Everything we take for granted started somewhere as a new idea. Then that idea was followed by people discussing its merits. Today we are awash in images from movies—and an ocean of content discussing movies on levels from the sublime to the ludicrous is constantly available for a swim. When movies were new, they came and went quickly and often just completely vanished with little regard for their meaning and value. This book is an early attempt to stand in the flow of movies heading towards oblivion and declare that movies are not only an art form but that they should be preserved. The text is slim but enlightening—a new language under construction to discuss film as art. Any new language borrows from old ones and both dance and painting factor appropriately into how the author discusses film. Much of the book is dedicated to preserving actual images from the movies themselves—since the author seemed to have little hope that the movies themselves might be recirculated somehow. The images are magnificent in quality of choice and presentation. Can’t imagine a lot of books from the 1920’s have photo plates of this quality. Definitely worth a look for a glance into the history of movies and film criticism. Rating as an artifact *****.