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[THE ROLE OF AN ACTOR IN A MOVIE] Akter v fil’me [i.e. Actor in a Film]

Pudovkin, V.

Leningrad: Gos. akad. iskusstvoznaniya, 1934. Item #1877

104 pp., 10 ills.: ill. 18x13 cm. In original publisher’s printed wrappers. Tears of the spine, front wrapper is loose. Otherwise in a good condition.

Scarce. First edition. Edited by N. Iezuitov. Analysis of actor’s role in a film by Vsevolod Pudovkin.
This interesting book about actor in cinema was written by Vsevolod Pudovkin (1893-1953), a famous Russian and Soviet film director, screenwriter, and actor who developed influential theories of montage and produced some of the most famous Soviet films of the time – Admiral Nakhimov (1947), Konets Sankt-Peterburga (1927), etc. In the edition, the author shares his experience of working with actors and focuses on such topics as contradictions in the work of an actor, discontinuity in actors’ work, the use of makeup, choice of role, rehearsal work, double rhythm of sound and picture, etc. Interestingly, Pudovkin reviews cinema as a developed aspect of theatre and defines actor’s role as a realistic interpretation of the image. The author also elaborates upon the montage techniques and sets the primary condition for the success of cinematography – complete mastery of film editing. The narrative is replete with the reminiscences of Pudovkin’s work in movie industry and includes numerous examples from the author’s (as well as other Soviet directors such as Lev Kuleshov) practice as a film director. The edition includes 10 rare black and white illustrations showing actors (including Vsevolod himself) from various movies by Pudovkin, Otsep, and Kuleshov.
Overall, an interesting analysis of the role of an actor in a film by a famous Soviet movie director.

Price: $500.00