Steven Spielberg (USA, b. 1946) was the boy wonder of the new Hollywood of the 1970s. Taking Orson Welles as his model, he made Duel aged only 25, following it up with a string of successes that brought him the adulation of the studios. As a fan of special effects, and entirely attuned to the shift towards younger film audiences, he took entertainment to new heights with films such as Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), ET (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993). His more recent incursions into science fiction (AI, 2001; Minority Report, 2002; War of the Worlds, 2005) and historical films (Schindler’s List, 1993; Saving Private Ryan, 1998; Munich, 2005) have brought him international critical recognition. He is also involved in production through his studio Dreamworks and is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in contemporary film.


MASTERS OF CINEMA
Essential introductions to the work of the world’s greatest directors

Comprehensive, authoritative, yet concise and accessible monographs on leading figures in the history of cinema

Organized chronologically, from the director’s earliest works to their most recent films

Clear and insightful texts written by some of the world’s most respected specialists – film critics, journalists and scholars

Richly illustrated with 100 images, including film stills, set photographs, film sequences and posters, some of which have rarely been seen before

Useful guide to the seminal films of the best directors

Includes a detailed biography, filmography and plot summaries