Film History/Theory Resources

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Hey all. I'm trying to turn myself into a proper film buff and have been watching a lot of old films as a result. I've been trying to learn more about the history of film, and also film theory. So I figured it would be cool to have a thread where anyone who is interested can share cool resources they have found, if they're interested.

I'll Start: Understanding Movies by Louis Giannetti is pretty pricey because it is an out of print textbook, but you can find a great sample chapter online here: https://www.pearsonhighered.com/assets/ ... 944515.pdf This is a great introduction to the distinction between Formalism and Realism and how the camera can be used to convey meaning, and yeah, it's written like a textbook, but there are a lot of pictures from movies alongside the text so you can see what is being talked about.

For something less dry and academic but still informative, the ABCs of Cinematography by Film Crit Hulk is a great video glossary of various cinematography terms and what meanings various techniques convey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZW3OsHpjiY&t=1330s

The recommended viewing list for Harvard film studies is pretty good.
The films are not "the Best", it's neither a comprehensive historical overview, but each is notable for some specific aspect.

The animation section is lacking, though.

Maybe my Google skills are lacking, but I can't find that list straight from Harvard. Is this version on IMDB accurate to the list's contents? https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003863634/

It seems pretty good, I like that Alice-Guy is represented.

Edit: And the Killer (1989) is on there! One of my fave movies.

This is a great resource on Alice-Guy Blache. Widely known as the first female filmmaker and among the first to make fiction films. The site's author Alison McMahan has a Phd in cinema studies and women's studies so I assume she knows what she's talking about. https://aliceguyblache.com/

I think the filmographies list in the More About Alice Guy section is particularly useful as a research aid. It's often confusing as to who filmed what back then and it's nice to have a source from an academic making their best guess.

I've been reading Early Film History by William Foster. I'm over the halfway point and feel like I can have an opinion on it now. It's pretty good, and a quick read. But it should really be called "Early American Film History." I mean, ok, it does mention things like German Expressionism, Kuleshov, Mellies, etc. but it mainly focuses on America. It is at the very least Eurocentric, I'm over halfway and there has been no mention of film outside of America and Europe. (Flipping ahead I do see mentions of Italian neo-realism and Godzilla)

It's like a bunch of mini biographies of famous actors, executives, and why their works were important to the film industry. Or about the impacts and achievements of important films. There's a little too much emphasis on the business side of things, but I suppose this is important for a full understanding of the movies. And no mention of Maya Deren? One of the most important figures of American avant-garde film? Ok.

Not saying the book sucks, but you should probably be aware going in that this is a book that very much focuses on the rise and troubles of the American film industry. FYI it spans from the end of the 19th century up until the 1950s. It's a good primer for more research. Still pretty readable and I find it's pretty easy to find specific passages when I want them.

Gosh, finally something I feel like I can have a creative conversation about

I'm a huge film buff, both good and bad movies. One of the yewtub channels my wife and I like to watch is:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DarkCornersReviewsPlus/videos

There is some really funny stuff on there But... there is very scholarly work too!! !! For instance, please find some time to watch this, NO REALLY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYWD4-jlxJ0

If you haven't seen Fritz Lang's "M", I am envious of you, yer gunna be totally floored. BTW, don't watch the dubbed version, Peter Lore's performance at the end needs to be seen/heard in the original German. It's quite literally one of the greatest films ever made, zero exaggeration on my part there

This guy is usually pretty good too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doaQC-S8de8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWEjxkkB8Xs

Again, you will learn a lot from the above vids.

Are you familiar with Akira Kurosawa?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Kurosawa

He did some amazing films, but the one that comes to mind is "Stray Dog" from 1949: it's about a policeman who loses his gun on the train and has to find it again somewhere in Tokyo--GULP!

Please ask more questions!! !! !! !

DIVAIR

I see you're a Louise Brooks fan Have you seen:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017382/?r ... lmg_act_19

Do you know about William S. Hart? Here's an amazing film from 1916, "Hell's Hinges":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXryvxzeo5s

It's a Western, but, it's not a "Classic Western" 1940's-60's , this instead is shockingly dark in its theme. Because of the Hays Code, as you probably know, film became pretty sterile, and it wasn't until the late 1960's that Westerns were able to portray anything near what goes on in this one

William S. Hart films always look authentic in their costumes and sets: he always strove for that: they look like an old photo come to life

DIVAIR

It'll take me a while to check through all that in detail DIVAIR, but it looks good!

M is already on my watchlist, Kurosawa too. Every Frame a Painting is good, I like their video on Satoshi Kon, who is a personal favorite of mine.

Last night we watched "Drunken Angel", "Drunken Angel (醉いどれ天使, Yoidore Tenshi) is a 1948 Japanese yakuza film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is notable for being the first of sixteen film collaborations between director Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune." WOW

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040979/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I couldn't help feel that Kurosawa was inspired by Fritz Lang, Dr. Mabusa series of films, especially this one, "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse" (1933):

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023563/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

This one's a proto-Noir, and like "M" is another true masterpiece of film, most of Lang's work is, meh, but when he's good, he's on fire!! !!

Speaking of Yakuza-films, did you ever see "Black Rain"?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096933/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Director: Ridley Scott

Stars: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura

DIVAIR

Oh, and if you like old music, be sure to check this out:

https://www.swingstreetradio.org/listen ... -requests/

Streams 24/7, free too! 1920's - 50's, some modern recording too, but hey, no one perfect, right?

DIVAIR