Author Description

From Library Journal This 15-volume set (vol. 6, LJ 10/15/91) completely reprints Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews, which were originally published weekly from July 1919 to August 1962. The issues within each volume contain reviews of current films and, generally, editorial comments on the major film industry concerns of the day. The first issues address "open" booking and censorship and progress to matters such as the Sunday Blue Laws, the Production Code, block booking, advertising policies, Communism, and the government's antitrust suit. Harrison also discusses techno logical advances, commencing with the transition from silents to sound and the effect of TV on films. Some of the weekly issues also contain letters, Catholic Legion of Decency film ratings, and other miscellany. Later volumes include indexes to his reviews and semiannual lists of release x dates for all studios' features and short subjects. The index (Vol. 15) provides a listing for all the reviews. Taken in its 43-year entirety, Harrison's Reports is a very useful reflection of the industry's major trends and provides something of a social history of the United States as well. Harrison was ever blunt in his reviews and had the unfortunate practice of relating the endings to films. He was equally blunt in his editorial opinions and consistently championed the small exhibitors against the studios. He was not at all reluctant to take on powerful moguls like L.B. Mayer and Adolph Zukor and, indeed, entire studios. Recommended for large cinema and history collections.- Roy Liebman, California State Univ. Lib., Los AngelesCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.