The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger

by Nathalie Morris (Editor), Claire Smith (Editor)

Overview

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were true visionaries of British cinema, creating glorious Technicolor masterpieces including A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948).

Delving into their magical and obsessive worlds, this lavishly-illustrated publication presents fresh perspectives on the filmmaking duo, shining the spotlight not only on them, but also on their circle of talented collaborators. Thelma Schoonmaker, Caitlin McDonald, Alexandra Harris, Mahesh Rao, Sarah Street, Ian Christie and Marina Warner write about the key figures who shared Powell and Pressburger's creative jourbaney, and Tilda Swinton, Tim Walker, Sarah Greenwood, Michelle Williams Gamaker, Sandy Powell, Joanna Hogg and Stephen Jones reflect on the ways in which Powell and Pressburger's stories and images have haunted and inspired them in their own work. The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger draws on the BFI's stunning design and archive collections, as well as key objects held in other public and private collections.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781838719173
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/05/2023
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	362,464
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.95(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nathalie Morris is a writer, film historian and curator. She has held senior curatorial positions at the BFI National Archive and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, and has organised exhibitions on many aspects of cinema history including the art of the Hollywood backdrop, Indian cinema posters, women and silent cinema in Britain, and British Hitchcock.

Claire Smith is Senior Curator of Special Collections at the BFI National Archive, where she curates filmmakers' paper archives and the photographic and graphic arts collections. She has contributed to publications for the V&A Museum, The Henry Moore Foundation, the Royal Academy, The Courtauld Institute of Art and the BFI, as well as conducting research for exhibitions across these organisations.

Table of Contents

A Letter from Tilda Swinton
A Letter from Michael Powell to Emeric Pressburger
1. INTRODUCTION by Claire Smith and Nathalie Morris
A Note on Collaboration by Thelma Schoonmaker
2. EXILES by Caitlin MacDonald
Notes from a Photographer by Tim Walker
3. PILGRIMS by Alexandra Harris
Notes from a Production Designer by Sarah Greenwood
4. BLACK NARCISSUS by Mahesh Rao
Notes from an Artist by Michelle Williams Gamaker
5. STARVED FOR TECHNICOLOR by Sarah Street
Notes from a Costume Designer by Sandy Powell
6. METAPHORS OF VISION by Ian Christie
Notes from a Director by Joanna Hogg
7. THE RED SHOES by Marina Warner
Notes from a Milliner by Stephen Jones
Index

Editorial Reviews

This book is a pleasure to read, full of generous appreciations of Powell and Pressburger's work from a multitude of personal angles.” —Philip Kemp, Sight & Sound

“A lavish volume.” —Robin Ashenden, The Spectator

“A richly illustrated book … Alongside the films themselves, this splendid book is testament to a unique creative collaboration.” —Jacqueline Riding, The Art Newspaper

“The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger raids the BFI's archive to provide definitive visual gloss on the partnership's career. Gorgeous paintings from the production-design teams. Reproductions of pages from Powell's diary revealing his immaculately vertical penmanship. Lavish promotional stills that work subtle variations on the moving images. No coffee table is complete without it. ” —Donald Clake, The Irish Times

“Morris and Smith's collection is a superb resource, and there is so much here on which scholars of multiple disciplines can profitably draw and build ... The composite structure of each chapter and the juxtaposition of the analytical, archival, and reflective components set this volume apart from previous scholarship on Powell and Pressburger, offering different insights from those found in autobiographical and biographical works. The editors' expert knowledge of the archival material is a particular strength here. This book will delight and inform those coming to Powell and Pressburger's works for the first time. It will send those familiar with the Archers back to the films themselves with a new set of critical tools and also invites further attention to be directed to the filmmakers' materials in the BFI archive itself.” —Matthew Woodcock, University of Leeds, History

“A superb acknowledgement of the powerfully collaborative nature of filmmaking … [And] a record of remarkable artistic freedom made possible for a prolifically imaginative director and writer to cast their spells, enthusiasm and love.” —London Grip

From the Publisher

★ 10/27/2023

The British filmmaking duo of Michael Powell (1905–1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902–1988), known also as the Archers (their production company's namesake), are responsible for some of the most indelible images in cinema history. Morris (senior curator, BFI Special Collections; contributor, Ealing Studios Revisited) and Smith's (curator of BFI Stills, Posters and Designs; contributor, Gothic: the Dark Heart of Film) beautifully produced book illustrates the contributions to film (including Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes) and culture in the 1940s and 1950s. With access to the Archers' archives, the editors give an in-depth exploration of the themes and analysis of their stories, and they interweave that with brief testimonials from contemporary admirers. The takeaway is not simply an appreciation of two great filmmakers but a celebration of a larger team: a family of designers, cameramen, and countless creatives working together to produce works of art of its time that somehow remain timely and timeless. VERDICT A vivid tribute and companion to the films of Powell and Pressburger for fans of cinema and creativity alike. More than a summation of their work, this book is a showcase of the creative process.—Gregory Stall

Library Journal