Michael Powell lived intimately, and abundantly, with the movies - entering the business at the end of the silent era, growing up in the industry, becoming one of Britain's most respected and influential directors. This first volume of his autobiography captures the startling momentum of his mercurial early career: from apprenticeship with Hitchcock, to the fateful meeting with the man who became his principal collaborator Emeric Pressburger; to the glories of A Matter of Life and Death, Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes. Powell's writing has the same brilliant feel for time, place and story as his amazing films.