Alternative Empires
European Modernist Cinemas and Cultures of Imperialism

This is the first book to study representations of the non-Western world in European modernist cinema. In offering new perspectives on the history of Soviet montage cinema and on the British documentary movement, it connects with the growing body of work analysing manifestations of orientalism, Eurocentrism and colonial discourse in the cinema.

The book integrates theoretical discussion and textual analysis with primary source historical research, particularly into film reception. The case studies question received understandings of European film history, and offer new insights into canonical films already familiar to many readers.

It is the first book length study of the subject and includes new insights into Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Eisenstein's October and the Griersonian Documentary as well as 'forgotten' films of the period. It is a useful teaching aid, with detailed analyses of films taught on most film studies courses

Contents: Part 1: European modernist cinemas and Eurocentric modernity; the European cinematic metropolis and its others. Part 2: montage, modernity and ethnicity; Kino-eye's global vision; "Storm over Asia", Russia, England; the British documentary film movement's enlightened imperialism; receptions of empire in 1930s British film culture; conclusions.

Martin Stollery is Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, Faculty of Media, Arts and Society at Southampton Institute. His other books include York Film Notes: Lawrence of Arabia (York Press, 2000) and Youssef Chahine's L'Émigré (Flicks Books, 2000). He is co-author with Roy Perkins of The British Film Editor (BFI).