cover image The Extraordinary Image: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and the Reimagining of Cinema

The Extraordinary Image: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and the Reimagining of Cinema

Robert P. Kolker. Rutgers Univ., $27.95 (248p) ISBN 978-0-8135-8309-9

Film scholar Kolker (The Cultures of American Film), whose work is often taught in film studies classrooms, devotes this disappointing study to an obscure analysis of his three favorite film directors: Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, and Alfred Hitchcock. The chief issue is that Kolker hasn’t enough original insights to justify the book. Early on, Kolker relates a story of a meeting with Paul Schrader, best known as the screenwriter of Taxi Driver. When Kolker explained his project, Schrader responded that these subjects make up “a well-trod road.” And he’s right; Kolker himself admits that there is no shortage of biographies and monographs on his trio. His book is often repetitive and unclear, problems exacerbated by weak structure. In brief, this is a misfire. It’s heartening to know that Kolker has revised several of his books several times over; this one could be something special with a second or third look by its undoubtedly enthusiastic and thoughtful author. (Nov.)