Consolidating major figures and film movements into their decade of greatest influence or prestige, this no-nonsense book offers a generously illustrated, concise, and very readable history of fiction movies with an emphasis on American cinema. Eclectic in methodology and written in a plain English style that audiences can relate to, it examines the full scope of traditional film history and criticism, viewing film as both an art and an industry-- as it mirrors popular audience values, social ideologies, and historical epochs.