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After recently re-organizing our shelves to incorporate all the new books we received for the holidays, I was reminded of just how many film books we own. Books on filmmakers, books on film movements, screenplays, criticism, history, etc. And though I would never sell off a single one of them, I started to wonder: Which ones are the most essential? Which ones would I recommend to a budding cinephile just starting out. Well here you have it!
Disclaimer: Some of these books are no longer in print. Click any of the titles and be taken to an Amazon page where you can buy either a new or used copy of the book in question. Some might be available digitally but I honestly didn't look into that.
The Story of Film by Mark Cousins
There are plenty of Film History text books out there to buy, but of course then you end up paying text book prices. Forget all of that and just buy this one. Cousins writes in a simple, personal and easy to read style that goes down smooth. He also makes a point to hit on cinemas of the developing world which might have been excluded in more Western oriented texts.
The American Cinema by Andrew Sarris
The New Biographical Dictionary of Film by David Thomson
Though I don't agree with several of the opinions voiced in both of these volumes, they're absolutely essential. These are works you have to reckon with. If you are going to write a piece that runs contrary to either of these texts, you best bring your A-game. The arguments in both are extremely well thought out, well reasoned and impeccably written. Read these as an exercise to challenge your thinking. Butt heads with them. Wrestle with them. Like sparring with Bruce Lee, you will certainly come out bruised on the other end, but you will also have learned something.
An Army of Phantoms and The Dream Life by J. Hoberman
These books comprise volumes one and two of what will eventually become a trilogy of books dedicated to exploring the Cold War through cinema. Drawing from films both great and small, Hoberman explores the fascinating ways in which film culture and political culture were inextricably intertwined during this tense time in world history. If you like these, keep an eye out for the third volume (tentatively titled Found Illusions) which is certain to be just as essential.
Pictures at a Revolution and Five Came Back by Mark Harris
Having cut his teeth at Entertainment Weekly, Harris is in full command of a compulsively readable style. But don't let the magazine pedigree fool you into thinking that either of these tomes is mere toilet reading. Read back to back these books form an epic saga of two distinctly different generations coming into their own. Some "characters" from one even pop up in the other. Absolutely riveting stuff and it's all extremely well researched and true.
Who the Devil Made It? and Who the Hell's in It? by Peter Bogdanovich
As an actor, programmer, screenwriter, director and cinephile, Peter Bogdanovich was in the entertainment industry long before he became an "overnight sensation" with his second film The Last Picture Show. During those early years he made a point to seek out several of the actors and filmmakers of Hollywood's Golden Age and got them to sit down for interviews of varying lengths. Though many of these personalities are now considered icons, at the time many of them were either forgotten or dismissed as old fashioned. God bless Peter Bogdanovich for getting them on the record before it was too late.
As an actor, programmer, screenwriter, director and cinephile, Peter Bogdanovich was in the entertainment industry long before he became an "overnight sensation" with his second film The Last Picture Show. During those early years he made a point to seek out several of the actors and filmmakers of Hollywood's Golden Age and got them to sit down for interviews of varying lengths. Though many of these personalities are now considered icons, at the time many of them were either forgotten or dismissed as old fashioned. God bless Peter Bogdanovich for getting them on the record before it was too late.
Hitchcock/Truffaut by Francois Truffaut
Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe
In keeping with the Bogdanovich books, these two are also interview based. But instead of a litany of subjects, each of these books picks a single target and really zeroes in on them. Oh and the interviewers aren't slouches either! You can really feel the admiration Crowe and Truffaut have for their subjects. It's also nice to see the old masters sporadically return the compliment and send back a little love as well.
In keeping with the Bogdanovich books, these two are also interview based. But instead of a litany of subjects, each of these books picks a single target and really zeroes in on them. Oh and the interviewers aren't slouches either! You can really feel the admiration Crowe and Truffaut have for their subjects. It's also nice to see the old masters sporadically return the compliment and send back a little love as well.
Everything is Cinema by Richard Brody
The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Richie
We all have certain filmmakers we feel strong connections towards. Something about them just speaks to us. We GET them. Richard Brody and Donald Richie really GET Godard and Kurosawa. These books are without a doubt the definitive takes on these two filmmakers. The insights go extremely deep and help to illuminate things that you would never notice on a first or even thirtieth viewing.
