The Film Work of Norman McLaren

At last, a full study of McLaren (1914-87), a brilliant pioneer in film animation. Building on Don McWilliam's valuable and extensive work, Dobson (Univ. of Canterbury, New Zealand) weaves insightful analysis, both thematic and technical, with McLaren's drawings and scads of material from personal correspondence and interviews. He is especially adroit on the rare early films-for example, Hell Unlimited (1936), a precursor to his classic Neighbours (1952)-and their roots in McLaren's reading and in his wide engagement in the arts. Dobson devotes separate chapters to McLaren's student days, his time with the GPO Film Unit in the UK, and his New York period before digging into his years at Canada's National Film Board (1941-84). The section on his technical experiments is clear and well illustrated. This handsome, classy book should prove an indispensable companion to the DVD boxed set of McLaren's work (Norman McLaren, the Master's Edition, 2006). Both pay overdue attention to a brilliant, distinctive innovator who balanced the antithetic passions of social concern and abstract art. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers; all levels. - Choice