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Rating: 
Summary: This was reel life.
Review: An intriguing look at the recent past that most of us have only seen in black and white. Intriguing in that most of the exterior shots, especially the news photos still sort of look black and white, the overall colors that come across are grey and beige. This only makes the remaining photos, mostly interior studio work, seem dazzling. The cost of producing, in print media, regular color images was too expensive so color was basically left to advertising until the mid-fifties. It wasn't until the late seventies that color art photography was finally accepted.
The book certainly has some fascinating photos, not so much the political figures and celebrities of the time but images of everyday life. It is here that I thought the book was rather disappointing, of the 207 photos about a quarter are studio portraits of celebrities, just the sort of photos that were printed in color on magazine covers to be found on any newsstand. I would have preferred to have far fewer of these portraits.
If you are interested in color photos from the past have a look at 'Bound for Glory: America in Color 1939-43' (ISBN 0810943484) with 175 images of daily life in America (and fortunately no celebrities). A book that covers Britain in color, from 1945 to 1952, is 'The Silver Lining' (ISBN 0283992808) by Robin Cross. Like Kodachrome these two books offer a new look at the past.
Rating: 
Summary: Full color history in a time of black and white
Review: I have to say that this book is AMAZING! My wife wanted it and telling me the title all I thought about was that Paul Simon song. Upon getting the book, I could understand why she wanted it so badly. It is amazing to see images of Hitler and WWII from my history book except in full blown color. This is a great book for anyone out there who is interested in history, photography, or if you are interested in seeing history in a whole new light.
Rating:
Summary: Full color history in a time of black and white
Review: I have to say that this book is AMAZING! My wife wanted it and telling me the title all I thought about was that Paul Simon song. Upon getting the book, I could understand why she wanted it so badly. It is amazing to see images of Hitler and WWII from my history book except in full blown color. This is a great book for anyone out there who is interested in history, photography, or if you are interested in seeing history in a whole new light.
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