The Phantom Empire Author:Geoffrey O'Brien Examines the experience of watching a motion picture, discusses the social and psychological impact of films, and surveys major themes and genres. — The invention of moving pictures has been one of the most powerful shapers of the unique consciousness of the modern age. This text attempts to explain the peculiar (and now universal) state of thoug... more »ht and feeling that has resulted. It examines what the viewer absorbs from the endlessly multiplying scenes of old silent films, classic movies with their "immortal" stars and such mutating genres as German westerns, Italian spy movies and Japanese vampire movies.« less