MOVIE LOVE IN THE FIFTIES (2001)

Harvey's passionate volume is not as much about love in the movies as it is about loving the movies. He starts in 1947 with the mesmerizing noir Out of the Past and ends with the garish, gorgeous oeuvre of Douglas Sirk, discussing acting, music, cinematography, direction, and wardrobe with equal aplomb. He is, overall, an enthusiastic and idiosyncratic critic, connecting Method acting with The Catcher in the Rye and singing the praises of the underrated Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) in Vertigo. The book feels like renting a stack of videos with a chatty, knowledgeable pal: You'll learn a lot, but sometimes you just want him to shut up so you can enjoy the film.