The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies

TheBigScreentellstheenthrallingstoryofthemovies:theirriseandspread,theirremarkableinfluenceoverus,andthetechnologythatmadethescreenasimportantastheimagesitcarries.ButTheBigScreenisnotanotherhistoryofthemovies.Rather,itisawide-rangingnarrativeaboutthemoviesandtheirsignalroleinmodernlife.ThecelebratedfilmauthorityDavidThomsontakesusaroundtheglobe,throughtime,andacrossmanymediatotellthecomplex,gripping,paradoxicalstoryofthemovies.Hetracksthewayswewereinitiallyenchantedbymoviesasimitationsoflife—thestories,thestars,thelook—andhowweallowedthemtoshowushowtolive.Atthesametime,movies,offeringaseductiveescapefromeverydayrealityanditsresponsibilities,havemadeitpossibleforustoevadelifealtogether.Theentrancedaudiencehasbecomeamodelforpowerlessandanxiety-riddencitizenstryingtopursuehappinessanddodgeterrorbysittingquietlyinadarkroom.Doesthebigscreentakeusoutintotheworldormerelymesmerizeus?ThatisThomson'squestioninthisgrandadventureofabook,vitaltoanyonetryingtomakesenseoftheageofscreens—theagethat,morethanever,wearelivingin.