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Pyramid Illustrated History of the Movies
The war film
From The Birth of the Nation to Patton, from Shoulder Arms to MASH, films have sought to convey the experience of war, and the brutality, the courage, and the folly of those who wage it. Norman Kagan's book examines the most memorable of these films, joining dramatic photographs and astute commentary in a vivid portrait of the movie world of combat and conflict.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2021
A small book, but not bad. Kagan looks at war-movie tropes and subgenres: informative films about Why They Hate Us, rah-rah morale boosters, films about our allies or enemies (e.g., MRS. MINIVER or CHE!), anti-war films and war comedies. I'm not sure it sparked any deep insights, but I'll keep it in mind next war movie I watch.
November 3, 2021
This book's publication date is July 1974 -- so you know it's dated and doesn't cover anything post-Viet Nam war. Starting with that as a given, is it useful or even valuable? Somewhat -- thus two Goodreads stars: "It was OK" -- but only that.
Entries on most films were very brief. The book addresses (I'm estimating) more than 100 films, some in one sentence or one paragraph, others in several paragraphs. Occasionally the author comments on groups of films that exhibit similar qualities, e.g., "antiwar" or "atrocity." These groupings generally fall into the same chronological period, depending on how the public viewed the war(s) in question at the time the movies were made.
There's a "selective" filmography in the back of the book listing about 60 movies considered the most important of their times or types. I'm familiar with and have seen perhaps 80 percent of the films on that list and have seen many of them multiple times. I did not learn much about those films. At least the book served to remind me of some of these, as well as many flicks I've seen that didn't make the list.
Of the ones I haven't seen, most seemed too obscure to ever come across, although I have recordings of a couple of the silent ones and might watch them, now that they've come to mind again.
I found two obvious errors (wrong identification of airplanes in the movies being discussed). Obvious errors always make one wonder -- how many OTHER errors are NOT obvious. Yuk!
Haven't decided if this book is a keeper for reference or fodder for a "Little Free Library."
Decision -- to a "Little Free Library."
Entries on most films were very brief. The book addresses (I'm estimating) more than 100 films, some in one sentence or one paragraph, others in several paragraphs. Occasionally the author comments on groups of films that exhibit similar qualities, e.g., "antiwar" or "atrocity." These groupings generally fall into the same chronological period, depending on how the public viewed the war(s) in question at the time the movies were made.
There's a "selective" filmography in the back of the book listing about 60 movies considered the most important of their times or types. I'm familiar with and have seen perhaps 80 percent of the films on that list and have seen many of them multiple times. I did not learn much about those films. At least the book served to remind me of some of these, as well as many flicks I've seen that didn't make the list.
Of the ones I haven't seen, most seemed too obscure to ever come across, although I have recordings of a couple of the silent ones and might watch them, now that they've come to mind again.
I found two obvious errors (wrong identification of airplanes in the movies being discussed). Obvious errors always make one wonder -- how many OTHER errors are NOT obvious. Yuk!
Haven't decided if this book is a keeper for reference or fodder for a "Little Free Library."
Decision -- to a "Little Free Library."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews