Synopses & Reviews
Films have been a part of U.S. society for a century—a source of great enjoyment for the audience and of great profit to filmmakers. How does a mass entertainment medium deal with some of the great sources of dramatic real-life political and economic conflict—the Great Depression, the Cold War—in a way that attracts an audience without making it angry? How does an industry, which has from its beginnings been the subject of attacks from social, political and religious groups deal with political issues and conflicts? This book is an attempt to examine these questions; it is also an examination of some of the greatest and most interesting American films ever made—westerns, gangster films, comedies, war films, satires, and film biographies—to see what American films say about politics and politicians, and what these films, in turn, say about the audience for which they were produced.
Review
Gianos enlivens his analyses with dialogue, anecdotes, synopses of plots, profiles, and explanations of how and why situations developed. His flair for reinterpreting films and genres shows...Particularly impressive is [his] comprehensive and revelatory treatment of censorship...an excellent title recommended for all audiences.Choice
Synopsis
Films have been a part of U.S. society for a century--a source of great enjoyment for the audience and of great profit to filmmakers. How does a mass entertainment medium deal with some of the great sources of dramatic real-life political and economic conflict--the Great Depression, the Cold War--in a way that attracts an audience without making it angry? How does an industry, which has from its beginnings been the subject of attacks from social, political and religious groups deal with political issues and conflicts? This book is an attempt to examine these questions; it is also an examination of some of the greatest and most interesting American films ever made--westerns, gangster films, comedies, war films, satires, and film biographies--to see what American films say about politics and politicians, and what these films, in turn, say about the audience for which they were produced.
Synopsis
Examines some of the greatest American films ever made to see what they say about politics and politicians, and what these films, in turn, say about the audience for which they were produced.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [197]-201) and index.
About the Author
PHILLIP L. GIANOS is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Fullerton.
Table of Contents
Making Movies
Watching Movies
Politics and the Film Industry
Approach, Avoidance and Accommodation: Movies and the Great Depression
The Movies and World War II
The Cold War and Vietnam in Film
Aspiration, Disillusionment and Ambivalence: Politics and Politicians in Film
References
Index