Includes index.

Notes Toward the Definition of an Obsession -- Speaking of Silence -- Exceptions -- Ironies -- The System -- Men with Movie Cameras -- A Studio's Way -- "The Son of a Gun Is Nothing but a Tailor" -- A Touch of Lubitsch -- Two Cheers for Mr. Muckle -- Shrieks, Freaks, Geeks -- What's Funny About That? -- Greatness -- Ornaments of the Age -- "Up This Hero Goes" -- Getting Serious -- Masterpieces -- Don't You Know There's a War On? -- Children of Paradise -- Crime Waves -- Why We Fight -- Muse of Fire -- Here's Looking at You, Kid -- The Best Years -- Fasten Your Seat Belts -- Don't Unfasten Those Seat Belts Yet -- Mixed Baggage -- To Live -- Bergman--At Last -- The Criminal Life -- Clint -- Belle de Jour -- The Apu Trilogy -- Fellini -- Strange Loves -- Getting Started, or, I Thought You'd Never Ask -- The Wrath of God--Or Is It His Silence? -- Marty -- Earning It, or, Spielberg's Way -- Clint Again -- Tarnished Gold -- Kubrick Again -- The Force Is with Us -- Losing It -- "No Animals Were Harmed..." -- We've Got to End Somewhere -- That Wonderful Year--1987 -- Acknowledgments -- Index.