Acting for America: Movie Stars of the 1980s

A captivating cast of 1980s power and talent--John Candy, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sissy Spacek, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, and the "Brat Pack"—stars in the drama of this decade. Acting for America focuses on the way these film icons have engaged in and defined some major issues of cultural and social concern to America during the 1980s.

Scholars employing a variety of useful approaches explore how these movie stars' films speak to an increased audience awareness of advances in feminism, new ideas about masculinity, and the complex political atmosphere in the Age of Reagan. The essays demonstrate the range of these stars' contributions to such conversations in a variety of films, including blockbusters and major genres.
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Acting for America: Movie Stars of the 1980s

A captivating cast of 1980s power and talent--John Candy, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sissy Spacek, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, and the "Brat Pack"—stars in the drama of this decade. Acting for America focuses on the way these film icons have engaged in and defined some major issues of cultural and social concern to America during the 1980s.

Scholars employing a variety of useful approaches explore how these movie stars' films speak to an increased audience awareness of advances in feminism, new ideas about masculinity, and the complex political atmosphere in the Age of Reagan. The essays demonstrate the range of these stars' contributions to such conversations in a variety of films, including blockbusters and major genres.
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Overview


A captivating cast of 1980s power and talent--John Candy, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sissy Spacek, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, and the "Brat Pack"—stars in the drama of this decade. Acting for America focuses on the way these film icons have engaged in and defined some major issues of cultural and social concern to America during the 1980s.

Scholars employing a variety of useful approaches explore how these movie stars' films speak to an increased audience awareness of advances in feminism, new ideas about masculinity, and the complex political atmosphere in the Age of Reagan. The essays demonstrate the range of these stars' contributions to such conversations in a variety of films, including blockbusters and major genres.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780813551135
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Publication date: 05/17/2010
Series: Star Decades: American Culture/American Cinema
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 288
File size: 3 MB

About the Author


ROBERT EBERWEIN is distinguished professor of English emeritus at Oakland University. He is the author of Armed Forces: Masculinity and Sexuality in the American War Film; The War Film; Sex ED: Film, Video, and the Framework of Desire (all Rutgers University Press), and The Hollywood War Film.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction: Stardom in the 1980s Robert Eberwein 1

1 Robert De Niro: Star as Actor Auteur Aaron Baker 19

2 Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger: Androgynous Macho Men Rebecca Bell-Metereau 36

3 Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek: Country Girls William Brown 57

4 Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise: Rebellion and Conformity Michael DeAngelis 77

5 Michael J. Fox and the Brat Pack: Contrasting Identities Robert Eberwein 99

6 Eddie Murphy: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Child Krin Gabbard 120

7 Sigourney Weaver: Woman Warrior, Working Girl Chris Holmlund 139

8 Harrison Ford: A Well-Tempered Machismo Adam Knee 160

9 Sally Field and Goldie Hawn: Feminism, Post-feminism, and Cactus Flower Politics Christina Lane 180

10 Meryl Streep: Feminism and Femininity in the Era of Backlash Linda Mizejewski 201

11 Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis: Enforcers Left and Right James Morrison 223

12 Steve Martin and John Candy: Penny Wise and Pound Foolish Jerry Mosher 243

In the Wings Robert Eberwein 263

Works Cited 271

Contributors 279

Index 281

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