Film guides and reviews Books

Book SynopsisWomen and men in cinema are imaginary constructs created by filmmakers and their audiences. The film-psychoanalytic approach reveals how movies subliminally influence unconscious reception. On the other hand, the movie is embedded in a cultural tradition: Jean Cocteau's film La Belle et la Bete (1946) takes up the classic motif of the animal groom from the story of Cupid and Psyche in Apuleius' The Golden Ass (originally a tale about the stunning momentum of genuine female desire), liberates it from its baroque educational moral (a girl's virtue and prudence will help her to overcome her sexual fears), and turns it into a boyhood story: inside the ugly rascal there is a good, but relatively boring prince - at least in comparison to the monsters of film history. In the seventy years since it was made, La Belle et la Bete has inspired numerous interpretations and has been employed by theorists of all genres and interests. In this book, Andreas Hamburger and other contributors consider its background, content, and reception, and explore the impact Cocteau has on our perceptions of beauties and beasts.Introducing the monster as a suffering person, Cocteau's film reacts to the disturbing experience of World War II and the Holocaust. It questions hegemonial masculinity, designing a poetic, hallucinatory attempt at healing for a traumatized generation. Moreover, it addresses female and male adolescent development. Its deliberately incredible finale ironically portrays traditional constructs of femininity and masculinity, thus going beyond the scope of a compensatory fairy tale.Table of ContentsBeauties and Beasts in Film Psychoanalysis -- Women and images of men in cinema -- Psychoanalytical film interpretation—possibilities and limitations -- Beautiful beasts—motif tradition and film psychoanalysis in Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête (F 1946) -- The Beauties -- La Belle, la Bête, et la rose -- “You can’t say no to the Beauty and the Beast …”* Or: an ending and no beautiful beast -- The Beasts -- Once upon a time—Beauty and the Beast—a surrealistic survival attempt in the year 1946? -- Coming over to the wild side: women’s yearning for beastly encounters in the course of film history

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Book SynopsisSuitable for readers of Michael Pollan and fans of independent films, this book focuses on the sex lives of marine animals.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to classic films from one of America's most trusted film critics Thanks to Netflix and cable television, classic films are more accessible than ever. Now co-branded with Turner Classic Movies, Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide covers films from Hollywood and around the world, from the silent era through 1965, and from The Maltese Falcon to Singin’ in the Rain and Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Thoroughly revised and updated, and featuring expanded indexes, a list of Maltin’s personal recommendations, and three hundred new entries—including many offbeat and obscure films—this new edition is a must-have companion for every movie lover.Trade Review“A must-have for movie buffs, but also… a standard reference for industry insiders.”—Clare Swanson, Publisher's Weekly"Indispensable."—Los Angeles Times "Head and shoulders above the rest."—The New York Times "Belongs next to every TV in every home."—USA Today "The single most important reference book in every American home."—Esquire

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Book SynopsisPresents a wide-ranging selection of Kehr's criticism from the Reader-most of which is reprinted here for the first time-including insightful discussions of film history and his controversial Top Ten lists.Trade Review"Dave Kehr is one of the most gifted film critics in America." -Roger Ebert "Dave Kehr belongs in the pantheon of film critics who have been associated in one way or another with the city of Chicago-in fact, he's one of the best writers on film the country as a whole has ever produced. This collection of his work for the Chicago Reader constitutes an important act of cultural recovery, which provides insights into a crucial period of transition in the film industry. Not only a critic but also a public intellectual, Kehr teaches us about film style, calls attention to pictures that have received too little attention, and makes us care more about an art form. When Movies Mattered is a great pleasure." -James O. Naremore, author of More than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts"

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewQuite frankly this is a guide book that fans of the sub-genre really need just for the sake of finding films out there that they may not have seen before. That someone out there has managed to not only see all of these but catalogue them in this amount of detail is a film-buffs dream come true. Anything even remotely end of the world related gets a look in. And not just high budget, or 80s Mad Max rip offs, but all of the low brow titles you are likely to have never heard of down through the past few decades get covered (yes Albert Pyun fans he even gets his own index). Its amazing that even in the pages that have A-Z lists that they still find space for colour photos to keep you leafing through, staving off any boredom the eye might find. This is a real film nerds collectors item written by one, for the many. This is time well spent on a great book! Steven Hurst, Filmwerk.co.uk June 2015

