Description

Book Synopsis
This authoritative collection of introductory and specialized readings explores the rich and innovative history of this period in American cinema.

Trade Review

“Out of all the film books I've read this year - and there have been many judging from the sheer amount of book reviews I've posted here in 2015 alone - American Film History: Selected Readings, Origins to 1960 is the clear stand-out amongst them. It's an invaluable tool for those of us who strive to learn more and more about the film industry and classic film every day and I definitely won't be letting this book out of my site for a good long while (I may even stipulate being buried with it in my Last Will & Testament).” (Stardustclassicfilmblog, 17 December 2015)



Table of Contents

Volume I: Origins to 1960

Acknowledgments xii

Preface xiii

Part I Origins to 1928

1 Setting the Stage: American Film History, Origins to 1928 3

References 16

2 D. W. Griffith and the Development of American Narrative Cinema 18
Charlie Keil

Notes 34

References 34

3 Women and the Silent Screen 36
Shelley Stamp

References 51

4 African-Americans and Silent Films 54
Paula J. Massood

Notes 68

References 68

5 Chaplin and Silent Film Comedy 70
Charles J. Maland

References 84

6 Erich von Stroheim and Cecil B. DeMille: Early Hollywood and the Discourse of Directorial “Genius” 85
Gaylyn Studlar

Notes 97

References 97

7 The Star System 99
Mark Lynn Anderson

Notes 112

References 113

8 Synchronized Sound Comes to the Cinema 115
Paul Young

Notes 128

References 129

Part II 1929–1945

9 Setting the Stage: American Film History, 1929–1945 133

Note 151

References 151

10 Era of the Moguls: The Studio System 153
Matthew H. Bernstein

References 173

11 “As Close to Real Life as Hollywood Ever Gets”: Headline Pictures, Topical Movies, Editorial Cinema, and Studio Realism in the 1930s 175
Richard Maltby

Notes 194

References 198

12 Early American Avant-Garde Cinema 200
Jan-Christopher Horak

Notes 214

References 214

13 “Let ’Em Have It”: The Ironic Fate of the 1930s Hollywood Gangster 215
Ruth Vasey

Notes 230

References 230

14 Landscapes of Fantasy, Gardens of Deceit: The Adventure Film between Colonialism and Tourism 231
Hans Jürgen Wulff

Notes 245

References 246

15 Cinema and the Modern Woman 248
Veronica Pravadelli

Notes 262

References 262

16 Queering the (New) Deal 264
David M. Lugowski

Notes 280

References 280

17 There’s No Place Like Home: The Hollywood Folk Musical 282
Desirée J. Garcia

Notes 295

References 296

18 The Magician: Orson Welles and Film Style 297
James Naremore

Notes 309

References 310

19 Classical Cel Animation, World War II, and Bambi 311
Kirsten Moana Thompson

Notes 324

References 325

20 MappingWhy We Fight: Frank Capra and the US Army Orientation Film in World War II 326
Charles Wolfe

Notes 339

References 339

21 A Victory “Uneasy with Its Contrasts”: The Hollywood Left Fights World War II 341
Saverio Giovacchini

Notes 356

References 359

22 Hollywood as Historian, 1929–1945 361
J. E. Smyth

Notes 377

References 377

Part III 1945–1960

23 Setting the Stage: American Film History, 1945–1960 383

References 397

24 Taking Stock at War’s End: Gender, Genre, and Hollywood Labor in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers 398
Roy Grundmann

Notes 419

References 421

25 Natalie Wood: Studio Stardom and Hollywood in Transition 423
Cynthia Lucia

Notes 444

References 446

26 The Politics of Force of Evil: An Analysis of Abraham Polonsky’s Preblacklist Film 448
Christine Noll Brinckmann

Notes 467

References 469

27 The Actors Studio in the Early Cold War 471
Cynthia Baron & Beckett Warren

Notes 485

References 485

28 Authorship and Billy Wilder 486
Robert Sklar

Notes 501

References 501

29 Cold War Thrillers 503
R. Barton Palmer

References 519

30 American Underground Film 520
Jared Rapfogel

Note 535

References 535

Index 537

American Film History

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      Description

      Book Synopsis
      This authoritative collection of introductory and specialized readings explores the rich and innovative history of this period in American cinema.

