UNDERSTANDING MOVIES The Art and History of Film

Listeners are likely to have their own opinions about many of the movies that Professor Raphael Shargel discusses. An observation by Shargel is likely enough to elicit "Well, duh!" as much as "Say, I never thought of it that way!" Shargel has an engaging, friendly voice and a logical mind. He takes a chronological approach, recounting the important elements of the films of various periods—starting with silent pictures, moving to the talkies, and continuing through the period of Technicolor and beyond. The production has no audio embellishment—no background music, for example, to add to the historical ambiance. Nonetheless, the combination of fact and opinion works well. D.R.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]