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Book SynopsisPeople celebrate the magical holiday of Halloween in a wide variety of ways, but most will, at some point, turn off the lights and allow a movie to take the excitement to the next level. Pumpkin Cinema recommends over 100 titles that are guaranteed to make your Halloween fun and frightening! Halloween only comes once a year, so you can''t afford to waste precious thrill time on a lousy movie! However, a great horror movie doesn''t necessarily translate into a great Halloween flick, and Pumpkin Cinema uses a simple set of guidelines to help you avoid the boo! blues: the films included here are fast paced, have essences of autumn (if they aren''t set on Halloween itself!), and have a trim run time (under two hours). Avoiding the mean-spirited and cruel movies more typical of horror offerings, Pumpkin Cinema also includes Halloween treats from multiple genres, in addition to horror: comedy, animation, science fiction, silent era, and foreign films, all ranging in popularity from blockbusters to the obscure. The films included are, above all, fun to watch and share with others! In addition to descriptive film reviews, you''ll also find plenty of quirky trivia, various Top 5 lists, and a special chapter devoted to the greatest Halloween television episodes of all time.Trade ReviewA Youtube trailer will whet your appetite for Pumpkin Cinema - link below!

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Book SynopsisTrade Revieweach fan should still come away rating the book highly and recommending that solid action fans get hold of it. It will not only educate you on a lot of films you may have yet to see, but take you down that sweet paradise called memory lane with people a team of writers and interviewees who themselves have lived and loved it. David J Moore, Filmwerk.co.uk

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Book SynopsisIt isn't every film that features man-eating zombie sushi. But for those searching for just that and more strange things in their viewing queue, this film guide is for you. Organized by genre, including comedy, horror, action, drama, fantasy, and sci-fi, this title offers 300 reviews of genre films from all over the world, 160+ photos, and exclusive interviews and quotes from the people behind some of the most offbeat films ever made. Alongside this curated list of viewing recommendations, longtime fans and new comers to strange cinema gain bits of fun and informative trivia. For example, David Caruso's film debut was Without Warning (1980), a carefree trip into the woods thwarted by killer flying alien discs. Lurking in these so-bad-they're-good-films, you'll find other familiar actors like David Carradine, James Brolin, , Martin Landau, and Ryan Gosling in films like Death Race 2,000 (1975), The Car (1977), The Being (1983), and Lost River

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Book SynopsisThe perfect small-format, one-stop resource to appreciating and understanding films from Hollywood to Bollywood. Following the success of Isms: Understanding Art and Isms: Understanding Architectural Styles, this guide sorts the great classic films and directors according to the significant movements that have shaped the development of cinema. Beginning with the early silent era, it spans the entire range of movie history up to the present wave of indie films and the growing fascination with international cinema. Each spread is devoted to a distinct movement and explains when it first emerged, the principal directors, themes, and representative films, and is illustrated with film stills, posters, and photos. Important international cinematic breakthroughs are also highlighted, as well as the careers of international auteurs like Kurosawa, Fellini, and Almodóvar. From prewar Expressionism to twenty-first-century Dystopianism, Film Isms… offers an engaging, new way of understaTrade Review“For your favorite film buff: a handy little resource guide about movie history.” ~LAmag

