From Here to Eternity (1953) is considered one of the greatest war epics and romantic dramas. Drawing on archival research and interviews with cast and crew, J.E. Smyth offers rich insights into key debates such as whether the film was censored, its faithfulness to the James Jones novel and its expose of the pre-World War II US military.

Adapted from Noel Coward's play Still Life, Brief Encounter (1945) is a classic of British cinema - a tale of impossible love that still resonates today. This second edition features original cover artwork and a new foreword that revisits the film and recent readings of it, covering its enduring legacy and adaptation for theatre and television.

The last film in Vigo's tragically short career, L'Atalante has achieved legendary status over the past eighty years. A study of romantic love, it is told in a style influenced by surrealism, but still Vigo's own. This reissued edition features original cover artwork and a substantial new prologue that revisits the film and recent readings of it.

Offering a fresh perspective on The General, arguably one of the most successful American films of the silent era, this insightful text analyses its initial critical reception and the thematic and stylistic characteristics of the film that made it difficult for critics to appreciate at the time, but led to its celebration by later generations.