Andre Bazin on Adaptation: Cinema's Literary Imagination

André Bazin's lifelong quest was to understand what cinema is through the comparison of films to literature. This collection showcases his critical genius, presenting his foundational concepts of the relationship between film and literary adaptation. It includes essays demonstrating his film theory, reviews of films adapted from renowned novels, and classic novels of the nineteenth century. This volume is a valuable resource for those interested in literary adaptation, authorship, classical film theory, French film history, and André Bazin's criticism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 436 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

André Bazin's lifelong quest was to understand the essence of cinema, and he achieved this by placing films alongside literature. By doing so, he was able to identify the aesthetic and sociological distinctiveness of each medium. Moreover, this approach enabled him to advocate for a modern conception of cinema that drew heavily from developments in the novel. Bazin's profound critical genius is evident in this collection, which offers readers a comprehensive introduction to his foundational concepts regarding the relationship between film and literary adaptation. Expertly curated and with an insightful introduction by renowned film scholar Dudley Andrew, the book begins with a selection of essays that showcase Bazin's film theory in action. It then proceeds to review films adapted from renowned novels of the day, such as Conrad, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Colette, Sagan, Duras, and others, as well as classic novels from the nineteenth century, including Bronte, Melville, Tolstoy, Balzac, Hugo, Zola, Stendhal, and many more. As a special bonus, Bazin examines adaptation after adaptation to assess what is at stake for culture, literature, and, most importantly, cinema. This volume is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in literary adaptation, authorship, classical film theory, French film history, and André Bazin's critical insights.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 142 x 210 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520375819