Here is a tour through the whole progress of making a film, from script writing and preproduction through its appearance as a finished work. Veteran Hollywood director Dmytryk demonstrates the necessary versatility of the film director, who must be expert in a remarkable variety of crafts. This is an entertaining and very readable behind-the-scenes introduction to the art form of the 20th century.
Dmytryk's book on directing has stood the test of time surprisingly well. Sure, there are plenty of other good books with much the same information out there, but most of that is rehashed, and this book comes from one of the most revered sources in Hollywood at the time with a proven track record in the field. No book will provide all the answers, this one provides more than most.
Dmytryk writes about directing in a very intelligent and philosophical way while still managing to give very practical advice. I definitely recommend this short, but useful read, despite its age.