Synopses & Reviews
From the first published movie review in the late 1800s to the 21st-century era of the great movie critics wake,” this chronicle reviews the nature, scope, and controversies in American film criticism. Moving through the Silent Era, the pre- and post-war years, the golden age of the 1970s, and the eventual decline of the 1980s and 1990s, this exhaustive overview includes biographical information on some of the most influential film criticsincluding Leonard Maltin, Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael, and James Ageeas well as a historical record and critical assessment of their work. Illuminating various past controversies, this invaluable reference documents the battles between auteur theorists and their opposing critics as well as between the critics and studios, filmmakers, and even themselves. Little-known aspects of film criticism lore are also related, such as the epic battles waged in print by Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris, the studio boycotts of the New York Times and New York Herald Tribune over unflattering press, and the critics barred from attending premieres by studios for writing "negative" reviews. Honoring those who shed light on the artistic visions and storytelling sensibilities that have graced the big screen, this authoritative guide is a must-have for industry professionals, film historians, and movie buffs.
Review
"Roberts's attempt to tackle 100 years of history is remarkable." Library Journal
Review
"Jerry Roberts has achieved a remarkable feat of research and, in the areas where I have any knowledge, is fair and accurate. Nothing on this scale has ever been accomplished before." Roger Ebert
Review
"Jerry Roberts' amazingly comprehensive and well-organized The Complete History of American Film Criticism arrives at a time when the profession has become seriously endangered by the continuing decline of print journalism. Roberts, a former film critic, has not only been thorough but also has made astute appraisals of the major critics" Kevin Thomas
Review
"A thorough and informative history of 100 years of film criticism in America that does not stint on satisfying gossip and score-settling." Shelf Awareness
Review
"If journalismincluding film criticismis evanescent, Jerry Roberts has struck a blow for all of us who have spent our lives writing and talking about movies. Im sure this impressive, thoughtful book will be a valuable tool for anyone interested in the subject." Leonard Maltin
Synopsis
The Complete History of American Film Criticism is a chronicle of the lives and work of the most influential film critics of the past 100 years. From the first movie review in the
New York Times in 1896 through the Silent Era, the pre- and postwar years, the Film Generation of the 1960s, the Golden Age of the 1970s, and into the 21st century, critics have educated generations of discriminating moviegoers on the differences between good films and bad. They call attention to great directors, cinematographers, production designers, screenwriters, and actors, and shed light on their artistic visions and storytelling sensibilities.
People interested in what the great film critics had to say have usually been shortchanged as to their backgrounds, and just why they are qualified to sit in judgment. Using mini-biographies, placed within a chronological framework, The Complete History of American Film Criticism is the biography of a profession whose cultural impact has left an indelible mark on the 20th centurys most significant art form.
About the Author
Jerry Roberts is an acquisitions editor for Arcadia Publishing. He was a film critic and columnist for Copley Los Angeles Newspapers, Copley News Service, and the former Cinemania Web site, and has contributed to Daily Variety, DGA Magazine, and The Hollywood Reporter. He is a past coordinator of film programs for the UCLA Film and Television Archive, and is the author of the Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, The Great American Playwrights on the Screen, Mitchum: In His Own Words, and Movie Talk from the Front Lines. He lives in Carson, California.