Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture by Peter Kobel

January 14, 2010 — 4 Comments

Happy Belated Xmas, Amy!
it’s here, it’s here!

After ages on my Amazon Wishlist, my dad made it happen. *laughs*

The book is the hardcover version, with roughly 278pgs including a foreword by Martin Scorsese, and introduction… other written content, photos, posters, and ending with an epilogue. There’s also 20-ish extra pages with an afterword, acknowledgments, bibliography and index.

When I opened the book and saw the content, I was instantly reminded of that paper (monograph) I wrote for school nearly 10 years ago about the cinematographer. Obviously, this one is better and has loads of information. Now, if only this book had been on sale 10 years ago and helped me with my paper… my paper would’ve been rocking. It was rocking, but it would have been way cooler…

It has some really great information and “tips” that include not giving Edison so much credit for cinema, of course… I knew that the Lumiere bros were a couple of the few that had to do with it. But wow… Edison. xD

Besides the information in written form, the book has some really great movie stills and captures of great details. My only pet-peeve with this book would be the layout. I don’t think it works very well. Sometimes the images don’t fit on the grid and it just stretch a bit the text on the other side, sometimes even making one line of 4 words jump back to its place.

Then… sometimes I’m reading and I have to turn mid-sentence to find out there’s some insert on some other topic for the next two pages, and continue reading the mid sentence. Of course I finish the sentence until the end point, then go back to the insert and read it, but that kind of messes with my reading.

The Great Train Robbery (1903)
by Edwin S. Porter

And of course, there’s Greta Garbo xD
and a mention of The Gösta Berling Saga, which I will be watching this weekend.

There’s short mentions to Méliès with Le Voyage dans la Lune (1902), and there’s also Animation! (plus other genres) mention… including a shout-out to Gertie the Dinosaur xD

Does anyone feel in the mood for some Smashing Pumpkins?

Results? Great book for Silent Film/Film Lovers.

4 responses to Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture by Peter Kobel

  1. Ahhh Gösta Berling! I think u are going to love it!

  2. I wish my pappa was as clever as yours to navigate at Amazon xD

  3. Julz, the expectations are high xD

    Nayeli, just send wishlist to ur dad. LOL
    they have those ‘buy it for’ options hahahaha

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