On Wed, 6 Apr 1994 14:41:09 CST Ralph Drexler, BHC F/S said: >I've been looking for a replacement. I've looked at Cook's A HISTORY >OF NARRATIVE FILM (Norton, 1990, 2nd ed.) and at Thompson & >Bordwell's FILM HISTORY: AN INTRODUCTION (McGraw-Hill, 1994, 1st >ed.). Does anyone have a recommendation beyond the aforementioned? >Other comments? As is perhaps obvious, I would like to maintain a >historical approach. My text choice is due April 15th. -- Ralph Cook's and Bordwell/Thompson's are the most thorough, I think, Ralph. I haven't used B/T (since it just came out last month), but I have taught Cook a few times. My only problem with it was getting through it all in a single semester. When I first started using it in an Intro course my students' test scores plummeted. I've come to expect this when I first incorporate a new text and I usually ascribe it to the lack of test files on that book in the fraternity and sorority houses. But when the scores remained low in subsequent semesters I came to the conclusion that the text contained too much material for students to absorb in a single semester--or at least it seemed so for students that were just starting out in film studies (most of whom were not film majors). I've switched over now to Douglas Gomery's MOVIE HISTORY: A SURVEY (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1991). I'm not entirely satisfied with it. I worry that it might contain *too little* info. Still, you might want to check into it. Gomery is a good historian and that comes through, I think, in the text. It really depends on the level of student you're dealing with. For film majors who are sophomores or above, I'd go with B/T. For freshmen (or even high school students) and non-film majors, Gomery might be a better selection. ---------- In our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either. --Mark Twain-- ---------- | Jeremy G. Butler - - - - - - - - - - | Internet : [log in to unmask] | | SCREEN-L Coordinator | BITNET : JBUTLER@UA1VM | | | | Telecommunication & Film Dept * The University of Alabama * Tuscaloosa |