Rare first edition of this early collection of articles on the theory and technique of movie-making, by a forceful industry critic who was himself the writer and assistant director of several silent films.
Near fine in very good plus jacket.
Price: $750.00
"From a poor man's chance, a woman's caprice and a lawyer's conscience the devil makes his favorite salad."
As the leading editorial columnist of the insider trade journal MOVING PICTURE WORLD, Harrison's reviews and opinions on such topics as the "jackass music" of early instrumental accompanists had real and immediate influence on moviemaking practices. This treatise on screencraft, assembled from his essays and columns, argues passionately for developing the same high level of craftsmanship in filmmaking already demanded from practitioners of the older arts, and for the development of a "picture eye" attuned to the traditional principles of composition in painting. Other chapters deal variously with the adaptation of popular novels, the writing of titles and subtitles, good and bad screen acting, and the principles of the Sex Drama, followed by an example of a working scenario and several intertitle cards. Scarce in any condition, rare in jacket.
Read more: Brower & Glick, The Art and Craft of the Screen: Louis Reeves Harrison and the Moving Picture World.
First printing. New York: Chalmers Publishing Co, (1916). Full title: Screencraft: or the making of a photoplay (with illustrations). 7.5'' x 5''. Original gilt-stamped maroon cloth. In original unclipped (no price) tan printed dust jacket. Black-and-white illustrations. 151, [1] pages. Minor scuffing to boards at extremities, foxing to edges of textblock. Light chipping and toning to jacket.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
