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Category: Book Reviews

Classic film book reviews including my entries in the three past Summer Classic Film Reading Challenges hosted by the Out of the Past blog.

But Have You Read the Book Cover

But Have You Read the Book? — Book Review

September 6, 2023September 6, 2023Shawn Hall3 Comments

In the midst of putting together my list of six books to read and review for this summer’s classic film reading challenge, lady luck smiled upon me when I won a giveaway on Twitter from the wonderful women behind the Ticklish Business podcast. One …

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Book Reviews2023 Summer Reading Challenge, Literary Adaptations
Cover of Ed Hulse's book Filming the West of Zane Grey

Filming the West of Zane Grey — Book Review

August 19, 2023August 20, 2023Shawn Hall1 Comment

For each of the past two classic film reading challenges, I read a Zane Grey Western that had been adapted into multiple classic Hollywood films: Riders of the Purple Sage and Heritage of the Desert. Earlier this year when I saw a book covering …

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Book Reviews2023 Summer Reading Challenge, Silent Movies, Westerns, Zane Grey
How Motion Pictures Are Made Custom Thumbnail

How Motion Pictures Are Made (1918) — Book Review

July 22, 2023August 20, 2023Shawn Hall1 Comment

Homer Croy’s 1918 book How Motion Pictures Are Made has the best case for the earliest attempt at providing a comprehensive history and survey of the film industry to a general audience. Written several years before Hollywood studios solidified a working business model and hierarchal …

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Book Reviews1910s, 2023 Summer Reading Challenge, Silent Movies
Cinema Speculation Cover Art

Quentin Tarantino’s Cinema Speculation—Book Review

June 15, 2023August 20, 2023Shawn Hall1 Comment

One of the most critically and commercially successful modern directors, Quentin Tarantino stands as one of the most well-known and animated proponents of the Hollywood films of yesteryear. Building upon his own work on his Video Archives podcast and his heavy involvement in the great …

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Book Reviews1970s, 2023 Summer Reading Challenge
Fannie Ward and Sessue Hayakawa in Cecil B. DeMille's 1915 film The Cheat

Empire of Dreams: The Epic Life of Cecil B. DeMille—Book Review

June 2, 2023August 20, 2023Shawn Hall2 Comments

Over eighty years after his death, Cecil B. DeMille remains one of the most recognizable classic Hollywood figures. In large part due to The Ten Commandments airing on ABC Easter weekend every year for the past half a century, Cecil B. DeMille stands as a …

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Book Reviews2023 Summer Reading Challenge, Cecil B. DeMille, Epics, Silent Movies
Banner for the 2023 Classic Film Reading Challenge

2023 Classic Film Reading Challenge To-Read List

May 20, 2023September 14, 2023Shawn HallNo Comments

Another year, another round of classic film-related summer reading. Luckily my new apartment has a lovely balcony and front yard so I will finally have a cozy place to enjoy the summer weather while reading all about classic films. With a special focus on book-to-movie …

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Book Reviews2023 Summer Reading Challenge, Literary Adaptations, Zane Grey

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Latest Posts

  • All Quiet on the Western Front: Three Differing Film Adaptations

    All Quiet on the Western Front: Three Differing Film Adaptations

    2 weeks ago
    I first watched All Quiet on the Western Front as a college freshman while falling head-first into the classic film rabbit hole. After watching a couple of creaky talkies like …
  • But Have You Read the Book? — Book Review

    But Have You Read the Book? — Book Review

    3 weeks ago
    In the midst of putting together my list of six books to read and review for this summer’s classic film reading challenge, lady luck smiled upon me when I won …
  • Filming the West of Zane Grey — Book Review

    Filming the West of Zane Grey — Book Review

    1 month ago
    For each of the past two classic film reading challenges, I read a Zane Grey Western that had been adapted into multiple classic Hollywood films: Riders of the Purple Sage …
  • National Film Registry 2023 Ballot

    National Film Registry 2023 Ballot

    2 months ago
    Since 1989 the Library of Congress selects 25 American films deemed culturally, historically or aesthetically significant to add to their official National Film Registry. Not meant to be merely a …
  • How Motion Pictures Are Made (1918) — Book Review

    How Motion Pictures Are Made (1918) — Book Review

    2 months ago
    Homer Croy’s 1918 book How Motion Pictures Are Made has the best case for the earliest attempt at providing a comprehensive history and survey of the film industry to a …

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Letterboxd Reviews

  • Pordenone Silent Film Festival 2023 Online Version
    The roster of films screening online between October 7 and 14, 2023 for the Pordenone Silent Film Festival. To buy tickets or see the online […]
  • Revisiting 'Fail-Safe', 2000
    Watched on Wednesday August 30, 2023.
  • One Mile From Heaven, 1937 - ★★★½
    It's a shame this film isn't talked more about given Fredi Washington's and Bill Robinson's wonderful performances. It's really a fascinating look at race in […]
  • All Quiet on the Western Front, 1979 - ★★★½
    For better or worse, this TV film adaptation follows the classic novel closely, using direct quotations from the book as voiceover narration. One advantage of […]
  • High Tension, 1936 - ★★
    Our protagonist fixes cables underwater for a living and all we get in the movie is a subpar romance that never elevates to screwball comedy […]

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