Lots of interesting history awaits us to explore. History is like a vast treasure trove filled with countless stories, events, and characters. It allows us to look back in time and understand how our ancestors lived, what they believed in, and how they shaped the world we live in today.

We can learn about ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who made remarkable contributions in areas like architecture, art, and science. Their magnificent structures, like the pyramids in Egypt and the Colosseum in Rome, still stand as testaments to their engineering prowess.

History also teaches us valuable lessons. By studying past mistakes and successes, we can make better decisions in the present and avoid repeating the same errors. It helps us to develop a broader perspective and appreciate the diversity of human experiences.

In conclusion, history is not just a collection of facts and figures; it is a captivating and enlightening subject that enriches our understanding of the world and ourselves.

I read this one for a class I'm in for a book report.

As interesting as this book is, it's really dense. The amount of information and the complexity of the ideas presented make it a challenging read.

It took me awhile to get through it. I had to read each page carefully and sometimes re-read sections to fully understand what was being said.

However, despite the difficulty, I found the book to be very rewarding. The author's insights and perspectives were thought-provoking and gave me a new understanding of the subject matter.

I'm glad I took the time to read this book, and I would recommend it to others who are interested in the topic and are willing to put in the effort to understand it.

Read for HISTAA365: History of American Film

American film history is a rich and diverse tapestry that has evolved over the decades.

It began with the early pioneers of the silent era, who captivated audiences with their innovative storytelling techniques and visual spectacles.

The introduction of sound in the late 1920s revolutionized the industry, opening up new possibilities for dialogue, music, and sound effects.

The Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s saw the emergence of iconic studios and stars, producing classic films that are still beloved today.

Genres such as the musical, the western, and the romantic comedy flourished, each with its own unique style and charm.

In the post-war era, American film continued to evolve, reflecting the changing social and cultural landscape of the country.

The rise of independent filmmaking in the 1960s and 1970s brought new voices and perspectives to the big screen, challenging the dominance of the major studios.

Today, American film remains a global powerhouse, with a wide range of films being produced each year, from blockbusters to indie gems.

Studying the history of American film not only provides a fascinating glimpse into the past but also helps us understand the art form and its impact on society.

This is a rather appalling "history" of the American film industry.

It leans significantly on the concepts of the "great man" theory of history, which implies that history is shaped mainly by the actions and ideas of a few extraordinary individuals.

Moreover, it firmly holds the opinion that nothing positive occurred subsequent to the disintegration of the studio system in 1948.

There are far too numerous metaphors employed, which can sometimes make the text seem convoluted and hard to follow.

In addition, there are a great number of unsubstantiated claims regarding audience reception.

It is as if the author is making assumptions about how the audience reacted to various films and industry changes without providing solid evidence to support these assertions.

This approach makes the entire "history" less reliable and less convincing as a comprehensive account of the American film industry.

Perhaps a more objective and evidence-based analysis would offer a more accurate and useful understanding of this important aspect of American culture and entertainment.

The first half's exploration into the working-class, Jewish, immigrant origin of filmmaking and the movie business and culture in America, along with the history within it, is truly fascinating. It delves deep into the roots and shows how these early influences shaped the industry we know today.

However, the second half of the book is somewhat hampered by its publication date of 1975. In today's context, Sklar's analogy about studios having to make movies as if the rules of baseball changed so significantly that only a home run matters seems rather ironic. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight on the Moneyball era of baseball that we are currently experiencing and dealing with, it's interesting to see how the dynamics of both the movie and sports industries have evolved.

Perhaps if the book were updated to reflect more recent developments, it would provide an even more comprehensive and relevant analysis of the relationship between filmmaking and the changing landscape of the entertainment world.

The book is extremely, extremely dry.

It is more akin to an archive or reference book on the history of film in the US than what I had anticipated.

Surprisingly, it was assigned as required reading for a university film course that I graded for.

One would think that a book related to film, a medium known for its visual and emotional impact, would be more engaging.

However, this particular volume seems to focus solely on presenting facts and figures in a rather dull and uninteresting manner.

It lacks the vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes that could have brought the history of film to life.

As a result, it makes for a rather tedious read, even for those with a genuine interest in the subject matter.

Perhaps it would be more suitable as a resource for researchers or scholars who are looking for in-depth information on the history of film in the US.

But for the average student or film enthusiast, it may not hold much appeal.

I had to read this for my film class. I didn't manage to read the entire thing, but I did read a significant portion of it. The content was truly quite interesting. It made me think about films in a new and different light. In fact, it would be even more fascinating if I could actually view the films that it discusses. It presents a novel and engaging approach to looking at films. It seems to offer a unique perspective that I haven't encountered before. I'm sure that if I were to watch those films after reading this, my understanding and appreciation of them would deepen significantly. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to explore those films and see how they relate to the ideas presented in this reading.

