The book draws on a wide variety of sources to highlight the major debates, criticisms, and analyses of traditional auteur theory and authorship in cinema. For the first time, classic and lesser-known film reviews are gathered in one convenient student volume. Francois Truffaut, Andre Bazin, Andrew Sarris, Pauline Kael, Peter Wollen, and Robin Wood are among the critics featured. The lifetime cinematic achievements of established directors such as John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, Douglas Sirk, Frank Capra, Kathryn Bigelow, and Spike Lee are examined.

The essays are organized chronologically, except in cases where flexibility adds an important historical or practical dimension. The book is an ideal resource for use in courses on authorship in the cinema, auteur theory, film theory, film criticism, film aesthetics and history of film.