Re: film history, I have used Jack Ellis' A HISTORY OF FILM (Prentice-Hall) and recommend it. The unique feature may be his focus in different eras on selected directors. For example, in the chapter, "Golden Age of French Cinema, 1935-1939," he treats Rene Clair, Marcel Pagnol, and Jean Vigo as forerunners of the period; offers a background on "Literary, Theatrical, and Painting Traditions"; and then treats five major directors: Jacques Feyder, Julien Duvivier, Pagnol (again), Marcel Carne, and Jean Renoir. Any history is somewhat cursory, but I enjoyed Ellis' attempt to focus on a few elements in each period. Doyle Burke Mesa Community College (AZ) [log in to unmask]