Lev Kuleshov - Statement on the Art of Cinema

"1) The actors played their parts well, but that is the art of the
theatre!
2)The designer created beautiful sets, but that is the art of the
designer!
3) The cameraman did an excellent job, but that is the art of the
photographer!
4) Finally, the plot was entertaining, but that is the art of the
writer!
Now where, for goodness' sake, is the art of film? There is none here,
nor can there be, for however good we are at reproducing other arts,
the best we can hope to achieve is an ideal moving photograph and not
genuine film art. Let us reason in this way: if film art does not lie
in the filming of separate pieces, then it must be sought in the
juxtaposition of those pieces, i.e. their assembly." (pp 39-40).

Art of the Cinema (1929; cf. Kuleshov on Film, ed. by Ronald Levaco)
The Banner of Cinematography" (English edition: Lev Kuleshov, 1987,
Selected Works, Moscow: Raduga Publ.)

1924 The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks
Directed by Lev Kuleshov
(too bad it's in russian... I don't understand russian)



This VHS is going for $99... does that come with the vcr?