Secrets of Cinema: 100 Movies That Are Not What They Seem

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was a new form of storytelling that emerged from the ruins of World War I, challenging its audience to be viewed as something other than what was immediately presented. This book examines a spectrum of narrative films that can be seen in new ways with methods derived and evolved from the techniques of Caligari, offering new interpretations of classic and neglected films and opening further discussion and exploration. It encourages movie lovers to see more in the movies they love, critics to find new paths of investigation, and filmmakers to benefit from greater awareness of what movies can do.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 633 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: Academica Press

Over a century ago, a new form of storytelling emerged from the ruins of World War I, distinct in scope and power from theater or literature and unlike any film that had come before. Robert Wienes' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, released in 1919, boldly challenged its audience, demanding to be viewed as something other than what was immediately presented. Regrettably, criticism has not risen to this challenge. Condescendingly labeling the film as merely a horror genre or treating it as a mere case study in style, critics have failed to appreciate its true significance. On the other hand, the film's ambiguity, structural devices, and psychological depth gave cinema a range of tools that other filmmakers quickly adopted. This book examines a spectrum of narrative films that can be seen in new ways through methods derived and evolved from the techniques of Caligari. The intention is not only to offer new interpretations of classic and neglected films but also to foster further discussion and exploration. Written with optimism, the book aims to inspire movie lovers to discover more depth and meaning in the movies they love, to encourage critics to explore new avenues of investigation, and to empower filmmakers to harness the full potential of cinema.

Secrets of Cinema began in 1994, in discussions among friends after weekly movie nights hosted by the late Lawrence N. Fox on the 73rd floor of the John Hancock Center in Chicago. The movies selected for this book are not necessarily the greatest ever made, but rather those that offer new and valuable lessons in how movies work. Among the secrets of cinema revealed in this book are at least three films that are stealth remakes of The Wizard of Oz, hidden meanings behind films made under political repression, and why Hitchcock's Psycho is a masterpiece.

In conclusion, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a groundbreaking film that challenged the conventions, and the way. Its ambiguity, structural devices, and psychological depth gave cinema a range of tools that other filmmakers quickly adopted. This book examines a spectrum of narrative films that can be seen in new ways through methods derived and evolved from the techniques of Caligari. By offering new interpretations of classic and neglected films, fostering further discussion and exploration, and empowering filmmakers to harness the full potential of cinema, Secrets of Cinema aims to inspire movie lovers, encourage critics, and empower filmmakers to discover more depth and meaning in the movies they love.

Weight: 878g
Dimension: 228 x 154 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781680534931