Genre - or 'type' - is a core concept in both filmproduction and the history of film. Genres play a key role in howmoviegoers perceive and rate films, and is likely to determine afilm's production values and costs.Written in a clear, engaging, jargon-free style, this volumeoffers a cutting-edge theoretical overview of the topic of genre aspracticed in British, American and French film criticism. Organizedby a series of simple but fundamental questions, the book usesnumerous examples from classic Hollywood cinema (the western,drama, musical comedy, and film noir) as well as some morecontemporary examples from European or Asian cinema that are sooften neglected by other studies in the field. How do wecharacterize genre and what are its various functions? In what waysdoes genre give a film its identity? How do genres emerge? What isthe cultural significance of genre and how does it circulate withinand across national boundaries? Informative and user-friendly,Moine's book is accessible to general readers and adaptseasily to a wide range of teaching approaches.