The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema

by Ronald Bergan

Immerse yourself into the world of cinema and discover action-packed chases, epic journeys, and tear-jerking moments.

Get the popcorn popping and keep the movies coming! From box office hits and cult classics to romcoms and thrillers, this is your go-to guide to movies, directors, genres and styles.

This ultimate movie guide profiles more than 100 of the most significant films ever made and brings cinema to life in true blockbuster fashion. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories about timeless classics like Citizen Kane and The Godfather, and take a front-row seat at lavish blockbusters like Star Wars or Titanic.

- Lists of top 10 film recommendations
- What to watch boxes that explore specific plot lines, scenes, and images
- Trivia sections to test your knowledge on Oscar-winning movies, biggest flops and banned films
- Explains complex methods of film-making in familiar, non-technical jargon
- High-resolution photography and stills allow for a deeper understanding of the nature of film-making

Each page of this film book takes you on a journey through the ever-changing landscape of cinema - from Hollywood to Bollywood and everything in between. It includes every film-making school from across the globe, behind-the-scenes shots, profiles of 100 influential directors, and lists more than 100 of the greatest movies ever made!

Lights. Camera. Action!

Whether you enjoy art films or sci-fi, going to the cinema or watching movies on Netflix, The Film Book covers it all. It's perfect for inspiring your next movie night!

This updated version covers the best films and directors of the last 10 years, along with new discoveries in the history of cinema since the last edition from 2011. It's the ultimate gift for any film buff or critic.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Reference, Media Tie In, History

360 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Ronald Bergan is a regular contributor to The Guardian and the author of several critically acclaimed books on film, including biographies of directors Francis Ford Coppola, Jean Renoir, Sergei Eisenstein, and the Coen brothers.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read about thirty pages so far. I've enjoyed reading about the genesis of the film industry. It's interesting to see just how far movies have advanced over the years. I enjoy reading about how "The Dream Factory" got started. It's kind of crazy to think of what the film industry looks lie today and what it looked like in it's infancy. I'm hoping, as I read on, that the book will supply me with caveats about individual movies.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronald Bergan teams you with my favorite publisher, DK, and the end result is a new edition of The Film Book :(Hardcover) A Complete Guide to the World of Movies (2021). On the table of contents pages, I was very pleased to see a picture of Heath Ledger as They Joker’. In addition, these pages begin by explaining how this dynamite book divides aspects of film beginning with ‘The Story of Film’ which covers The Birth of Film (1895-1919), Film Goes to War (1940-1949), The Independence Days (1970-1979, and various other time periods and what film centered on during those eras. The next major section is ‘How Movies Are Made’. The most fun section for me is next ‘Movie Genres’ such as Animation.Comedy, Costume Drama (a favorite of mine), Documentary (another favorite of mine),, Film Noir, Melodrama,, Musicals (big favorite of mine), and Westerns (love them). The book mentions many other genres as well. Then ‘World Film’ discusses films from Africa, Eastern Europe, Europe, Canada, and South America among others. ‘A-Z of Directors’ illuminates 100 of “influential movie directors”. This section has some superb photographs of these various movie directors. The final section “Must See Movies” has a varied and delightful list of movies to see. A fabulous book from beginning to end! 5+ stars.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many movies named that the book never really gets to talk seriously about each of them. This 2021 release updates from the 2011 version, yet you can tell that someone just cut/pasted in some recent movies. For example, the movies go through each decade: 2020-29, 2030-39, ... 1980-89, 1990-done. What?

The individual sections of the book seemed interesting:
- Genre (Action, Animation, Avant-garde, Biopic, Comedy, Costume Drama, etc.)
No 'romance' or 'lgbt'
- World Film
I liked this country break-down with movies, but again way too incomplete descriptions
- A-Z Directors
This was a nice list. As I found movies I liked, it intrigued me to research others by this director.
Martin Scorsese films to watch are a great group of 10, but Hugo is not listed? 11 nominations/5 wins.??
- Must See Movies
Best section, since we finally get some details about specific films here, yet only 6 films in 2001-20010, and 5 after 2010.

These DK books all seem to try to put too much data into too few pages, with the result being that you have too little depth.
And don't release a 2021 version with such obvious lacking of proper updating!

[Katya Vinogradova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly redundant. Disappointment. What a shame...
However, this would work as a starter guide for beginner movie lovers. I just hope it won't turn them off cinema.
And yes, I know this sounds pretentious, but I don't care! I'm not in the mood to be polite and accommodating to such mediocre writing.
One more thing, no Tarantino in the list of directors?! REALLY!?! And no Pulp Fiction in the list of best movies?! REALLY!?!
Okay, that was two more things.

