Product Description

The history of Hollywood and filmmaking comes alive in this spectacular nine hour celebration of movie magic. It's a mesmerizing, epic analysis that combines rare archival film, key scenes from immortal movies, interviews with leading filmmakers and commentary from noted film scholars and critics. As seen on PBS, this highly acclaimed series is the definitive chronicle of the American cinema, from its beginning to today. Includes interviews with Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Spike Lee, George Lucas, Sidney Lumet, Julia Roberts, Martin Scorsese, Gene Siskel, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and many more! Episodes: The Hollywood Style, The Star, Romantic Comedy, Film Noir, The Western, The Combat Film, The Studio System, Film in the Television Age, The Film School Generation, The Edge of Hollywood.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76655 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-08-22
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 542 minutes

Customer Reviews

Best Film Class Value
If you want to undertake a serious study of what makes movies tick, this it it.

It is to be underscored that this is not a collection of clips with an effusive commentary. Instead, it is a serious and organized study of how cinema works to deliver an emotional and cognitive message by use of visual language. "Pure cinema" does not exist per se, but you get a much better idea of what it might be by viewing this series.

If, after seeing it, you decide to enroll in a local film study course, I think the makers of this great work will have achieved what they sought.

Accessible and Lively Film History
I use this set for film and history classes because the references are fresh and available to those whose have interest but little knowledge. The absence of academic vocabulary may by off-putting to some, but it makes the viewer feel well-informed and well-entertained at the same time. My idea of education!

Misses ONE Major aspect of American Cinema
Animation. Even Orsen Welles has said on numerous occasions that the single biggest influence on his visual approach to Citizen Kane was Walt Disney's Pinocchio. Disney's impact on cinema with his specific use of sound and especially Technicolor,and its ability of color to support the dramatic stories he told must not be underestimated. Disney even had exclusive rights to 3 strip Technicolor for a number of years. The "integrated" movie musical BEGAN with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and was immediatly co-opted by MGM in it's succesful slew of musical movies. Why he is virtually entirely missing from this documentary is quite simply shocking. Otherwise, it's a fun watch.