Some people claim that audiences go to the movies for the genre. Others say they go for the director. But most really go to see their favorite actors and actresses. This book explores the work of many of classic Hollywood's influential stars, such as James Cagney, Bette Davis, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. These so-called "pre-Brando" entertainers, often dismissed as old fashioned, were part of an explosion of talent that ran from the late 1920s through the early 1950s. The author analyzes their compelling styles and their ability to capture audiences.

Modern screen acting in English is dominated by two key figures: Method acting guru Lee Strasberg--who taught the "the art of experiencing" over "the art of representing"--and English theater titan Laurence Olivier, who once said of the Method's immersive approach, "try acting, it's so much easier." This book explores in detail the work of such method actors as Al Pacino, Ellen Burstyn, Jack Nicholson and Jane Fonda, and charts the shift away from the more internally focused Strasberg-based acting of the 1970s, and towards the more "external" way of working, exemplified by the career of Meryl Streep in the 1980s.

Many young people are fascinated by the idea of being actors but have little idea of what the career entails. This book provides a detailed look at the captivating world of television and movie acting from both the glamorous and practical sides. It explores what it is like to be an actor during preproduction, filming, and postproduction, and offers extensive information on how to develop acting skills while in high school. It provides invaluable information on training for and breaking into acting as a career, an inside look at what it is like to be an actor, and an examination of how developing acting skills can lead to other career opportunities.

A two-volume biographical/critical dictionary of major, filmmakers from all countries, covering the entire history of the medium from 1890 to the present. Each director is treated in a separate essay that includes a detailed, chronological account of the subject's life and work and a summary of critical opinion. Includes filmography and a selective bibliography of books and articles.

Article abstracts and citations of reviews and dissertations covering the United States and Canada.