Friend or Foe?: Russians in American Film and Foreign Policy, 1933-1991

by Michael J. Strada, Harold R. Troper

Overview

During the nearly sixty years of filmmaking, the always uneasy and often fractious Soviet-American relationship has been mirrored in Hollywood's portrayal of Russians and the Soviet Union. Friend or Foe? examines the portrayal of the Soviet Union in American film, and shows how these films reflect the attitudes of Americans, as well as how each portrayal changed with the often uneasy relations between the two countries.

The authors show how films, as rich repositories of national consciousness, can be analyzed to reveal time-bound insights into popular fears and obsessions. History lovers and film buffs will appreciate the tongue-in-cheek approach to many of the absurdist films. Scholars in history, film studies, and political science will find the depth and breadth of research useful. A filmography, bibliography, and photographs further complement the study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810832459
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/15/1997
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Michael J. Strada has taught international studies courses at West Liberty State College since 1969 and West Virginia University since 1985, where he also serves as co-director of the WV Consortium for Faculty and Course Development in International Studies (FACDIS). He has written articles for Journal of Popular Culture, Peace Research, International Review of History and Political Science, and The Midwest Quarterly.

Harold R. Troper holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, and is Professor of History of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. He is the author of several books including Immigrants: A Portrait of the Urban Experience, None is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe, and Old Wounds: Jews, Ukrainians and the Hunt for Nazi War Criminals in Canada.

Table of Contents

	Preface	vii
	Acknowledgments	xiii
Chapter 1	1933-1940: Ambivalence	1
Chapter 2	1941-1945: Accommodative War Alliance	34
Chapter 3	1946-1962: Acute Cold War	60
Chapter 4	1963-1971: Liberal Backlash and Transition	96
Chapter 5	1972-1980: Fragile Detente	125
Chapter 6	1981-1985: Cold War Reprise	146
Chapter 7	1986-1991: Qualitative Transformation	172
	Cold War Coda	197
	Notes	203
	Filmography	223
	Bibliography	227
	Index	235
	About the Authors	255

Editorial Reviews

...well-written and wonderfully readable...This is ...an important work for students of twentieth-centruy American history and the history of film...

Southern Humanities Review

...Strada and Troper poured over 150 films and their sharp eyes—coupled with scrupulous research and clear, analytical prose—spotted everything...without question, the best reference text available on the subject...

Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

The premise of this book is commendable. These films the authors consider in depth and write about fairly fully....manageable for both the scholarly and casual reader...extremely useful...a useful starting point for any historian of US feature and mainstream documentary film...an advance on anything previously written on the subject of Russians. They have managed to keep a populist tone in their writing, for which they are to be congratulated and have made their audience aware of many more films than they will ever have the time or inclination to watch themselves.

Historical Journal of Film

The premise of this book is commendable. These films the authors consider in depth and write about fairly fully....manageable for both the scholarly and casual reader...extremely useful...a useful starting point for any historian of US feature and mainstream documentary film...an advance on anything previously written on the subject of Russians. They have managed to keep a populist tone in their writing, for which they are to be congratulated and have made their audience aware of many more films than they will ever have the time or inclination to watch themselves.--Historical Journal of Film, Radio, & Television, Vol. 8

...well-written and wonderfully readable...This is ...an important work for students of twentieth-centruy American history and the history of film...--Southern Humanities Review

...Strada and Troper poured over 150 films and their sharp eyes--coupled with scrupulous research and clear, analytical prose--spotted everything...without question, the best reference text available on the subject...--Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

From the Publisher

...Strada and Troper poured over 150 films and their sharp eyes—coupled with scrupulous research and clear, analytical prose—spotted everything...without question, the best reference text available on the subject...

Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

The premise of this book is commendable. These films the authors consider in depth and write about fairly fully....manageable for both the scholarly and casual reader...extremely useful...a useful starting point for any historian of US feature and mainstream documentary film...an advance on anything previously written on the subject of Russians. They have managed to keep a populist tone in their writing, for which they are to be congratulated and have made their audience aware of many more films than they will ever have the time or inclination to watch themselves.

Vol. 8 Historical Journal Of Film Radio & Television

The premise of this book is commendable. These films the authors consider in depth and write about fairly fully....manageable for both the scholarly and casual reader...extremely useful...a useful starting point for any historian of US feature and mainstream documentary film...an advance on anything previously written on the subject of Russians. They have managed to keep a populist tone in their writing, for which they are to be congratulated and have made their audience aware of many more films than they will ever have the time or inclination to watch themselves.

Historical Journal Of Film

...Strada and Troper poured over 150 films and their sharp eyes—coupled with scrupulous research and clear, analytical prose—spotted everything...without question, the best reference text available on the subject...

Film & History

Following Hollywood films through six decades of official Soviet- American relations, the authors explore the ways that Hollywood films have influenced American attitudes towards Russians and the Soviet Union. Eight chapters examine stages of the Cold War, describing foreign policy, Russian and US leadership, politics and personalities in Hollywood, representative films, criticism, cinematic themes, and the American psyche. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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