Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Note on Transliteration and Translation xiii
5. Introduction: The Cinematic Commonplace 1
6. Chapter 1 The Weimar Picture Palace: From Film to Cinema in Berlin Exile (1925–1928) 30
7. Chapter 2 The Man from the Movie Kingdom: Cinema Debates and Culture Theory (1925–1930) 69
8. Chapter 3 A Cinematic Genius: Camera Obscura and the European Culture Industry (1931–1936) 99
9. Chapter 4 America Obscura: Laughter in the Dark (1933–1940) 139
10. Coda. The Old Europe Picture Palace 170
11. Appendix: Georgy Gessen’s Film Reviews for Rul′ (1924–1931) 187
12. Notes 195
13. Bibliography 241
14. Index 255