Fifty Hollywood Directors Suzanne Leonard 9780415501408

Fifty Hollywood Directors introduces the most important, iconic and influential filmmakers who worked in Hollywood between the end of the silent period and the birth of the blockbuster. By exploring the historical, cultural and technological contexts in which each director was working, this book traces the formative period in commercial cinema when directors went from pioneers to industry heavyweights.

Each entry discusses a director's practices and body of work and features a brief biography and suggestions for further reading. Entries include:

• Frank Capra
• Cecil B DeMille
• John Ford
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Fritz Lang
• Orson Welles
• DW Griffith
• King Vidor

This is an indispensible guide for anyone interested in film history, Hollywood and the development of the role of the director.

Yvonne Tasker is Professor of Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia. She has written, edited and co-edited six books on popular cinema and is the editor of Fifty Contemporary Film Directors.

Suzanne Leonard is Associate Professor of English at Simmons College, USA

"This work introduces 50 important and influential Hollywood filmmakers from the period between the end of the silent era and the ascent of blockbuster film... The work will help readers better understand the key developments in Hollywood film history by identifying the collaborative relationships, the enduring legacy of the director's role, and the far-reaching influence of these talented individuals."

- L. Kong, California State University, San Bernardino, Highly Recommended Review in CHOICE