Flashback: A Brief Film History

by Louis D. Giannetti, Scott Eyman

Consolidating major figures and film movements into their decade of greatest influence or prestige, this “no-nonsense” book offers a generously illustrated, concise, and very readable history of fiction movies with an emphasis on American cinema. Eclectic in methodology and written in a plain English style that audiences can relate to, it examines the full scope of traditional film history and criticism, viewing film as both an art and an industry— as it mirrors popular audience values, social ideologies, and historical epochs.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, School

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Louis D. Giannetti is a Professor Emeritus of English and Film at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He has taught courses in film, literature, writing, drama, and humanities. He has published many articles, both popular and scholarly, on political subjects, literature, and drama. In addition to being a professional film critic for several years, he has written about movies for such scholarly journals as Literature/Film Quarterly, The Western Humanities Review, and Film Criticism. Professor Giannetti is also the author of Goddard and Others: Essays on Film Form, published in both Britain and the United States and Masters of the American Cinema (Prentice Hall, 1981), a survey of American fiction films from the perspective of eighteen key figures. Flashback: A Brief History of Film, Sixth Edition (Allyn & Bacon, 2010), written with Scott Eyman, is a history organized by decade that outlines major events, trends, and important filmmakers and their work, with emphasis on the American cinema. Understanding Movies has been a best-selling text in all its previous editions, widely used in the United States and in such countries as Australia, Britain, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Japan. Dr. Giannetti is the father of two daughters, Christina and Francesca. He lives in Shaker Heights, where he spends an inordinate amount of time tending his Japanese-style garden, to make sure it keeps that natural look.

Reviews

[Jiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

这本书与《认识电影》是同一作者，但编排上私以为甚不合理，呆板地按照年份和地域来划分，再举出代表性人物及作品，相当令人难以捉住线索。更理想的方式是按照潮流来叙述，如《电影艺术：形式和风格》后几章中所做。

[Cora Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't gotten through the whole thing. But with the chapters I have read, it filled my brain with plenty of interesting information concerning movies, bits about actors, and more on directors. The copy I have I do believe is the latest... But it's a few years behind.
Though, when dealing with a subject that is in constant motion, it's hard to keep the book up to date...

[Melissa Greenwood]

Reading for class: The Movies: History and Art

Very good for people interested in how it all started to happen.

Strangely enough it doesn't mention that one of the reasons people were so interested was because, like photography, they wanted porn. They always seem to leave that out of the history books.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful as a reference tool as it delves into all the major players, movements and attitudes that define the history of the movie industry by era.

[Shannon Raum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept this textbook and have been expanding my movie list thanks to it

[黑]

前面真有点东西，但越往后越水，尤其世界电影部分。很难想象中国篇幅不如拉丁美洲长，日韩更是直接没有。但很喜欢这文风啊，该夸就猛夸该吐槽也毫不留情面。适合世（欧美）影史入门及自我温习用

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of silent era through about 2007. Emphasis was not on analysis or evaluation, but on surveying production systems, emergence of new techniques, directors and styles. Prose at times too slangy for a textbook, though. A good book to refer back to for further exploration of film movements and directors.