The only shortcoming of this book is its need for an update. It was last written in 1994, and a great deal has evolved in film history since then. The new information would be very beneficial to this book.

However, aside from that, this is an excellent, comprehensive, and easily understandable account of the history of film in the United States. It also relates to social and cultural historical events. It is a great resource for film students or film enthusiasts, as it presents films from a historical perspective and offers a new angle of understanding.

The book provides a detailed exploration of the development of the film industry in the US, including the influence of different eras, directors, and technological advancements. It helps readers to better understand the context in which films were made and how they have contributed to the cultural and social fabric of the country.

Overall, despite its need for an update, this book is a valuable addition to any film lover's library and offers a wealth of knowledge and insights into the history of film in the United States.

The title gives the impression that this is a cultural history of American movies.

However, in my opinion, the book is more of a comprehensive history of American movies that incorporates a significant cultural aspect.

There is a wealth of commentary on how culture influenced movie-making and, conversely, how movies had an impact on American culture.

Nevertheless, the book also details how technology, demography, finance, and politics affected American movies, all within the span of less than 700 pages.

Considering the broad scope of the story that Sklar aims to convey, some of the passages might be more in the nature of summaries rather than in-depth discussions.

Nonetheless, they are adequate to illustrate the crucial role that all these factors play in the development of film and the film industry.

The text presented is rather dry and academic in nature, just as one might anticipate.

For me, at least, there is a disappointing lack of attention given to film craft and the allure of Hollywood glamor. However, when it comes to being a historical summary, it is incredibly comprehensive and dense.

It masterfully links together various elements such as film style, the author's intended purpose, the context of the audience, and political expression.

This detailed analysis provides a wealth of information and offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between these different aspects within the realm of film history.

Despite its shortcomings in terms of not fully exploring the more glamorous and artistic side of filmmaking, its thoroughness in presenting a historical overview cannot be denied.

It serves as a useful resource for those interested in delving deeper into the historical and cultural significance of films.

Engrossing, but dated and suffering from a feeling of incompleteness.

Robert Sklar shows how liberalizing and conservative forces have vied for dominance within the movie industry. Immigrant and working-class Jews were the pioneers of the movie industry. Their films not only challenged Victorian Protestant ideas of gender and violence in art but also, simultaneously, this working-class art form was pursued for profit rather than working-class solidarity.

By the 1930s, outside finance and moralistic reformers, first the Progressives and then political conservatives, especially the Catholic Legion of Decency, had gained significant control over Hollywood. As a result, most films became innocuous and conservative, with critiques of democracy, racial injustice, and capitalism becoming rare, although not completely extinct.

The rise of TV and European boycotts of American films, along with the new rock and roll youth culture and the disastrous Cold War blacklists, all damaged the American movie industry. There was a brief revival of contrarian values, expressed in films like "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Graduate," "Raging Bull," "The Godfather," etc., which clashed with the rise of blockbuster action films. Many of these action films advanced a black-and-white version of morality that was in line with Reagan-era conservatism.

The book ends in 1994, so Sklar brings us through the advent of home video, amateur film production, and independent movies. However, he is writing before DVD/BluRay, the superhero film wave, streaming, and the commercial Internet.

The book is incomplete in several aspects. While it touches on racial injustice in Hollywood films, it fails to explore the African American independent film industry of the sound era or Hollywood's minstrel films, such as the "Amos & Andy" series. There is no discussion of Mexican or Spanish-language cinema, nor does Sklar address the U.S.'s substantial takeover of the Canadian box office. The book is also disappointingly lacking in coverage of women and gender. The experiences of major actresses, male executives' sexual predation of female and child actors, and early female directors like Ida Lupino are completely omitted. These topics would have been in line with Sklar's aim of writing a cultural history of the movie industry's impact on American society. Additionally, more material on the blacksploitation era and the careers of Sidney Poitier, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy would have been beneficial.

This book offers a comprehensive history of the American film industry, as the title might imply. However, the title perhaps doesn't hint at the fact that it delves deeper into certain aspects than others.

Nonetheless, I would highly recommend it to anyone who holds the belief that America is devoid of culture.

The American film industry has been a significant force in shaping global popular culture, and this book does an excellent job of chronicling its evolution.

From the early days of silent films to the modern era of blockbusters and streaming, the book covers a wide range of topics, including the major studios, the influential filmmakers, and the social and cultural context in which the films were made.

By reading this book, one can gain a better understanding of the rich and diverse history of American film and see how it has contributed to the development of American culture as a whole.