Hollywood Renaissance: The Cinema of Democracy in the Era of Ford, Kapra, and Kazan / Edition 1

by Sam B. Girgus

Overview

In this lively and original book, Sam Girgus offers a fresh look at films such as The Searchers, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life, High Noon, and On the Waterfront. He shows how they are part of the cultural and historic debate that examines, structures, and questions what modern America means to its people, the world, and history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521625524
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/13/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.63(d)

Table of Contents

1. Ethnics and Roughnecks: The making of the Hollywood renaissance; 2. The cinema for democracy: John Ford; 3. Gender and American character: Frank Capra; 4. Revisioning heroic masculinity: Hawks and Zinnemann; 5. An American conscience: Elia Kazan; 6. Losing tomorrow: George Stevens; Conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

"...Girgus's readings of the films are always thought-provoking and often persuasive." Benjamin L. Alpers, Culture Front

"Girgus is at his best when offering close readings of key films." Steven J. Ross, The Journal of American History

From the Publisher