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backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
Well, if one of the purposes of biographies is to introduce young readers (and their teacher) to people they may never have heard of, this book certainly fills that bill. Born in France in 1875, Alice Guy-Blaché loved stories, but after her father's bookstore was destroyed and he died not long after, she realized she would need to get a job. Applying at a camera company, Alice discovered moving pictures. Alice thought moving pictures were great, but why not tell a story as well. Alice loved making films even though it wasn't always easy. And she was successful, even when her stories were stolen by others. After marrying, she and her husband moved to America, where Alice continued to make movies. But after her husband went to Hollywood, Alice's business began to fail, though her story does not come to an end there. Alice was a real ground breaker, the first woman in the field of filmmaking but she has received little credit for all she accomplished. The whole book has the feel of old time movies, complete with storyboards, title cards, and text written in short, simple sentences that resemble the inter-titles of silent films, Rockliff traces Alice's life, showing how she turned her love of stories into a career which led to cutting-edge innovations in film. Complimenting the story are colorful dry media illustrations that add a bit of old-time whimsy to Alice's life story. This is a book that kids will most certainly find interesting and inspiring. Back matter is included.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this biography. I had no idea that a woman might have made a film before Georges Melies. I think this is a must have for most libraries.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I’m ashamed to say I had never heard of Alice Guy-Blanché. Thankfully, this wonderful picture book remedied that situation!
jaelikes's review against another edition
4.0
Wow I am SO MAD that I studied film in high school and college and NEVER heard of Alice Guy-Blaché?? This is a very shareable picture book biography with lovely illustrations separated into sections with title cards and I LOVE that.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting bio of a woman most people have never heard of who contributed a great deal to cinema. Love how the format mirrors an old-fashioned film.
maakbooks's review
3.0
It was really interesting learning about Alice in this book! I read four picture books in a day just to have some fun and learn some new things and this was a great on for women's empowerment.
cweichel's review
5.0
None of the filmmakers I know had ever heard of Alice Guy-Blache before I showed them this book and asked them about her. These are people who know about the history of film. It breaks my heart a little bit, but also makes me so happy that this book is here.
Alice Guy Blache was not only the first female filmmaker, she was also one of the first people to create movies that told a story. What you learn as you read the book and especially the back matter is that in early films women had many roles and jobs. Women were presented as adventurous, daring heroes. It isn't until the industry grew and men dominated it that women became damsels in distress.
Alice Guy Blache was not only the first female filmmaker, she was also one of the first people to create movies that told a story. What you learn as you read the book and especially the back matter is that in early films women had many roles and jobs. Women were presented as adventurous, daring heroes. It isn't until the industry grew and men dominated it that women became damsels in distress.
heypretty52's review
5.0
Great to learn about this fascinating woman who has been all but lost to history.
libscote's review
4.0
I loved this biography. I had no idea that a woman might have made a film before Georges Melies. I think this is a must have for most libraries.
tashrow's review
5.0
Alice Guy-Blache was the first woman film-maker in the world. When motion pictures were first invented, they were used to show dull things like people boarding a train. Alice saw an opportunity to use them to tell stories, like the stories she had loved since she was a child. Alice figured out how to run film backward to show people flying upwards among other clever tricks. She made colored films by hand and created the first movies with sound. Alice moved to America with her new husband and discovered that no one had ever heard of her there! So she set out to create more films and eventually opened her own studio in New York State. Unfortunately, everything changed when Hollywood became the place for movies and Alice had to return to France without even a movie camera. Still, she had one last story to tell, her own.
This eye-opening picture book biography will introduce readers to an amazing woman whose vision of what movies could be led the way to new developments and implementations. Most importantly, Alice realized that film could be used to tell stories and set out to do just that. Throughout her life and this book, Alice shows a fierce determination, artistic eye, and a desire to share her imagination with others.
The art by Ciraolo is bright and full of action. It shows vintage images of ads as well as the brightness of Alice’s ideas. Some of the images take an entire page while others are small vignettes of big moments in Alice’s life. The variety makes for a dynamic book visually.
An introduction to a woman that we should all know. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
This eye-opening picture book biography will introduce readers to an amazing woman whose vision of what movies could be led the way to new developments and implementations. Most importantly, Alice realized that film could be used to tell stories and set out to do just that. Throughout her life and this book, Alice shows a fierce determination, artistic eye, and a desire to share her imagination with others.
The art by Ciraolo is bright and full of action. It shows vintage images of ads as well as the brightness of Alice’s ideas. Some of the images take an entire page while others are small vignettes of big moments in Alice’s life. The variety makes for a dynamic book visually.
An introduction to a woman that we should all know. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
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