Hollywood Films -- The History of the American Film Industry's Development Since 1891

Author: (USA) Richard Maltby
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: A history of Hollywood cinema is primarily a speculative history driven by economic interests. Only by completely accepting, rather than denying, the existence of film as a commodity can we fully understand it. The true value of film does not lie in the profits it generates but in the opportunities it provides for collaboration between the film industry and other fields. Film offers the key to this magical kingdom. For domestic readers, this book serves as a corrective. With the further development of the film market and the prosperity of the DVD market, audiences' perceptions of film have far surpassed the experience of open-air screenings. By providing a comprehensive examination of Hollywood, this book offers a systematic and complete concept of "what film is," helping us reflect on film in our daily lives and aiding our judgment of our national cinema. For general readers, it allows for a fresh perspective on Hollywood cinema as a unique form of entertainment, increasing their knowledge of film; for filmmakers, it offers insights into the unique artistic rules of Hollywood-style commercial cinema; for producers, it provides lessons in Hollywood's film concepts and operational methods from its commercial practices; and for theorists, it enables reflection on history and issues through an understanding of Hollywood's characteristics. With such a substantial work of hundreds of thousands of words, introducing domestic readers to a new perspective on everyday film is undoubtedly beneficial for the development of China's film industry.