HOLLYWOOD: The Pioneers

by Kevin Brownlow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 8, 1979

Hardly anyone knows more about the silent film era than Brownlow (The Parade's Gone By), and he learned even more while making the 13-part, interview-rich Thames Television series (to be U.S.-aired soon) which this handsome new book parallels. But the treatment here is chatty rather than scholarly, with 24 short chapters (three on D. W. Griffith, four about the stars, others on censorship, stunt-folk, Hollywood scandals, comedy, the roles of cameramen and art directors) that smoothly blend in fresh quotes from energetic old veterans: cameraman Karl Brown (assistant to Griffith's legendary Billy Bitzer), Gloria Swanson, Blanche Sweet, the ever-eloquent Anita Leos and Agnes de Mille (a teenage hanger-on back then), stuntman Yakima Canutt, etc. Solidly informative, but no great advance over other studies in this much-documented field, then. The real attraction here is instead the 300-some photographs from John Kobal's collection, many of them rare, some recently restored (removal of paint from a shot of Griffith at work revealed Erich von Stroheim in a corner, acting as adviser on military costume)--and the surprising captions they inspire. A stunning scrapbook--arranged with care, taste, and savvy.

Pub Date: Jan. 8, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1979

Categories: NONFICTION