In the late 1960s, Hollywood recognized the need to preserve not only its films but also the memories of "golden age" filmmakers, who were then rapidly passing from the scene. To this end, the American Film Institute (AFI) initiated a series of conversations with notable directors, cinematographers, and screenwriters. Stevens, a filmmaker, historian, and the son of the great Hollywood director George Stevens, presents highlights of these recollections from notables like Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, King Vidor, and Fritz Lang, who recall the diverse paths that led them to Hollywood, battles working within the studio system, censorship struggles, and the early days of the star system. Each man had his own strengths and specialties, but they shared a common passion for telling good stories, always insisting on the importance of "one man, one film," or the necessity of the director's vision in shaping the completed film. Stevens provides an expert introductory essay for each filmmaker, plus a filmography for each man. He freely admits that nearly all of the book's subjects are white men, as the few pioneering female directors and scriptwriters were no longer around. Fast-forward to Horowitz's collection of 20 conversations with today's more diverse generation of directors, including Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy), Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men; The Shape of Things), and Patty Jenkins (Monster). According to the editor (a television producer and contributor to Entertainment Weekly), these directors are "aware of the past, hopeful of the present, and a little wary of the future." Although most have short r sum s and have not suffered the disappointments and unrealized projects of the men from the AFI book, they speak with authority on today's indie movie scene, the difficulty of getting films funded in a cutthroat corporate environment, and the influence of music videos and computer-generated special effects. More likely to be academically trained and self-consciously hip than previous generations of directors, they share a common concern with getting their vision up on the screen. Stevens's book is highly recommended for large public and academic film collections, while the more ephemeral nature of the Horowitz collection makes it appropriate for university library shelves only.-Stephen Rees, Levittown Regional Lib., PA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
