Classic Cinema In Print
Watching a movie can be very entertaining, but what about knowing more about the films you love and how they came to be?
Where do classic films originate? Why is one film a classic and not another? When was the classic age of cinema? Who are the people behind the making of classic films? What makes a classic a classic, and how do classic films affect the movies of today?
Walk into any bookstore and there are many, many books addressing these questions and much more.
There are hundreds of biographies of the people behind and in front of the lens. There are histories of all the defunct and lasting studios alike, and their varied impact upon the development of the medium. And there are countless overviews of the people, places, and things that have contributed to the advancement of the unique twentieth century art form known most commonly as the movies.
There are arguably as many books on classic cinema as there are classic movies. The books listed to the right are a few of ClassicFilmSchool.com’s favorites and represent only a sampling of the many books available covering the studios, the history, acclaimed filmmakers, and the most honored films of all time.
These books (and others like them) will contribute significantly to a greater knowledge and understanding of classic cinema, and nurture a true appreciation.
You Must Remember This
The Warner Bros. Story - a history of the studio, and the people behind it.
Obsessed with Hollywood
Trivia with a small computer that can be used as a game or a tutorial.
The Taschen Series of Books
Each book is an overview on a theme: Genre, Actor, Director, Decade, etc.
80 Years of the Oscar
The Official History of the Academy Awards by TCM host Robert Osborne, updated every five years.
The Film 100
A ranking of the Most Influential People in the History of the Movies -
It will fascinate and surprise you.
“Citizen Kane”, 1941
FEATURED BOOK:
My Wicked, Wicked
Ways by Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn’s Autobiography is a sorted and colorful tale of an adventurous man who lived with more zeal than any of his films could ever have portrayed. And that’s just in reference to his life before he came to Hollywood! More than half the book is dedicated to his life as a young man trying his hand at one exciting career after another.
It’s not until a chance meeting and the need to escape his current conditions that eventually led him to pursue the life of a movie star. Both times in his life provide ample fodder for an incredibly entertaining read that will keep you wondering what this extraordinary man didn’t attempt to experience during his all too brief life. You’ve got to read this!
