Listmania!
Essential Film Studies Books
Film History 2/eFilm History 2/e by Kristin Thompson
Buy used from: £14.97
A concise and accessible introduction to film history
The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968 by Andrew Sarris
Buy used from: £7.42
Sometimes brilliant, sometimes controversial and sometimes just plain silly, Sarris is essential reading.
Film Art: an IntroductionFilm Art: an Introduction by David Bordwell
Buy used from: £8.00
From the people that brought you Film History comes this excellent introduction to aesthetics of filmmaking.
The Oxford History of World CinemaThe Oxford History of World Cinema
Buy new: £25.72 / Used from: £25.00
I just cannot stop using this book. The format is excellent, it is incredibly accessible and it covers everything you might want to know about every major film-maker and movement.
The Oxford Guide to Film StudiesThe Oxford Guide to Film Studies
Buy new: £25.86 / Used from: £14.82
This edited collection is a great overview of contemporary film theory and criticism.
Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory ReadingsFilm Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings
Buy used from: £19.85
Braudy and Cohen's anthology is the most comprehensive available.
The Genius of the System: Hollywood Film-making in the Studio EraThe Genius of the System: Hollywood Film-making in the Studio Era by Thomas Schatz
Buy used from: £10.99
I can't think of a more readable and informative introduction to the Hollywood studio system.
Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge Key Guides)Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge Key Guides) by Susan Hayward
Buy used from: £4.99
The Film students bible! Almost every term or concept within the field of Film Studies is succinctly explained here.
Signs and Meaning in the CinemaSigns and Meaning in the Cinema by Peter Wollen
Buy used from: £21.77
Wollen's informed and articulate prose is a joy to read.
Hollywood Genres: Formulas, Filmmaking, and The Studio SystemHollywood Genres: Formulas, Filmmaking, and The Studio System by Thomas Schatz
Buy new: £45.59 / Used from: £27.95
An enjoyable romp through what Schatz considers to be the 'key' genres of Hollywood.
Film Theory Goes to the Movies: Cultural Analysis of Contemporary Film (AFI Film Readers)Film Theory Goes to the Movies: Cultural Analysis of Contemporary Film (AFI Film Readers)
Buy new: £16.53 / Used from: £1.21
Another anthology, but focusing primarily on theoretical developments of the last 30 years.