[Pranay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I found it a bit US centric. The print edition comes in a lovely metal case. Great fun to read with a bunch of people who’re interested in films, but not so much if you’re reading on your own.

[Walid M Rihane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been a 5 stars book if it included some other major directors and works. Too bad it misses many!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of film from an American perspective. It’s thin, and colorful but a great introduction. I think the coverage of World Film.

[Merelo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hollywood focused. Box office focused. Very superficial. Spaghetti western did not exist. The Dark Knight not in "must-see movies". Black Panther and Inception IN "must-see movies".

[Andrew Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good detailed introduction to the history of film, genres, and directors, as well as examinations of global cinema

[Pannita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book comes in a film canister liked tin box and the book cover is a photo of vintage film. The contents of the book are divided into 6 sections, as the following:

I. The Story of Film: The history of film since 1895 to present and timeline
II. How Movies are Made: Pre-production, Production and Post-production
III. Movie Genres: Western, Musical, Comedy, Action, Animation etc.
IV.World Film: International movies from around the world, such as India's Bollywood
V. A-Z of Directors: Profiles of 100 of the world's best movie directors, such as Alfred Hitchcock
VI. Top 100 Movies: The most influential movies of all time, such as King Kong, Gone with the Wind etc.

Btw, the contents are previously published in "Eyewitness Companions: Film". If you already have that book, you don't have to get this one because it's basically the same with some new photos. Anyway, this book is recommended for film lovers and DK book collectors! :)

[Felicia Chaidez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remains one of my favorite books of all time.

[Paul Sutter]

If you are a lover of film, a student of film, or just someone who sees the occasional movie, THE FILM BOOK NEW EDITION 2021, is the ultimate reference book. It is all things film, looking at so many aspects of film, especially the history right up to modern day.
Author Bergan takes us on one amazing journey from film’s infancy. Starting with the Lumiere brothers Auguste and Louis, he mentions the machine they made that rivaled Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope in 1891. The first film was made by the Lumiere brothers and was called Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory. As the title implies, it shows people leaving the factory, along with even a dog and a horse.
The very first movie theaters were known as Nickelodeons. Admission cost five cents. By 1908 there were 8,000 such theaters all across the United States. The book follows the progression of cinema along with the first films of note, telling the top 10 films of every decade. The biggest box office hits of the 1940’s for example included Bambi, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Song of the South, and The Bells of St. Mary’s.
Film has had such an incredible ride with one trend following another, new directors coming on the scene to change the direction of film and what the public accepted and applauded. Film production is also noted along with all the major genres. Film noir, animation, comedy, action-adventure, horror, serial, teen, underground, and western were part of what has kept films front and center and such an integral part of our lives.
There is also a fascinating section on World Film, with contributions from major countries of the world and their biggest films, along with dealing with censorship and the like. The A-Z of directors is especially notable, noting top directors like Frank Capra, Federico Fellini, Werner Herzog, John Huston, Fritz Lang, Spike Lee, Sam Pekinpah, and many others. The length of their careers and film created give us even more information and insight. The final section explores Must-See Movies. There are many films we know quite well and others that are lesser known, but will pique interest in seeing them for the first time. THE FILM BOOK is truly an epic creation like many of the films noted inside. It is the ideal reference book one that definitely is award winning material.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

DK does it again. A coffee table book that has a real depth of information.

“The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Movies” by Ronald Bergan, took a team to compose.
It is well-designed and is worth reading from front to back.
Contents:
An excellent introduction to the book that lets you know what you are about to read.
1. The Story of Film: The chronology of film from 1895 through 1990.
2. How Movies are Made: Pre-production, Production, and Post-production Techniques.
3. Movie Genres: 25 genres from Action-adventure to Western in alphabetical order.
4. World Film: International movies from 21 regions around the world in no particular order.
5. A-Z of Directors: Profiles of 100 of the world’s best movie directors in last name alphabetical order, such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder. A shortlist of their films with a synopsis of each.
6. Must-See Movies: a chronological guide to what Ronald Bergan considers the most important movies of all time.
And of course, the indispensable glossary.

With so many films, your favorite film may have been overlooked. However as knowledgeable as you are about the film industry you will always find something either new or a new view.
You can spend hours just looking at the stills of films you have in your library or bet have never been distributed.
For me, it is missing “World on a Wire” (The Criterion Collection) a 1973 two-part film made for German TV by director Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A database of famous Hollywood and world cinema classics and finally the top 100 films.
Details such as the year the film was made, producers, actors, etc. are listed.

In recent years, we live in a good time when movie streaming services are available, giving us access to movies from all over the world to enjoy seeing old classics and new movies.

