"Not since Terry Ramsaye's memorable A Million and One Nights was published back in 1926 have the colorful early days of the movies . . . been re-created and freshly documented with such flair and fervor. . . . The book is a must for movie buffs."
-- "New York Times""By doing the digging that most American cinema historians avoid or minimize, [Brownlow] has offered us a whole new range of contributors to film-making."-- "Cinema Journal"
"The surprise of this book dealing with film history is that it is gripping reading. One hopes it may be absorbing reading also for those who have yet to discover the wonders of the silent film."-- "AV Communication Review"
"Brownlow is also a fanatical historian and an eloquent writer. The resulting combination of scholarship, first hand knowledge and superbly articulated passion is rarein books about movies (or about anything else). Brownlow's book is a fascinating compilation of stills, reminiscences, and facts. It is a perceptive and indeed definitive account of the silent era, and an artist's notably eloquent eulogy to a generation of artists who went before him. It takes a permanent place on anyone's shelf of books about the movies."
-- "Los Angeles Times""A plethoric and consistently fascinating work, containing much fresh material. . . . Kevin Brownlow covers actors, directors, producers, scenarists, photographers, art directors, editors, title-writers, stuntmen and technicians . . . a generous, valuable book."-- "New York Herald Tribune"
"Though silent film was no more than 40 years past when this rich, fascinating survey of its history was published, it felt as ancient then to many budding cinephiles as it does to those today. Brownlow's book, with its phenomenal interweaving of facts, anecdotes, interviews, and stunning array of pictures made what seemed dated and passe fresh and demanding to be experienced. Few books on cinema have ever made the movies they covered come alive as much as here to those who have not yet seen them. Among its achievements was the rediscovery of the mostly forgotten French pioneer Abel Gance."-- "IndieWire"