American Audiences on Movies and Moviegoing

A refreshing antidote to dry statistical summary, Stempel's entertaining tome offers a different perspective on a half-century of American cinema.

~American Cinematographer

A highly charming and provocative study of audiences.

~American Studies

Deflates 'artistic' opinions about directors by using box-office grosses and audience response as a measuring rod.

~Choice

A sprawling look at the last fifty years of American movies and how audiences responded to them.

~Cineaste

Does something that most academically oriented cinema-related books don't: he gets in touch with the magic of the movies.

~Creative Screenwriting

Obligatory reading for serious film goers and film makers alike. Written with charm and style, this book gives the audience perspective on movies as no other book has done. Insightful.

~David Brown

A fascinating glimpse into history.

~Express Books

In drawing our attention back to the audience, he has rendered a service by reminding us that a reciprocal relationship exists between the filmmaker and audience. All too often we tend to ignore the latter.

~Film & History

The results reflect the ideas of anyone who has ever sat down with an overpriced combo of popcorn and soda: some movies are great, others are stinkers, and when it comes right down to it, the opinions of professional critics don't amount to a hill of beans.

~ForeWord

A great idea for a book.

~Lexington Herald-Leader

In this book, ordinary people talk back to the screen, describing early movie-going memories, family nights at the drive in, growing up with movies in the early days of television, and loving and hating movies in the 1960s. Other topics include the always popular subject of sex in the cinema... and the our changing response to movies as we age..... Lively, divergent reactions to classics and box-office hits are also included.

~Library Journal

Stempel draws upon his considerable expertise to examine the complex relationship between the audience and the movies.... Very highly recommended and unique reading for students of film history and American popular culture.

~Midwest Book Review

Gives voice to the audience.

~Plus