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Book SynopsisNow in its fifth edition, Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms has become an indispensable reference tool for the study of films and filmmaking. This trusted and practical handbook clearly and concisely defines the essential terms of film analysis and film art, with a special focus on the aesthetic parameters and values of filmmaking.The updated and expanded edition includes new definitions ranging from bullet-time optical effects, to the coming-of-age narrative, and LED lighting technology in science fiction films such as Gravity. More than 200 film title references not cited in previous editions have been added. Many classic and contemporary photo stills are included to illustrate terms. Extensive cross-referencing among individual definitions ensures easy access to interrelated terms, and a comprehensive topical index relates to larger concepts of film art.This up-to-date and comprehensive resource is a useful companion for film students and filmgoers, whoTrade Review«The beauty of Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms is not simply the precision and depth of the individual entries, nor the range of film beyond the Hollywood narrative that is covers, but the citation of a broad range of concrete examples for many of the entries. Beaver's command of motion picture history shines through. He assembles excellent examples – both historical and contemporary – that help the reader call to mind the specific film technique, technical process, narrative device, genre, etc. Beaver's Dictionary is anything but dry Ὰ it's more like reading an enlightening catalog of all the things we love about motion pictures.» (Michael Frierson, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) «I was so fortunate to get Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms in my first ever film class. This updated edition promises to deliver on multiple cylinders for the new generation of filmmakers. It expands to cover new trends in the film industry, technological developments, as well as exhibition platforms. It is concise while also managing to be thorough and cover a plethora of subjects. Not only does it provide a platform for understanding individual film topics, it also helps one understand how different elements of cinema are connected. Talking the talk is an essential part of navigating the film industry, from production to development, and this handbook will equip you with the tools to get where you need to go.» (Sultan Sharrief, Award-Winning Filmmaker/Media Educator) «As cinema’s Samuel Johnson, Frank Beaver has thoroughly catalogued the essential terms used in the world of film production and scholarship. He has, for decades, been a trusted guide and companion, helping us to fluently negotiate the many tongues of the motion picture medium. The practitioner, the scholar, the student and the film buff, will all find this text an essential reference.» (Mick Hurbis-Cherrier, Hunter College – CUNY)Table of ContentsContents: Term Index – Movie Index – Topical Index – Artist Index.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners." — Examiner.com"Clever and engaging" — Booklist"Perfect coffee table fodder for your home theater." — Uncrate.com"[A] great refresher for films you haven't seen in a while and an even better resource for populating your watchlist with shows you may have missed." — GeekDad"Richly illustrated." — Parade.com"A fine introduction for budding film buffs." — School Library Journal"A wonderful contribution to film history collections." — Voice of Youth Advocates

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Book SynopsisFeaturing chronological reviews of more than 300 zombie films—from 1932's White Zombie to the AMC series The Walking Dead—this thorough, uproarious guide traces the evolution of one of horror cinema’s most popular and terrifying creations. Fans will learn exactly what makes a zombie a zombie, go behind the scenes with a chilling production diary from Land of the Dead, peruse a bizarre list of the oddest things ever seen in undead cinema, and immerse themselves in a detailed rundown of the 25 greatest zombie films ever made. Containing an illustrated zombie rating system, ranging from "Highly Recommended" to "Avoid at All Costs" and "So Bad It’s Good," the book also features lengthy interviews with numerous talents from in front of and behind the camera. This updated and expanded second edition contains more than 100 new and rediscovered films, providing plenty of informative and entertaining brain food for movie fans.Trade Review"Kay's guide is the zombie movie bible for the film student and horror moviegoer . . . . [It] captures the satire, the fear, the politics, and the humor of both classic and modern horror flicks. From Night of the Living Dead (1968) to Cemetery Man (1994) to Wild Zero (2000), you can't go wrong with this guide. Fun for the whole undead family!" -- PopMatters"A near-perfect reference guide for followers of the shambling dead. With extremely up-to-date coverage . . . this volume will be a welcome addition to zombie connoisseurs' coffee tables." -- Fangoria"The definitive guide to zombie movies. Rated and reviewed, decade by decade, for the reader's convenience. A must-read for all zombie scholars!" --Dan O'Bannon, director, The Return of the Living Dead"...Fans of flesh eaters in film should enjoy the hell out Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide. It's very complete, often amusing, has a wealth of information, a bunch of pictures, and lots of everything else that an (un)deadhead would want in their book about zombie flicks. If you love zombies like I love zombies then do yourself a favor and pick this one up." -- Horror World"Kay's assessments are penned with tons of wit, humor, and playfulness."-- Complex Magazine"I thought I was done with zombies, but with his book he reminded me that even if the sub-genre is currently a broken record, I still have a nice collection that I can always go back to and enjoy. Well played, sir." -- Horror Talk"...Fans of flesh eaters in film should enjoy the hell out Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide. It's very complete, often amusing, has a wealth of information, a bunch of pictures, and lots of everything else that an (un)deadhead would want in their book about zombie flicks. If you love zombies like I love zombies then do yourself a favor and pick this one up." -- Horror World"Its brain food for genre fans..." from article on Movie Talk online magazine.A book which every horror film fanatic will adore as it reviews almost 400 zombie films. Starting with the first zombie film ever to be made - White Zombie in 1932 starring Bela Lugosi in a role equal to although not as famous as his appearances as Dracula. Individual chapters lead through each successive decade ending with the 2010's, and a list of the greatest zombie films ever made. What makes this book stand out as more than just a compilation of films are the highly informative interviews with people like Colin Geddes, Antonella Fulci and Tom Savini. Equally fascinating is the section entitled Some of the Weirdest/funniest/most disturbing things I've seen in zombie film. Definitely weird is Hard Rock Zombies in which a hungry zombie manages to eat himself all up while the spectacular undersea battle between a live shark and a zombie in Zombie (1979) was definitely a one-off. This is a book for dipping into and savouring; it is informative, lively and interesting offering a different slant on the usual run of film guides. 4 stars. Angela Youngman, monstersandcritics.com

