In this comprehensive guide, some of the world's leading scholars consider the issues, films, and filmmakers that have given Italian cinema its enduring appeal. Readers will explore the work of such directors as Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Roberto Rossellini as well as a host of subjects including the Italian silent screen, the political influence of Fascism on the movies, lesser known genres such as the giallo (horror film) and Spaghetti Western, and the role of women in the Italian film industry. Italian Cinema from the Silent Screen to the Digital Image explores recent developments in cinema studies such as digital performance, the role of media and the Internet, neuroscience in film criticism, and the increased role that immigrants are playing in the nation's cinema.

Draws on the expertise of the leading Italian film scholars, such as Giorgio Bertellini and Geoffrey Nowell-Smith

List of ContributorsGlossaryMattia Acetoso (Boston College, USA)ChronologyMattia Acestoso (Boston College, USA)IntroductionJoseph Luzzi (Bard College, USA)Part I - Chronologies and Movements1. Italian Silent FilmAntonio Costa (Università di Padova, Italy)2. Futurism and FilmMichael Syrimis (Tulane University, USA)3. The Never-Ending Story of Film and FascismVito Zagarrio (Università di Roma Tre, Italy)4. NeorealismGiuliana Minghelli (McGill University, Canada)5. The Orphaned Generation: Cinema of the 1980s and 1990sAlessia Ricciardi (Northwestern University, USA)6. Persistence of Vision: Realism and the Popular in Italian Cinema of the New MillenniumMillicent Marcus (Yale University, USA)Part II - Gender, Genre, Theory7. The Five Faces of the Italian Femme FataleStephen Gundle (University of Warwick, UK)8. Italian Women's Cinema and the Wounded Filmic BodyDana Renga (The Ohio State University, USA)9. The Cinematic Evolution of Commedia all'ItalianaMarcia Landy (University of Pittsburgh, USA)10. Popular Italian CinemaCatherine O'Rawe (University of Bristol, UK)11. Italian Film Theory, 1907-2015Gabriele Pedullà (Università di Roma Tre, Italy)Part III - Relations and Debates12. Film Music: "Kaos and the Taviani"Daniela Bini (University of Texas, Austin, USA)13. Photography and FilmSarah Carey (McGraw-Hill Education)14. Television and FilmStefano Baschiera (Queen's University Belfast, UK)15. Italian Documentary and the Predicaments of the AuteurLuca Caminati (Concordia University, Canada) and Mauro Sassi (Independent Scholar)16. The Global Impact of Italian NeorealismLaura E. Ruberto (Berkeley City College, USA) and Kristi M. Wilson (Soka University of America, USA)Part IV - Films in Focus17. CabiriaRobert Rushing (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)18. SensoBrendan Hennessey (Binghamton University, USA)19. Bitter RiceCharles L. Leavitt IV (University of Notre Dame, USA)20. La stradaFederico Pacchioni (Chapman University, USA)21. L'avventuraJohn David Rhodes (University of Cambridge, UK)22. Once upon a Time in the WestMaryann McDonald Carolan (Fairfield University, USA)23. TheoremRobert S.C. Gordon (University of Cambridge, UK)24. The ConformistMichael Cramer (Sarah Lawrence College, USA)25. Love and AnarchyBernadette Luciano (University of Auckland, New Zealand)26. The Best of YouthAlan O'Leary (University of Leeds, UK)Part V - Behind the Scenes27. Sound and Soundtrack in Italian CinemaMonica Facchini (Colgate University, USA)28. ScreenwritingCosetta Gaudenzi (University of Memphis, USA)29. Open-Air CinemaAllison Cooper (Bowdoin College, USA)Index