The Film Till Now: A Survey of World Cinema (1960 Edition)
"The Film Till Now: A Survey of World Cinema" by Paul Rotha is one of the most respected studies of early world cinema. Originally written in 1929 and reprinted in 1960, this book serves as a landmark reference for film historians, students, and classic cinema lovers.
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📘 Book Title
The Film Till Now: A Survey of World Cinema
Author: Paul Rotha (1907–1984)
Publication: 1960 Edition
Publisher: Twayne Publishers, New York
📖 Book Details
It was with some misgivings that I decided to let this book be republished, although it had been often requested. When it was written in 1929, I had had about twelve months' practical work of film-making, having spent an excessive amount of my childhood and schooldays in cinemas. The first draft manuscript was about three times its published length, and perhaps the main thing in its favour was that it showed an enthusiasm for films. It also set down with fair accuracy a large amount of factual information not easily found elsewhere. It came about like this. In 1928 I was employed first as an outside man' (which meant hiring furniture and properties) and later as an assistant in the art-department in the biggest British film studio of the time. My youthful impetuosity led me to criticise the lack of creative opportunities in the studio where I worked, and within a few days I was out on the street with nothing in my pocket. Many may now forget that 1929 saw the almost complete shut-down of British studios because of Hollywood's revolutionary change-over to the sound film. So, thwarted in my wish to be associated with making films I turned to the next best thing-writing about them. Mr. Jonathan Cape gave me the opportunity, for which I have always been grateful. Eighteen months later The Film Till Notw appeared, to be received in general by a friendly Press with the exception of the Trade's own papers. Naïvely I believed that its theories and facts would unlock the studio doors again to me. The opposite took place. I found employment still harder to get, until luckily I met Mr. John Grierson. He asked me to join his little unit at the Empire Marketing Board, where I worked for six months learning the rudiments of the documentary film method. Film Weekly, November 12, 1928. Since then I have been occupied mainly in making films and helping others to make them. There has been little time for writing books. The Film Till Note should, of course, have been wholly re-written; but I wonder if it would have been fair to alter points of view held nearly twenty years ago? Finally it was decided to let the main hody of the original text be reprinted as it stood, making only minor changes required for accuracy. Tempting as it was in places to modify an opinion, or add a new point of view, it has not been done. This is especially the case in regard to the Soviet chapter and with the early formative years of the American cinema. Prophecies about the dialogue film, largely disproved though they have been subsequently, must stand. I ask the reader's indulgence I have, however, been unable to resist adding a number of new footnotes where I felt they were justified. Knowing that perhaps the most used section of the book has been the Appendix of Production Units of some Outstanding Films, this list has been revised, expanded and brought up-to-date. The same has been done for the Glossary of Technical Terms and the Book List. The volume has also been re-illustrated. Most of the stills are from well-known and important films but occasionally, as with Lady Killer or Be Big, one has been included because it represents a trend in film subjects or styles rather than the film from which it is taken. To bring the survey as a whole up to 1948, I sought the help of my old friend in America, Mr. Richard Griffith, knowing that his approach to films is very close to mine He was almost the first correspondent I had after the publication of the book in America in 1930, second only to the late Eric Knight, perhaps one of the best film critics we have ever had. Mr. Griffith now holds the important post of Executive-Director at the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures in New York. He is also Assistant Director of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library in the same city. He has thus a wide experience in film viewing both past and present. It should
📚 Additional Book Details
- Topics: Motion Pictures, Cinema History
- Language: English
- Digitized by: Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
- Item Size: 1.7 GB
- Scanner: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
- Identifier: filmtillnow00roth
- OpenLibrary Edition: OL58835963M
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⭐ Why This Book Is Important
Paul Rotha’s work remains a foundational text for anyone studying early global cinema, silent film evolution, studio systems, and documentary development. The preface alone gives a rich glimpse into filmmaking struggles during the transition to sound cinema.
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📌 Tags
World Cinema History, Paul Rotha, The Film Till Now Book, Public Domain Books, Silent Film Era, Documentary Film History, Classic Cinema Studies, Motion Picture History, 1960 Cinema Books, Film Theory Classics
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