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Book SynopsisThe prototypical rust belt city, Cleveland has long served as an emblem of late twentieth-century urban decay. But recent decades have brought a cultural and economic renaissance – a revival that has been reflected and aided by the growing number of films being shot on location there. This new entry in the World Film Locations series offers the first-ever extended look at Cleveland on screen. Richly illustrated with images from dozens of productions, it reveals Cleveland to be usefully chameleonic, appealing to some filmmakers for its modern downtown's ability to mimic more prominent (and more expensive) cities, to others for the way its shuttered factories and decaying docks signify contemporary urban distress. With entries on such classics as The Fortune Cookie , The Deer Hunter , A Christmas Story and Marvel's The Avengers , as well as lesser-known films, the volume reveals Cleveland to be a far more compelling, and far more varied, on-screen presence than even most film buffs would expect. Like all the books in this series, World Film Locations: Cleveland is designed to appeal to cinephiles and scholars alike, while also serving as a silver screen souvenir for those who make the city their home as well as for those who visit it. Table of ContentsForeword John Ewing Introduction Alberto Zambenedetti Maps/Scenes Scenes 1-6 1949-1970 Scenes 7-13 1977-1987 Scenes 14-19 1989-1997 Scenes 20-25 1998-2006 Scenes 26-31 2007-2011 Scenes 32-37 2012-2013 Scenes 38-44 2013-2015 Essays Cleveland: City of Imagination Alberto Zambenedetti & William Patrick Day Views from the Rustbelt: Cleveland's Industrial History Burke Hilsabeck Cleveland Sports, Hollywood Movies William Patrick Day Art Cinema or Porn? Grace An The Rock and Roll Capital of the World James V. Banta Secret Identities: Cleveland and the Comic Book Film Brian Doan The Conceptual Image: The Cinema of Richard Myers Burke Hilsabeck On Race and Infrastructure: The Films of Kevin Jerome Everson Alberto Zambenedetti

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth behind-the-scenes guide to the upcoming Marvel film Spider-Man: Far From Home.A deluxe collector's edition based on the sequel to Marvel Cinematic success Spider-Man Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home.Trade Review"The perfect companion piece to the 22nd MCU film" - Marvel.com

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth behind-the-scenes guide to the forthcoming Avengers: Infinity War sequel, Avengers: Endgame!A deluxe collector's edition detailing the follow-up film to the epic cinematic phenomenon Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame. Go behind the scenes on the highly aniticipated Marvel film.Trade Review"To any fan of the MCU, this 96-page hardback edition is a must-own" - Geeks of Doom

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Book SynopsisThe official souvenir collector’s guide to Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye, as seen on Disney+.A behind-the-scenes look at Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye, this deluxe book is a must-have for all fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.Featuring interviews with the cast and crew including Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner, and co-stars Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Alaqua Cox (Maya Lopez), and Vincent D'Onofrio (Kingpin) this collector’s edition explores the making of the action-packed show including chapters dedicated to fights and stunts, and the stunning costume departments with exclusive photos and art.

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Book SynopsisA special behind-the-scenes guide to the making of the all-new animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This deluxe book explores the all-new movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.Go behind-the-scenes with the makers of the movie in this lavish volume that features amazing artwork and photography from the visually stunning new film.