The top three entertainment options at home have always been movies, music, and reading.

Instead of spending two hours scrolling through meaningless videos on social media, enjoy classics and famous movies, music, and books!

[Wout De Backer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago so at long last I'll leave my thoughts. First of all it's a great book for whoever wants to indulge themselves into the world of cinema. It's fascinating to witness how far the movie industry has advanced and evolved in the space of a century. I also discovered quite a few new movies and directors thanks to this. What did annoy me were the amount of great films and directors that were left out. I guess in their defence they can't include everything and every movie ever made. And of course movies for the most part, are subjective.

[Sophie Fornier · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book rlly helped me on film like before i thought i was pretty good for my age and then whack there's sm more I need to know. I saw other reviews complaining over the lack of some directors/movies but I think for beginners this is perfect 🫶🫶

[مالك الرفاعي · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب ممتع لمحبي السينما والأفلام بشكل عام ولمن يريدون الدخول لهذا العالم بشكل خاص

[Paul Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0

[korkuyorumanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, for acquire a general opinion. But it needs additions. Ideal for beginners.

[Büşra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dünya filmleri bölümünde Türkiye'yi Balkan kategorisine koyduğu için 3.5

[Gabe Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect coffee table book for fans of cinema. Has a comprehensive history of film and also takes a dive into the people behind the movies.

[Nick Triantafyllou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-have for cinema afficionados! 🎬📽

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful

[Noah Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid encyclopaedia to film, but mostly brief in its descriptions. Some really nice analysis however.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Film Book is a good reference resource for film buffs and historians, and an excellent resource for budding film buffs, bored people, and those who wish to compose bucket lists of films to watch. It features a section on the history of film, which highlights notable films from each era; a section on how films are made (weak but good enough for a newcomer); a section on movie genres including notable films from each genre; a section on 'world film' which is decent, though heavily lacking in some areas (Canadian films, Indian films for starters); a section on specific renowned directors with their most notable films listed; and a 'top 100' list of the editors' favourite films of all time, wherein the reader is given significantly more information on each film. The book could use an update, an expansion, some revision, and better binding.

I've used The Film Book to learn a bit more about the history of film, particularly regarding film periods and director styles, and to compose an awesome bucket list. I look forward to discovering and enjoying new films and using the information gleaned here to launch further explorations. Unlike some of DKs other amazing reference books, I won't be purchasing a copy. Back to my local public library it goes!

True Rating: 3.4 Stars

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. I saw this in the new section of my library and decided to pick it up. While I did not read every single word of this book, I feel that it has a lot of great information. It starts by detailing the history of film, a decade at a time. Lots of details without feeling bogged down. After the history, Bergan goes into deeper explaination of how a film is made, starting with pre-production all the way through to interviews by the actors after the film is out.
Bergan also explores the different genres, foreign film, and the top 100 movies. While I may not agree with the top 100 movies, I do like that there is a lot of diversity in his list.
There is also an a-z list of directors, some big names and some I have never heard before.
This book has many different lists of movies and I have now added quite a few to my netflix to watch. Good read overall, very helpful.

[Simon Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it’s sometimes imprudent to judge a book by its cover you can highly esteem the metallic case this book comes in resembling a cinematic film canister!! Fortunately the book is great too covering, in glossy visual style, the history of cinema from the early days of silent filmmaking in France with the Lumiere brothers to the feats of the 1920s like Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’ (the world’s first Sci-Fi blockbuster) and more recent digital creations like ‘Avatar’. It’s a reminder that film is not only about entertainment and technology, it’s above all about art. Or at least it needs to be to have enduring relevance and a truly mesmerized audience. SIMON

[Glen O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book although serious film buffs will probably not learn much they didn't already know. The most informative section for me was on World Cinema about which I know comparatively little. Other sections include a brief history of cinema, a description of how movies are made, movie genres, an A-Z of Directors and a list of the top 100 Movies. Any such list will of course have many omissions and arguable inclusions. We find Four Weddings and a Funeral but not Apocalypse Now? Overall though in the inimitable DK illustrated style, this was a fun Christmas gift and holiday read.

[ehk2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

for beginners, it might be informative and good. but it is too short to be inclusive in scope and i would add or omit many films and directors for my taste. information on individual country level is too brief and selective to be meaningful. photos and posters are nice and delightful. i would also add small photos of each director, though.

a good means to pass time remembering the films you watched and loved. nothing to be expected much more than that.

[Asif Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book. A nice and general introduction to the world of movies. From filmmaking to world cinema, great filmmakers and great films. Well-written and described as well as good design and pictures. Had fun reading the whole thing about a year or so back.