Historical Dictionary of American Cinema

Booker (English, Univ. of Arkansas) here offers a dictionary listing genres, directors, writers, actors, and production companies that make up the backbone of American cinema. The dictionary is well laid out with cross-references and a thorough bibliography broken down by subject. Certain films are listed as examples of a given genre—e.g., The Searchers (Westerns) or Casablanca ("a film of its time…set in World War II")—but it is unclear why other films such as It's a Wonderful Life appear as entries, while others, like Patton, are not listed individually. Likewise, the text seems to rely heavily on the American Film Institute's listing of the greatest films in making choices about inclusion in the dictionary. Some historical events are also included, such as the blacklisting of the Hollywood ten and the Paramount antitrust case. A detailed chronology covers American cinema history from 1878 to 2010, and the text features a 12-page introductory essay that takes the reader from the era of silent movies through Hollywood's golden age and into the 21st century. BOTTOM LINE A solid starting point for general readers and casual movie buffs. Readers looking for a more comprehensive listing may want to consider another resource, such as one of Leonard Maltin's many classic annual movie guides.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee