This collection investigates the evolution of cinema into a dynamic art form through the critical analysis of the directors and movements that defined the mid-20th century. The editors, Carolyn Geduld and Dennis Giles, compile a series of essays from 33 prominent critics and scholars, including James Agee and Robert Brustein. The text provides a multifaceted examination of the stylistic and thematic innovations introduced by filmmakers such as Bergman, Fellini, Welles, Truffaut, and Godard.

Experts and film historians frequently cite this collection as a valuable snapshot of the critical discourse surrounding the French New Wave and the rise of the auteur theory. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which reflects the high-level intellectual rigor of the contributors involved.