A Short History of Film, Fourth Edition

This updated and expanded edition of A Short History of Film provides an accessible overview of the major movements, directors, studios, and genres from the 1880s to the present. Succinct yet comprehensive, with more than 250 rare stills and illustrations, it brings readers face to face with many of the key players and films that have shaped the industry. Beginning with the precursors of moving pictures, Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey Foster lead a fast-paced tour through the invention of the kinetoscope, the introduction of sound and color between the two world wars, and ultimately the computer-generated imagery of the present day. They detail significant periods in world cinema, including the creation of early major industries in Europe, the dominance of the Hollywood studio system in the 1930s and 1940s, and the French New Wave of the 1960s. They also highlight independent efforts in developing nations and the corresponding more personal independent film movement that briefly flourished in the United States. Along the way, the authors incorporate the stories of women and other minority filmmakers who have often been overlooked in other texts. Compact and easily readable, this is a vital history of international cinema is a one-stop resource for students, teachers, and general readers alike.

• Publication date: 14 October 2025
• Page count: 468
• Dimensions: Height 254 mm; Width 178 mm
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9781978837676