![]() Instead, all we get is a very brief discussion on film language in the preface. ![]() ![]() It could also have done with some discussion of the theory of history as covered in Robert Allen and Douglas Gomery's Film History: Theory and Practice(1985). One would expect some discussion of what is meant by "narration" as it is defined in the various books on that topic in relation to film, such as Edward Branigan's Narrative Comprehension and Film (1992), David Bordwell's Narration in the Fiction Film (1987), and Kristin Thompson's Storytelling in the New Hollywood: Understanding Classical Narrative Technique (1999). Both terms can be problematic and that should be acknowledged. ![]() It purports to be "a history of narrative film" but neither of the terms "narrative" or "history" are discussed as paradigms or methodologies. It is undoubtedly an encyclopedic book, rather than an academic one with a thesis to argue, and therein lies both its strength and weakness. It is a hefty tome and quite an expensive one, so if a student is to be advised to purchase a copy, its usage as a textbook has to be assessed. ![]() Like David Bordwell and Kristin's Thompson's ubiquitous text Film Art, this book is a long-time survivor it has clearly been a great success for the publishers and has established itself as a standard textbook in many film studies courses. Reviewed by Fred Davies (Centre for Continuing Education, University of Sussex) ![]()
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