Films of James Bridges

Peter Tonguette is a film critic, essayist and author. His work has appeared in such publications as Cineaste, CinemaEditor, and Senses of Cinema.

“scrupulously researched, elegantly written...here is a close, sensitive (and admirably fact-based) reading of one of the most powerful and personal filmmakers of the 1970s and 80s, whose work merits much wider recognition”—Dave Kehr, (www.davekehr.com); “Peter Tonguette, one of our finest young scholars, follows his excellent book on Orson Welles with a warm, lively, and entirely fresh portrait of James Bridges and his films. Many film scholars are content to rehash old ground, but not Tonguette. He tackles the subject of an unjustly neglected American filmmaker and does exemplary and resourceful research in helping bring him alive as a man and as a director. Tonguette’s portrait of Bridges is engaging, entertaining, and deeply insightful, and his analyses of the films are astute and should make readers who have neglected this important filmmaker look back at Bridges's work to study it more closely. Those who already know Bridges will find here many new and illuminating facets in the man and his films. Best of all, The Films of James Bridges has the quality of passionate involvement that a first-rate film book should have.”—Joseph McBride, author of Steven Spielberg: A Biography, Searching for John Ford, and Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of Success.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      Preface      1. An Arkansan      2. Making Babies … and Movies      3. Hart and Kingsfield, Bridges and Houseman: The Paper Chase      4. Going Home: September 30, 1955      5. Going Nuclear (and Commercial): The China Syndrome and Urban Cowboy      6. What Became of Jimmy J.: Mike’s Murder      7. Perfecting Perfect      8. Bright Lights, Big City, Big Legacy      Directorial Filmography      Notes      Bibliography      Index