Sergei Eisenstein (1898 – 1948) one of films most important directors, stylists and theorists. Beginning in the silent era, Eisenstein, under the influence of Marxist theory, challenged traditional Hollywood decoupage style with a dialectical approach to film editing outlined in essays colleced into two famous books on montage, Film Form and Film Sense. However, his views evolved during his relatively short lifetime partly in response to pressure from the Communist Party but also, because his initial highly formal approach limited his later cinematic interests.