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Book SynopsisKinoSputniks closely analyse some key films from the history of Russian and Soviet cinema. Written by international experts in the field, they are intended for film enthusiasts and students, combining scholarship with an accessible style of writing. This KinoSputnik on Andrei Tarkovsky's debut feature Ivan's Childhood examines the production, context and reception of the film, whilst offering a detailed reading of its key themes. Through a close examination of its intricate narrative structure, unique stylistic approach and deep philosophical underpinnings, this KinoSputnik provides a thorough analysis of a truly remarkable debut film, from an artist now considered a towering figure of Russian culture. Primary readership will be among film studies students and film enthusiasts. A list of all books in the series is here on the Intellect website on the series page KinoSputnikTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vii Note on Transliteration ix Acknowledgements xi Production Information xiii Plot Summary xv Introduction 1 1. Production History and Context 13 2. Film Analysis 49 3. Themes and Motifs 97 4. Reception in the Soviet Union and Abroad 147 Conclusion 161 Notes 165 References 169

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Book SynopsisBe they musicals or melodramas, war movies or animation, Russian films have a long and fascinating history of addressing the major social and political events of their time. From Sergei Eisenstein’s anti-tsarist drama, The Battleship Potemkin, to socialist realism, to the post-glasnost thematic explosion, this volume explores the sociopolitical impact of the cinema of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Introductory essays establish key players and situate important genres within their cultural and industrial milieus, while reviews and case studies analyse individual titles in considerable depth. For the film studies scholar, or for all those who love Russian cinema and want to learn more, Directory of World Cinema: Russia will be an essential companion.Trade ReviewA provocative and illuminating volume. Even seasoned Russian film experts stand to learn something from this volume, whether because it invited them to reevaluate their basic historiographical assumptions or because it introduces them to a number of under-the-radar films. -- Hannah Frank, Slavic and East European JournalPeppered with high-quality film stills and questions to consider while viewing, Directory of World Cinema: Russia encourages its reader to hunt out lesser-known films and to revisit his/her favourites. -- Rosemari Baker, Modern Language ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction Film of the Year Vasilii Sigarev’s Wolfy (2009) Interview Vasilii Sigarev and Iana Troianova Film Production in Russia: An Industry? Festival Focus Kinotavr What Does zhanr Mean in Russian? Directors Evgenii Bauer Sergei Eisenstein Dziga Vertov Andrei Tarkovskii Nikita Mikhalkov Aleksandr Sokurov Historical Film War Film Comedy and Musical Comedy Melodrama Literary Adaptation Biopic Action/Red Western Children’s Films Animation Documentary

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Book SynopsisJames Agee brought to bear all his moral energy, slashing wit, and boundless curiosity in the criticism and journalism that established him as one of the commanding literary voices of America at mid-century. In 1944 W. H. Auden called Agee’s film reviews for The Nation “the most remarkable regular event in American journalism today.” Those columns, along with much of the movie criticism that Agee wrote for Time through most of the 1940s, were collected posthumously in Agee on Film: Reviews and Comments, undoubtedly the most influential writings on film by an American. This Library of America volume supplements the classic pieces from Agee on Film with previously uncollected writings on Ingrid Bergman, the Marx Brothers, Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat, Vittorio De Sica’s Shoeshine, and a wealth of other cinematic subjects. Whether reviewing a Judy Garland musical or a wartime documentary, assessing the impact of Italian neorealism or railing against the compromises in a Hollywood adaptation of Hemingway, Agee always wrote of movies as a pervasive, profoundly significant part of modern life, a new art whose classics (Chaplin, Dovzhenko, Vigo) he revered and whose betrayal in the interests of commerce or propaganda he often deplored. If his frequent disappointments could be registered in acid tones, his enthusiasms were expressed with passionate eloquence. Agee’s own work as a screenwriter is represented by his script for Charles Laughton’s unique and haunting masterpiece of Southern gothic, The Night of the Hunter, adapted from the novel by Davis Grubb. This collection also includes examples of Agee’s masterfully probing reporting for Fortune—on subjects as diverse as the Tennessee Valley Authority, commercial orchids, and cockfighting—and a sampling of his literary reviews, among them appreciations of William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf, S. J. Perelman, and William Carlos Williams.LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

