat of the Night]
“Don't be so hard on yourself, it's not easy being me. I couldn't do it at first either.” [Paul Newman, Nobody's Fool]
“The Lord Jehovah has given unto thee, these fifteen...” (drops a divinely inscribed tablet which shatters)... “...ten, TEN commandments, for all to obey.” [Mel Brooks as Moses]
The 1930s produced two of my all time favourite films. King Kong, and The Invisible Man. Every decade has its masterpieces, the ones you gotta see.
How many cinemoments live within you forever?
That stupendous scene when Charlie Chaplin's VOICE is heard for the first time ever on film. Chaplin, the silent film titan, speaking in a “talkie” was a huge transition, but he had to do it his way – the Chaplin way; with a surprise for the audience, and irrepressible charm.
He's lost his cuffs.
Which means he's lost his lyrics notes.
He's kept his wit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0daS_...
It aint' English, but it's inspired and inspiring gibberish.
Lost Horizon, seen as a child on my mother's lap. Why do I still remember that? The snow. The place. Shangri-La. I'd go there when I grew up and to all the other places too. Oh boy!
We can all blather the high points of the greatest films of all time. This book brings film history together in a marvelously comprehensive survey stuffed with photos and terrific insights. Not mere captions, but a running historical narrative. Relive the movies you've seen, learn tons about them, and get inspired to double back and see films from the last 100 years that you missed, and will want to see.
If you love film, you will love this deep and worthwhile history of cinema. And if you don't then you're probably not the droids we're looking for.
I went to one of those rural Roman Catholic schools where they pin bedsheets over the gymnasium stage and herd all the kids in to watch Ben Hur (the GREAT one with Charleton Heston), The Ten Commandments, The Sound of Music. I didn't retain much religion but I cottoned to film, to stories, to the legendary players and scenes. Buster Keaton doing the crazy – no nets, no CGI – just one-take, eyeball popping stunts. Saturday nights with Elwy Yost, seeing all the best films.
“They call me... MISTER TIBBS!” [Sidney Poitier, In the Heat of the Night]
“Don't be so hard on yourself, it's not easy being me. I couldn't do it at first either.” [Paul Newman, Nobody's Fool]
“The Lord Jehovah has given unto thee, these fifteen...” (drops a divinely inscribed tablet which shatters)... “...ten, TEN commandments, for all to obey.” [Mel Brooks as Moses]
The 1930s produced two of my all time favourite films. King Kong, and The Invisible Man. Every decade has its masterpieces, the ones you gotta see.
How many cinemoments live within you forever?
That stupendous scene when Charlie Chaplin's VOICE is heard for the first time ever on film. Chaplin, the silent film titan, speaking in a “talkie” was a huge transition, but he had to do it his way – the Chaplin way; with a surprise for the audience, and irrepressible charm.
He's lost his cuffs.
Which means he's lost his lyrics notes.
He's kept his wit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0daS_...
It aint' English, but it's inspired and inspiring gibberish.
Lost Horizon, seen as a child on my mother's lap. Why do I still remember that? The snow. The place. Shangri-La. I'd go there when I grew up and to all the other places too. Oh boy!
We can all blather the high points of the greatest films of all time. This book brings film history together in a marvelously comprehensive survey stuffed with photos and terrific insights. Not mere captions, but a running historical narrative. Relive the movies you've seen, learn tons about them, and get inspired to double back and see films from the last 100 years that you missed, and will want to see.
If you love film, you will love this deep and worthwhile history of cinema. And if you don't then you're probably not the droids we're looking for.
September 14, 2008
This is one of the first books I ever read about the history of the movies, and it is still one of the best. A teriffic overview of Anmerican film from the beginning to 1955 (a later revised edition carreied the story into the 1960s), the text is informative yet irreverent. The pictures are great, and the caprions add to to information value of the book. I can't recommend this highly enough for anyone who loves movies.
December 16, 2020
This book was published in 1957. I first checked it out from the library a few times, then bought it on sale. It was one of my favorite books, but the last time I read it completely was decades ago.
On the plus side, it is a fun read, that is guaranteed to amuse and tell you things you didn't know. It covers not only the movies themselves but also the culture of Hollywood and how it related to what was going on in the world. The photos help give a flavor of the times. Also, he accurately predicted Netflix.
On the negative side, the author's love of D. W. Griffith made him whitewash the reaction to "The Birth of a Nation" portrayal of the KKK as heroes. He called Charles Chaplin "The Greatest Star of Them All," despite the fact that Chaplin's sound movies were abysmal compared to his excellent silent movies. Also, the book ignores the great foreign films made in that period.
If there were a 4.5 rating I would give it to this book, but I can't give it five stars with its negatives.
One negative that is not the book's fault is that most readers would be totally unfamiliar with the stars of that period.
On the plus side, it is a fun read, that is guaranteed to amuse and tell you things you didn't know. It covers not only the movies themselves but also the culture of Hollywood and how it related to what was going on in the world. The photos help give a flavor of the times. Also, he accurately predicted Netflix.
On the negative side, the author's love of D. W. Griffith made him whitewash the reaction to "The Birth of a Nation" portrayal of the KKK as heroes. He called Charles Chaplin "The Greatest Star of Them All," despite the fact that Chaplin's sound movies were abysmal compared to his excellent silent movies. Also, the book ignores the great foreign films made in that period.
If there were a 4.5 rating I would give it to this book, but I can't give it five stars with its negatives.
One negative that is not the book's fault is that most readers would be totally unfamiliar with the stars of that period.
April 19, 2020
I can't recommend this book enough! It is such a treat to read about the earliest decades of movies, so often overlooked or forgotten, from people who lived them and LOVED them and can't wait to take you along for the ride. This is a coffee table-style book with lots of great photos and combined with writing so accessible and engaging, I constantly had to keep a pen and paper handy while reading so I could jot down titles to add to my watch list. Now that I'm finished, I can't wait to dive into a whole slew of new (old) movies!
June 24, 2015
Well-written, passionate, informed and opinionated. Unexpectedly a more satisfying read than other overviews of the golden age of Hollywood. Quite an achievement considering the format (beautifully presented, large print Reader's Digest-style tome).
June 9, 2015
Revised Edition--yeah, and the original was written in 1957. OK compilation of pictures and bite-sized lightweight history.
Worth a look for pictures and now-dated writing.
Worth a look for pictures and now-dated writing.
June 22, 2020
Great pictures and easily navigated.
12 days till I'm due to have a baby. I may never read again.
12 days till I'm due to have a baby. I may never read again.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews