El cine clásico de Hollywood

by Jane Staiger, Kristin Thompson, Staiger Bordwell

Convertido ya en un clásico por su innovador enfoque, el presente libro analiza las condiciones básicas de la cinematografía norteamericana como institución histórica y estudia hasta qué punto la producción fílmica de Hollywood constituye una empresa sistemática tanto en su estilo como en sus operaciones comerciales. Los autores muestran el proceso de formulación y estandarización de estas convenciones clásicas --siempre por encima de directores, géneros y estudios-- y el modo en que respondieron a la llegada del sonido, el color, la pantalla panorámica y el sonido estereofónico, arguyendo que cada nuevo desarrollo tecnológico cumplió una función dentro del sistema narrativo ya existente y ayudó a desarrollar sistemas de producción propio en una búsqueda constante de eficiencia, previsión e innovación. Única por su combinación de análisis teórico y evidencia empírica, esta obra es sin duda la mejor que se haya publicado nunca sobre el cine clásico de Hollywood, un manual obligatorio tanto para estudiantes como para profesores, así como para todas aquellas personas seriamente interesadas en el desarrollo de la industria cinematográfica.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Art, Media Tie In, Academic, Collections, History

Paperback

First published September 15, 1985

Reviews

[Nikola Theodore Lindenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly dry and factual in essence. The authors shy away from any opportunity to analyze the style and the techniques of classic Hollywood filmmaking, choosing instead to argue that nearly everything in the way Hollywood films before the 60s were made was influenced by technological developments and changes.
I see this book as a historical encyclopedia where the authors act as mere chroniclers. This is still a commendable effort on a larger scale, but reductive and uninspiring one for those who try to dissect and unpack the plethora of different stylistic ways in which films convey meaning to the spectator.

[Graeme · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful survey of Hollywood film production up to 1960, considering style, organizational modes of production, and technology, including the effects of technology on style. Occasionally, the writing on style can be pompous and pseudo-intellectual, finding academic-sounding words when simple words would do.

Hollywood has also exploited our search for temporal meaning by shaping the felt duration of our experience. Narrative 'rhythm' can be thought of as a way in which narration focuses and controls successive hypotheses.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book gives lots of great information about this classical period in Hollywood but does it in a confusing way. Many of the paragraphs are long and encompass many ideas, therefore it switches thought and many times without further explanation. I recommend it for the information you can wheedle out of it.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I generally disagree with the theory Bordwell and Thompson put forward (it's so reductive and a bit ridiculously simplistic), the book does a fantastic job of disseminating this theory; it's very convincing, and a very useful book for historical purposes, and learning how to see the narrative processes of the film.

[Viv · Rating 1 out of 5]

bordwell and thompson haunted me through my undergrad and made it absolutely miserable
i cannot express how much these readings made me want to switch out of my film degree
the fact that some of these chapters were mandatory readings for almost all my film classes is so sick and twisted

[Sabino Ibargüengoitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb work of great scholarship.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

embarrassing awful arguments made at times

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, very thorough look at classical Hollywood cinema - although it's much more focused on the technical aspects than on the lives of the main players. If you're interested in Hollywood figures, I would recommend Richard Dyer's Stars for an unconventional look at their lives and impact.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed study of how a Hollywood film is constructed, much on camera set up, shots, editing, and narrative structure. Essential.

[Kellista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordy, but a great resource for anyone who loves or is studying film.

[Chuck Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whaddya want me to say? If you're an aspiring film scholar and haven't read this (or at least the first section), you're doing everything wrong.

[Sara Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Qué más se puede decir de este clásico? Imprescindible.