Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fresh ideas, fresh arguments, and a good feel for the 1950s—Stanfield has it all. This book is one of a kind." -- Wheeler Winston Dixon * University of Nebraska-Lincoln *
"This dazzling archaeology of cycles and genres in postwar cinema goes deep into cultural history, then pulls back to reveal patterns and movements unseen until Stanfield saw them. Highly recommended." -- Will Straw * McGill University *
"
The Cool and the Crazy is a breath of fresh air in that it takes a new look at film cycles that have been written about on multiple occasions—1950s B motion pictures—studying them from topical, social, and production-level perspectives ... This is indeed the 'jazzy, accessible' read it claims to be. Highly recommended." * CHOICE *
"One of the strengths of Stanfield's work is his willingness to resist easy and superficially satisfying answers in favour of demonstrating the imprecise and often awkward ways in which cinema relates to public debates and social trends." * Journal of American Studies *
"Uptight yet simmering below the surface, the fifties were a great decade for style and culture. Peter Stanfield’s
The Cool and the Crazy explores the pulpy cinema of the era with aplomb." * Campus Circle *
"Fresh ideas, fresh arguments, and a good feel for the 1950s—Stanfield has it all. This book is one of a kind." -- Wheeler Winston Dixon * University of Nebraska-Lincoln *
"This dazzling archaeology of cycles and genres in postwar cinema goes deep into cultural history, then pulls back to reveal patterns and movements unseen until Stanfield saw them. Highly recommended." -- Will Straw * McGill University *
"
The Cool and the Crazy is a breath of fresh air in that it takes a new look at film cycles that have been written about on multiple occasions—1950s B motion pictures—studying them from topical, social, and production-level perspectives ... This is indeed the 'jazzy, accessible' read it claims to be. Highly recommended." * CHOICE *
"One of the strengths of Stanfield's work is his willingness to resist easy and superficially satisfying answers in favour of demonstrating the imprecise and often awkward ways in which cinema relates to public debates and social trends." * Journal of American Studies *
"Uptight yet simmering below the surface, the fifties were a great decade for style and culture. Peter Stanfield’s
The Cool and the Crazy explores the pulpy cinema of the era with aplomb." * Campus Circle *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Monarchs for the Masses: Boxing Films2 War Fever: Korea—Timely! Powerful! Exploitable!3 Got-to-See: Teenpix and the Social Problem Picture4 Teenpic Jukebox: Jazz, Calypso, Beatniks, and Rock ’n’ Roll5 Intent to Speed: Hot Rod Movies6 Punks! JD Gangsters7 Dude Ranch Duds: Cowboy CostumeConclusionNotesIndex
