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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, by David Thomson

Review by Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, by David Thomson

The most comprehensive collection of film writing available. Thomson discusses in critical depth every major film artist from Georges Melies to John Travolta. He focuses mostly on directors and actors, but he finds space to discuss certain screenwriters (Ben Hecht), composers (Bernard Herrmann), cinematographers (John Alton and Gregg Toland), producers (David O. Selznick), and other occupations. His writing is always well thought out and clear. He can be aggravating, as he will no doubt dis on someone you love, but when you stumble upon something he loves, it's infectious. A brilliant and invaluable book.

Note: In 2002, Mr. Thomson published a revised edition with several new entries, many controversial, all insightful.

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