      Trade Review

      “Out of all the film books I've read this year - and there have been many judging from the sheer amount of book reviews I've posted here in 2015 alone - American Film History: Selected Readings, Origins to 1960 is the clear stand-out amongst them. It's an invaluable tool for those of us who strive to learn more and more about the film industry and classic film every day and I definitely won't be letting this book out of my site for a good long while (I may even stipulate being buried with it in my Last Will & Testament).” (Stardustclassicfilmblog, 17 December 2015)



      Table of Contents

      Volume I: Origins to 1960

      Acknowledgments xii

      Preface xiii

      Part I Origins to 1928

      1 Setting the Stage: American Film History, Origins to 1928 3

      References 16

      2 D. W. Griffith and the Development of American Narrative Cinema 18
      Charlie Keil

      Notes 34

      References 34

      3 Women and the Silent Screen 36
      Shelley Stamp

      References 51

      4 African-Americans and Silent Films 54
      Paula J. Massood

      Notes 68

      References 68

      5 Chaplin and Silent Film Comedy 70
      Charles J. Maland

      References 84

      6 Erich von Stroheim and Cecil B. DeMille: Early Hollywood and the Discourse of Directorial “Genius” 85
      Gaylyn Studlar

      Notes 97

      References 97

      7 The Star System 99
      Mark Lynn Anderson

      Notes 112

      References 113

      8 Synchronized Sound Comes to the Cinema 115
      Paul Young

      Notes 128

      References 129

      Part II 1929–1945

      9 Setting the Stage: American Film History, 1929–1945 133

      Note 151

      References 151

      10 Era of the Moguls: The Studio System 153
      Matthew H. Bernstein

      References 173

      11 “As Close to Real Life as Hollywood Ever Gets”: Headline Pictures, Topical Movies, Editorial Cinema, and Studio Realism in the 1930s 175
      Richard Maltby

      Notes 194

      References 198

      12 Early American Avant-Garde Cinema 200
      Jan-Christopher Horak

      Notes 214

      References 214

      13 “Let ’Em Have It”: The Ironic Fate of the 1930s Hollywood Gangster 215
      Ruth Vasey

      Notes 230

      References 230

      14 Landscapes of Fantasy, Gardens of Deceit: The Adventure Film between Colonialism and Tourism 231
      Hans Jürgen Wulff

      Notes 245

      References 246

      15 Cinema and the Modern Woman 248
      Veronica Pravadelli

      Notes 262

      References 262

      16 Queering the (New) Deal 264
      David M. Lugowski

      Notes 280

      References 280

      17 There’s No Place Like Home: The Hollywood Folk Musical 282
      Desirée J. Garcia

      Notes 295

      References 296

      18 The Magician: Orson Welles and Film Style 297
      James Naremore

      Notes 309

      References 310

      19 Classical Cel Animation, World War II, and Bambi 311
      Kirsten Moana Thompson

      Notes 324

      References 325

      20 MappingWhy We Fight: Frank Capra and the US Army Orientation Film in World War II 326
      Charles Wolfe

      Notes 339

      References 339

      21 A Victory “Uneasy with Its Contrasts”: The Hollywood Left Fights World War II 341
      Saverio Giovacchini

      Notes 356

      References 359

      22 Hollywood as Historian, 1929–1945 361
      J. E. Smyth

      Notes 377

      References 377

      Part III 1945–1960

      23 Setting the Stage: American Film History, 1945–1960 383

      References 397

      24 Taking Stock at War’s End: Gender, Genre, and Hollywood Labor in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers 398
      Roy Grundmann

      Notes 419

      References 421

      25 Natalie Wood: Studio Stardom and Hollywood in Transition 423
      Cynthia Lucia

      Notes 444

      References 446

      26 The Politics of Force of Evil: An Analysis of Abraham Polonsky’s Preblacklist Film 448
      Christine Noll Brinckmann

      Notes 467

      References 469

      27 The Actors Studio in the Early Cold War 471
      Cynthia Baron & Beckett Warren

      Notes 485

      References 485

      28 Authorship and Billy Wilder 486
      Robert Sklar

      Notes 501

      References 501

      29 Cold War Thrillers 503
      R. Barton Palmer

      References 519

      30 American Underground Film 520
      Jared Rapfogel

      Note 535

      References 535

      Index 537

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