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Andrew Sarris And The Politique Des Auteurs (1962-1974): An Assessment And An Analysis, Steven Grumbacher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The politique des auteurs was, from the period 1968 through 1973, the dominant methodology in cinematic criticism. It was tentatively formulated by Francois Truffaut in 1954 and greatly expanded upon by Andrew Sarris in 1962. Briefly, the “auteur theory” (as it is known in English speaking countries.) contends that aesthetically important films are the product of an auteur--an equivalent term to author in a work of literature or composer as opposed to conductor in a musical composition--and that that auteur is usually the film’s director. The quality of the film under scrutiny is directly related to the ability of that …