The Film Daily Year Book Of Motion Pictures

Silent films were, of course, never silent at all. However, the sound that used to accompany the screen picture in the early days of cinema has been neglected as an area of study. Altman explores the various musical, narrative, and even synchronized sound systems that enriched cinema before Jolson spoke.

The studies in this volume analyse well-defined industries, from commodities and manufacturing to distribution and services, showing how firms compete with one another. Each study gives appropriate attention to government policies that have influenced competitive conditions in the industry.

The outcome of these battles was critical to our own times, for the victors got to shape the meaning of class in twentieth-century America.