The Best Books for Film Fanatics
We look at the best critical studies of film from Hollywood and beyond from Columbia University Press

Perlego is growing! We’re proud to now offer titles from Columbia University Press’ brilliant selection of scholarly works in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Before diving into their whole collection, why not browse our reading list of film criticism and history? Perfect reading for any avid film fan or film studies student.

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Hollywood may now be the home of uncontroversial, popular blockbusters, but this wasn’t always the case. Thomas Doherty’s book looks behind the scenes of a communist-fearing, highly suspicious world of cinema and tells the story of Hollywood’s Cold War. Centering on the House of Un-American Activities Committee’s “Hollywood Ten” hearings in 1947, this in-depth account investigates the background tensions and the blacklist aftermath of a shocking cultural showdown. Read for a vivid, character driven history behind the front of Hollywood glamour.

How Did Lubitsch Do It?
If you’re a fan of the iconic films of Alfred Hitchcock or Billy Wilder, it’s time to get to know Ernst Lubitsch: the director who influenced both. Joseph McBride’s book provides the first critical study to consider the full breadth of his idiosyncratic cinematography and its cultural impact. Famed for his directorial style, known fondly as the ‘Lubitsch touch,’ the German-American director produced a body of films known for their sexual progressiveness and cunningly witty humour. This book is a must-ready study of one of classic Hollywood’s most genius directors.

The Cinema of Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson has taken indie cinema by storm with his beautifully colourful, bittersweet, and utterly distinct movies. His work is so individualised that it only takes a single frame to recognise it, with such memorable visuals as the startling fashion of Margot Tenenbaum and the pastel pink exterior of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Dilley’s scholarship on Anderson’s work examines both the makings of and themes of his films, giving readers a look into his precisely made and aesthetically stunning ouevre. A fascinating read for future film-makers and fans of Anderson’s cinematography.

Cinematic Overtures
Everyone knows that the first seconds of a movie can be make or break. Annette Insdorf’s study of films’ first moments reveals how vital those first few seconds can be, as viewers are pulled into a new reality by the power of the camera. Dissecting the opening scenes of such classics as Taxi Driver, Psycho, and Fight Club, this book views film with fresh eyes and brings attention to lesser-known movies that deserve to be discovered. Insdorf’s clear and accessible text is an enlightening introduction to studying film.
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