We all have certain filmmakers we feel strong connections towards. Something about them just speaks to us. We GET them. Richard Brody and Donald Richie really GET Godard and Kurosawa. These books are without a doubt the definitive takes on these two filmmakers. The insights go extremely deep and help to illuminate things that you would never notice on a first or even thirtieth viewing.
The Great Movies I, II & III by Roger Ebert
The problem inherent to weekly reviewing of new movies is a lack of perspective. You have to make your judgement on the spot and stick to it. What if a great new angle on the film comes to you after discussing it with a friend? Or what if you go through some sort of experience that changes your perspective on an aspect of the story? What if that film goes on to start a revolution? I think this is what inspired Roger Ebert to start The Great Movie series. These collections of essays allowed him to go back, dive deep and really get at what makes a movie particularly "great". Guaranteed to drastically expand your Netflix queue.
The problem inherent to weekly reviewing of new movies is a lack of perspective. You have to make your judgement on the spot and stick to it. What if a great new angle on the film comes to you after discussing it with a friend? Or what if you go through some sort of experience that changes your perspective on an aspect of the story? What if that film goes on to start a revolution? I think this is what inspired Roger Ebert to start The Great Movie series. These collections of essays allowed him to go back, dive deep and really get at what makes a movie particularly "great". Guaranteed to drastically expand your Netflix queue.
The Celluloid Closet by Vito Russo
New Queer Cinema by B. Ruby Rich
I actually did a whole post several years ago where I highlighted some of the more commercial resources available to anyone interested in learning about Queer Filmmakers and the various ways LGBT characters are/have-been portrayed in cinema. Obviously both of these important texts are mentioned there. Rather than plagiarize myself, I'm just going to link to that post HERE.
I actually did a whole post several years ago where I highlighted some of the more commercial resources available to anyone interested in learning about Queer Filmmakers and the various ways LGBT characters are/have-been portrayed in cinema. Obviously both of these important texts are mentioned there. Rather than plagiarize myself, I'm just going to link to that post HERE.
A Third Face by Samuel Fuller
Shock Value by John Waters
As you've likely heard, "directors are storytellers". Perhaps that is why autobiographies by filmmakers make for such riveting reading. I picked these two filmmakers in particular because in addition to having fun stories about the makings of their various films, they also have stories that are just fascinating in general. I also suggest listening to clips of these men speaking beforehand so that as you can hear their wonderfully unique voices in your head as you read.
As you've likely heard, "directors are storytellers". Perhaps that is why autobiographies by filmmakers make for such riveting reading. I picked these two filmmakers in particular because in addition to having fun stories about the makings of their various films, they also have stories that are just fascinating in general. I also suggest listening to clips of these men speaking beforehand so that as you can hear their wonderfully unique voices in your head as you read.
Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez
Make Your Own Damn Movie by Lloyd Kaufman
As someone who went to film school, I can assure you that the only real way to learn how to make a film is to actually do it. What a book CAN do is provide you with encouragement. Both of these books have that in spades. They're also funny and filled with all sorts of little tips and tricks on how to creatively solve problems and keep costs down. The rest is up to you.
What essentials did I leave out? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
As someone who went to film school, I can assure you that the only real way to learn how to make a film is to actually do it. What a book CAN do is provide you with encouragement. Both of these books have that in spades. They're also funny and filled with all sorts of little tips and tricks on how to creatively solve problems and keep costs down. The rest is up to you.
As you might have noticed, there are no books here that pertain to women in film and/or feminist film theory. Believe me I am well aware of this. Unfortunately, there is presently only one such book in our collection that isn't a biography (Karen Ward Mahar's Women Filmmakers in Early Hollywood) and alas I have not read it yet. I've of course heard wonderful things about Molly Haskell's From Reverence to Rape and really have really dug the large portions of Carol J. Clover's Men, Women and Chainsaws that I have read. As you can see, a great film library is a constant work in progress.
What essentials did I leave out? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