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Book SynopsisAs one of popular culture’s most popular arenas, sports are often the subject of cinematic storytelling. But boxing films are special. There are more movies about boxing, by a healthy margin, than any other sport, and boxing accompanied and aided the medium’s late nineteenth-century emergence as a popular mass entertainment. Many of cinema’s most celebrated directors—from Oscar Micheaux to Martin Scorsese—made boxing films. And while the production of other types of sports movies generally corresponds with the current popularity of their subject, boxing films continue to be made regularly even after the sport has wilted from its once-prominent position in the sports hierarchy of the United States. From Edison’s Leonard-Cushing Fight to The Joe Louis Story, Rocky, and beyond, this book explores why boxing has so consistently fascinated cinema and popular media culture by tracing how boxing movies inform the sport’s meanings and uses from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century.Trade Review“While focusing on African American representation and racial conflict, Travis Vogan offers a fluent and engaging survey of boxing’s transmedia history.” -- Leger Grindon * author of Knockout: the Boxer and Boxing in American Cinema *"29 Best New Cinema Books To Read In 2021" * Book Authority *"I have a soft spot for boxing movies. They are about the triumph of humanity and the specificity of training. This is another book that takes on an entire genre and breaks it down from memorable hits to forgotten titles." * No Film School *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Boxing Film Over Time and Across Media 1. The Boxing Film through the Golden Age of Sports Media 2. St. Joe Louis, Surrounded by Films 3. TV Fighting and Fighting TV in the 1950s 4. Muhammad Ali, The Super Fight, and Closed-Circuit Exhibition 5. The 1970s, Rocky, and the Shadow of Ali 6. HBO Sports: Docu-Branding Boxing 7. Protecting Boxing with the Boxing Film Conclusion: Handling the Rules Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisAs one of popular culture’s most popular arenas, sports are often the subject of cinematic storytelling. But boxing films are special. There are more movies about boxing, by a healthy margin, than any other sport, and boxing accompanied and aided the medium’s late nineteenth-century emergence as a popular mass entertainment. Many of cinema’s most celebrated directors—from Oscar Micheaux to Martin Scorsese—made boxing films. And while the production of other types of sports movies generally corresponds with the current popularity of their subject, boxing films continue to be made regularly even after the sport has wilted from its once-prominent position in the sports hierarchy of the United States. From Edison’s Leonard-Cushing Fight to The Joe Louis Story, Rocky, and beyond, this book explores why boxing has so consistently fascinated cinema and popular media culture by tracing how boxing movies inform the sport’s meanings and uses from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century.Trade Review“While focusing on African American representation and racial conflict, Travis Vogan offers a fluent and engaging survey of boxing’s transmedia history.” -- Leger Grindon * author of Knockout: the Boxer and Boxing in American Cinema *"29 Best New Cinema Books To Read In 2021" * Book Authority *"I have a soft spot for boxing movies. They are about the triumph of humanity and the specificity of training. This is another book that takes on an entire genre and breaks it down from memorable hits to forgotten titles." * No Film School *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Boxing Film Over Time and Across Media 1. The Boxing Film through the Golden Age of Sports Media 2. St. Joe Louis, Surrounded by Films 3. TV Fighting and Fighting TV in the 1950s 4. Muhammad Ali, The Super Fight, and Closed-Circuit Exhibition 5. The 1970s, Rocky, and the Shadow of Ali 6. HBO Sports: Docu-Branding Boxing 7. Protecting Boxing with the Boxing Film Conclusion: Handling the Rules Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisPutting Asian and European musicals into conversation with Hollywood classics like Singin’ in the Rain and La La Land, this study demonstrates the flexibility and durability of the genre. It explores how the movie musical mediates between nostalgia and technical innovation, while foregrounding the experiences of women, immigrants, and people of color.Trade Review"In her follow-up to The Migration of Musical Film, Desiree Garcia discards the ‘boom and bust’ narrative stubbornly bonded to the Hollywood musical—along with its link to ‘mindless’ escapism. Through attentive, close readings, The Movie Musical unearths ways that musicals accommodate changing times and audiences, acknowledging their insights about the cultures and audiences in which they work—and actually help construct. A welcome addition to film musical and genre scholarship." -- Caryl Flinn * author of Brass Diva and The Sound of Music (BFI Film Classics) *"‘S Wonderful! ‘S Marvelous! How can such a diverse genre be covered so well in so short a book? Desirée Garcia’s The Movie Musical adeptly surveys its long history and recurring conventions while offering a global perspective that enables her to discuss the genre in original and innovative ways." -- Steven Cohan * author of Incongruous Entertainment, Hollywood by Hollywood, and Hollywood Musicals *"Dartmouth College professor and author Desirée J. Garcia’s tightly packed and deeply researched study examines the genre’s illumination of more than just our collective daydreams and escape impulses." * Chicago Tribune *“The Movie Musical covers the genre’s history and conventions well while offering some interesting new perspectives on what the musical is, what it has done, and what it can do.” -- Medien Wissenschaft * Drew Bassett *Table of ContentsContents INTRODUCTION THE MUSICAL AS ARCHIVE THE MUSICAL AS SOCIETY THE MUSICAL AS MEDIATION ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS FURTHER READING WORKS CITED INDEX

