Editori in sala Per una filologia della collana «Dal soggetto al film»

This article aims to analyze the collection «Dal soggetto al film», directed by Renzo Renzi and published by Cappelli in Bologna between 1956 and 1977. The research focuses on the editorial, cultural, and economic dynamics that shaped the early stages of Renzi’s collection. Through an examination of representative cases – such as the volumes dedicated to the movies Senso (Luchino Visconti, 1954), Giulietta e Romeo (Renato Castellani, 1954), Guerra e pace (War and Peace, King Vidor, 1956), and La dolce vita (Federico Fellini, 1960) – the study reconstructs how cinema books interpret the creative and industrial processes behind filmmaking. The multiple mediations involved in the books’ composition, publication, distribution, and promotion confirm the series’ role as a space for critical engagement. The paper explores key aspects of the dialogue between the film industry and the publishing market while also considering critical reception and target readership. A comparison with similar collections launched by other publishers further underscores the significance of this research for the history of film criticism. Conducted with the support of previously unpublished archival materials, this study proposes an investigative model that contributes to understanding the cultural networks and intellectual practices that shaped film publishing – and Italian publishing more broadly – in the second half of the 20th century.