A hundred years of Japanese film : a concise history, with a selective guide to videos and DVDs Donald Richie ; foreword by Paul Schrader.

Includes bibliographical references (299-301) and index.

Foreword / Paul Schrader -- A Concise History of Japanese Film -- Beginnings and the Benshi -- Film, Theater, and Actors -- Realism and Reality -- Western Influences -- Shingeki and New Narrative Tactics -- The Gendaigeki -- Taisho Democracy and Shochiku -- The New Gendaigeki: Shimazu, Gosho, Shimizu, Ozu, and Naruse -- The New Jidaigeki: Itami, Inagaki, Ito, and Yamanaka Sadao -- Nikkatsu and the Shimpa: Mizoguchi Kenji -- Expressionism, Kinugasa Teinosuke, and the Leftist Film -- Criticism and Crackdown: World War II -- The Occupation of Japan -- Postwar Developments -- Ozu and Naruse -- Mizoguchi and the Period-Film -- New Means: Jun-bungaku, Comedy, and Social Issues -- The Advent of Television and the Film's Defenses: Suzuki, Nakahira, Kawashima, and Imamura -- The Early Independents: Hani and Teshigahara -- The "New Wave": Oshima, Yoshida, and Shinoda -- After the Wave -- Making Audiences -- The New Independents -- Documentary and Anime -- A Selective Guide to Videos and DVDs -- Japanese Sources of Videos and DVDs -- Japanese Historical Periods.

In this book, Donald Richie offers an insider's look at the achievements of Japanese filmmakers. He begins in the late 1800 when the incipient industry took its inspiration from the traditional stories of Kabuki and Noh theater, and finishes with the latest award-winning dramas showcased at Cannes. In between, Richie explores the roots and uniqueness of Japan's contribution to world cinema, illuminates the careers of Japan's rising stars and celebrated directors, and offers a fascinating view of the strategies and politics of the movie studios themselves. A selective guide in Part Two provides capsule reviews of the major Japanese films available in VHS and DVD formats, as well as those televised on standard and cable channels.