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Book SynopsisHaunted Homes is a short but groundbreaking study of homes in horror film and television. While haunted houses can be fun and thrilling, Hollywood horror tends to focus on haunted homes, places where the suburban American dream of safety and comfort has turned into a nightmare. From classic movies like The Old Dark House to contemporary works like Hereditary and the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, Dahlia Schweitzer explores why haunted homes have become a prime stage for dramatizing anxieties about family, gender, race, and economic collapse. She traces how the haunted home film was intertwined with the expansion of American suburbia, but also explores works like The Witch and The Babadook, which transport the genre to different times and places. This lively and readable study reveals how and why an increasing number of films imagine that home is where the horror is. Watch a video of the author discussing the topic Haunted Homes (https://youtu.be/_irTEfvtZfQ).Trade Review"Dahlia Schweitzer's brilliantly-crafted book provides a perfect autopsy of the haunted house genre. Haunted Homes is not just a useful dissection of a popular subgenre of horror, it provides the perfect re-watch list for fans seeking to confront their inner fears." — Chris Gore, co-founder of Film Threat Dahlia Schweitzer’s “Haunted Homes” A Little Nerd News— The Mo'Kelly Show "Dahlia Schweitzer’s book Haunted Homes is a fascinating exploration of our culture's nearly insatiable desire for films that explore this genre. It is as hard to put down as it is to avert your eyes from the screen, even as you know you’re going to cower in fear." — Michael Grais, co-writer of Poltergeist New Books Network: New Books in Popular Culture interview with Dahlia Schweitzer — New Books Network: New Books in Popular Culture "Exclusive Excerpt from Dahlia Scweitzer's Haunted Homes"— Film Threat "In this highly entertaining book Dahlia Schweitzer takes readers on a tour of the American middle-class suburbs where true evil lurks, from The Cat and the Canary (1927) to The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix, 2018). The American dream to own one’s home has a flipside, namely to be stuck in a place that can be economically draining and literally the entrance to hell. Haunted Homes is one of those rare finds where state-of-the-art research and excellent prose go hand in hand and make you finish this book faster than a thriller.” — Rikke Schubart, author of Mastering Fear: Women, Emotions, and Contemporary Horror "Haunted Homes is a book for anyone who has ever awoken in the depths of the night, convinced that they heard someone–or something–lurking beyond their bedroom door. Through engaging analyses of American Horror Story (2011–) and Get Out (2017), amongst many others, Schweitzer proves that home ownership really is ‘a literal nightmare’."— Alison Peirse, editor of Women Make Horror SKYLIT: Dahlia Schweitzer, “HAUNTED HOMES”— Skylit: Skylight Books Podcast SeriesTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 The Suburbs 2 The Suburban Gothic 3 Gender, Horror, and the Family 4 Race, Horror, and the Family Conclusion Acknowledgments Further Reading Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisVivid images of the apocalypse proliferate throughout contemporary cinema, which pictures the death of civilization in wildly different ways. Some films imagine a future where humanity is wiped out entirely, while others envision humans as an endangered species, enslaved by alien invaders or hunted by zombie hordes. This book provides a lively overview of apocalypse cinema, including alien invasions, nuclear annihilation, asteroid collisions, climate change, and terrifying plagues. Covering pivotal films from the silent era to the present day, including Metropolis, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dr. Strangelove, Contagion, and Avengers: Endgame, Stephen Prince explores how these dark visions are rooted in religious and prophetic traditions, and he considers how our love for apocalypse cinema is tied to fundamental existential questions and anxieties that never go out of fashion. Trade Review“From stories of cosmic catastrophes and space invaders to nuclear and natural disasters, Stephen Prince provides here an expertly-crafted, lively account of the apocalyptic visions made possible only by the movies.” — Carl Plantinga, author of Alternative RealitiesTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Sources and Traditions in Apocalyptic Cinema 2. Astrophobia 3. I’m Not Saying We Wouldn’t Get Our Hair Mussed 4. The Revenge of Nature Acknowledgements Further Reading Works Cited Index

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