Naremore publishes new book, reflects on career in film memoir, critique
A noted scholar in film history, theory, and genre, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus James Naremore‘s early writings were centered on modern British literature. He soon moved to writing on film, becoming an expert on film noirs and directors like Orson Welles.
Most recently, his latest book, “The Haunted Cinema of Pedro Costa,” was published by Indiana University Press in July. Naremore co-authored it with his wife, Darlene J. Sadlier, Professor Emerita of Spanish and Portuguese.
The book examines the work of Pedro Costa, an internationally acclaimed Portuguese filmmaker known for portraying the lives of impoverished residents of Lisbon’s now-demolished Fontainhas neighborhood. Drawing on interviews by Sadlier conducted in Costa’s native language, the authors combine literary and film analysis to explore Costa’s distinctive style, themes, and artistic significance.
“He is a relatively little-known director to the general audience, but he certainly is one of the most artistically important directors alive,” Naremore said.
In contrast to the collaborative scholarly work, Naremore’s recently published book, “Cinema Then and Now,” is part memoir, part critical inquiry on film. Structured as a book-length interview conducted by Craig Simpson, the work traces Naremore’s lifelong engagement with cinema, beginning with his childhood experiences during Hollywood’s midcentury era.
The book addresses topics such as film politics, adaptation, genre evolution, and the collaborative nature of filmmaking, while reflecting on Naremore’s academic career and continued interest in film criticism. Naremore details what shaped his career and continues to animate debates around cinema, occasionally focusing on specific films — from “Psycho” to to “Letter from an Unknown Woman.”
Over the course of his career, Naremore has published hundreds of articles, books, and reviews, including influential books on directors Orson Welles, Vincente Minnelli, and Stanley Kubrick. He said his enthusiasm for writing never waned.
“The first book I wrote was based on my dissertation, and it was about Virginia Woolf,” Naremore said. “But I was always interested in movies, and luckily there was a nascent film studies program at IU.”
“The Haunted Cinema of Pedro Costa” is available through IU Press. “Cinema Then and Now” is available through Sticking Place Books.