Narration in the Fiction Film

David Bordwell

Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1985 - Performing Arts - 370 pages

Most films tell tales, but what does that involve? How do motion pictures tease us into building what we all agree to call stories? In this study, David Bordwell offers the first comprehensive account of how movies use fundamental principles of narrative representation, unique features of the film medium, and diverse story-telling patterns to construct their fictional narratives. The result is a pioneering, far-reaching work which will change the way we perceive narrative film--and which every serious film scholar, student or fan will welcome.

"This book is of crucial importance to film specialists. I cannot think that any film teacher/scholar would miss reading this work."--Don Fredricksen, Cornell University

"David Bordwell's Narration in the Fiction Film is a major contribution to film studies and to narrative theory. The work, I predict, will be widely read, praised, debated, and damned. Brodwell's originality lies not so much in demonstrating the deficiencies of other theories, which he does very convincingly, but in the scope and design of his project, against which there is no competition of comparable intellectual weight."--Jerry Carlson, DePaul University

Contents

• Some Theories of Narration: 1
• Diegetic Theories of Narration: 16
• Narration and Film Form: 27
• Principles of Narration: 48
• Sin Murder and Narration: 63
• Narration and Space: 99
• Historical Modes of Narration: 147
• The Hollywood Example: 156
• ArtCinema Narration: 205
• Parametric Narration: 274
• Godard and Narration: 311
• Notes: 339
• Photo Credits: 358

About the author

David Bordwell is the Jacques Ledoux Professor of Film Studies at the University of Wisconsin--Madison. His books include Narration in the Fiction Film, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press, Making Meaning, The Cinema of Eisenstein, The Classical Hollywood Cinema, and many others.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Narration in the Fiction Film
• Author: David Bordwell
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1985
• ISBN: 0299101746, 9780299101749
• Length: 370 pages
• Subjects: Performing Arts / Film / History & Criticism; Performing Arts / Film / Screenwriting; Performing Arts / Screenplays