The Hollywood Action and Adventure Film presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the history, myriad themes, and critical approaches to the action and adventure genre in American cinema. Draws on a wide range of examples, spanning the silent spectacles of early cinema to the iconic superheroes of 21st-century action films Features case studies revealing the genre’s diverse roots – from westerns and war films, to crime and espionage movies Explores a rich variety of aesthetic and thematic concerns that have come to define the genre, touching on themes such as the outsider hero, violence and redemption, and adventure as escape from the mundane Integrates discussion of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality alongside genre history Provides a timely and richly revealing portrait of a powerful cinematic genre that has increasingly come to dominate the American cinematic landscape

A lively and reliable narrative account of the horror genre, featuring new and revised material throughout The Horror Film: An Introduction surveys the history, development, and social impact of the genre. Covering American horror cinema from its earliest period to the present, this reader-friendly volume explores the many ways horror movies have been received by filmmakers, critics, and general audiences throughout the decades. Concise, easily accessible chapters describe historical instances of the genre's social reception based on primary research, analyze landmark films such as Frankenstein, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and more. Incorporating recent scholarship on the genre, the second edition of The Horror Film contains new discussion and context for Hollywood horror films in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as notable developments in the genre such as “torture porn,” found-footage horror, remakes and reboots of past horror films, zombies, and the “elevated horror” debate. This edition explores the rise of new filmmakers such as Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Jordan Peele, surveys horror films made by women and African American filmmakers, and investigates contemporary issues in the production and consumption of horror films. Combining historical narrative with close readings of significant works, The Horror Film: Covers major works in the genre such as Cat People, Halloween, and Bram Stoker's DraculaExamines important antecedents including gothic literature and the Grand Guignol TheaterOffers thorough analyses of the style, context, and themes of specific horror milestonesProvides examples of close analysis that can be applied to a wide range of other horror filmsDiscusses important representative titles across the genre's evolution, including more recent films such as 2017's Get OutThe Horror Film: An Introduction, Second Edition, is an ideal textbook for undergraduate surveys of the horror genre and other courses in American film history, and an invaluable resource for scholars, lecturers, and general readers with an interest in the subject.

Combining historical narrative with close readings of several significant horror films, this brief volume offers a broad and lively introduction to cinematic horror.In doing so, it outlines and investigates important issues in the production, consumption, and cultural interpretation of the genre. An ideal text for perennially popular courses on the horror film genre.Examines the ways in which horror movies have been produced, received, and interpreted by filmmakers, audiences, and critics, from the 1920s to the present.Provides a short historical introduction of the horror film as an orientation to the field.Analyses a wide variety of major works in the genre, including Frankenstein, Cat People, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western is an original and compelling critical history of the American Western film. Provides an insightful overview of the American Western genreCovers the entire history of the Western, from 1939 to the presentAnalyses Westerns as products of a genre, as well as expressions of political and social desiresDeepens an audience's understanding of the genre's most important works, including Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Unforgiven, and Kill BillContains numerous illustrations of the films and issues discussed.

From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western is an original and compelling critical history of the American Western film. Provides an insightful overview of the American Western genreCovers the entire history of the Western, from 1939 to the presentAnalyses Westerns as products of a genre, as well as expressions of political and social desiresDeepens an audience's understanding of the genre's most important works, including Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Unforgiven, and Kill BillContains numerous illustrations of the films and issues discussed.

Film Noir offers new perspectives on this highly popular and influential film genre, providing a useful overview of its historical evolution and the many critical debates over its stylistic elements. Brings together a range of perspectives on a topic that has been much discussed but remains notoriously ill-definedTraces the historical development of the genre, usefully exploring the relations between the films of the 1940s and 1950s that established the "noir" universe and the more recent films in which it has been frequently revivedEmploys a clear and intelligent writing style that makes this the perfect introduction to the genreOffers a thorough and engaging analysis of this popular area of film studies for students and scholarsPresents an in-depth analysis of six key films, each exemplifying  important trends of film noir: Murder, My Sweet; Out of the Past; Kiss Me Deadly; The Long Goodbye; Chinatown; and Seven

Film Noir offers new perspectives on this highly popular and influential film genre, providing a useful overview of its historical evolution and the many critical debates over its stylistic elements. Brings together a range of perspectives on a topic that has been much discussed but remains notoriously ill-definedTraces the historical development of the genre, usefully exploring the relations between the films of the 1940s and 1950s that established the "noir" universe and the more recent films in which it has been frequently revivedEmploys a clear and intelligent writing style that makes this the perfect introduction to the genreOffers a thorough and engaging analysis of this popular area of film studies for students and scholarsPresents an in-depth analysis of six key films, each exemplifying  important trends of film noir: Murder, My Sweet; Out of the Past; Kiss Me Deadly; The Long Goodbye; Chinatown; and Seven

A comprehensive analysis of the historical film—a popular and controversial genre that’s been with us since the early days of cinema—and Hollywood’s unique ability to reshape our viewpoints while it sensually recreates the past. Provides a complete guide to the unique characteristics of historical film, distinguishing among sub-genres such as historical epics, war films, biographies, topical films, and meta-historic works like Nixon and JFKOffers detailed analyses of groundbreaking films such as Spartacus, Schindler’s List, and United 93Examines the dual role of the historical film to entertain and educate, with its tendency to arouse critical and popular controversyStimulates discussion about Hollywood’s power to persuade and reshape our views of the past

A comprehensive analysis of the historical film—a popular and controversial genre that’s been with us since the early days of cinema—and Hollywood’s unique ability to reshape our viewpoints while it sensually recreates the past. Provides a complete guide to the unique characteristics of historical film, distinguishing among sub-genres such as historical epics, war films, biographies, topical films, and meta-historic works like Nixon and JFKOffers detailed analyses of groundbreaking films such as Spartacus, Schindler’s List, and United 93Examines the dual role of the historical film to entertain and educate, with its tendency to arouse critical and popular controversyStimulates discussion about Hollywood’s power to persuade and reshape our views of the past

“Grace has theorized the religious film as elegantly as she has written it history. And what a history! From early, simple stories to Mel Gibson’s grily Passion of the Crist.”KRIN GABBARD, AUTHOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND THE CINEMA Lush, vaguely liturgical music floods the theater. A sonorous offscreen male voice slowly articulates the words, “And it was written...” or “In the year...”. On the screen, clouds mysteriously separate and a semi-transparent figure appears in the sky – this is the religious film. Conventional films about religious heroes are instantly recognizable, and average film-goers can easily identify the most common sounds and images and, more significantly, the values that most traditional films of this kind uphold: unquestioning faith, chastity, virtuous suffering, and the superiority of one religion over all others. Focusing on movies about Christianity, The Religious Film is a welcome introduction to this complex and iconic genre of film. Pamela Grace provides historical, cultural and critical background for religious films from the silent era through today, and explores the genre in its many guisesc – as spectacle, as musical, and as controversy. From The Gospel According to Matthew to Jesus Christ Superstar, from The Passion of Joan of Arc to The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus of Montreal, The Religious Film captures the glory, gore, and centrality of this important genre.

“Grace has theorized the religious film as elegantly as she has written it history. And what a history! From early, simple stories to Mel Gibson’s grily Passion of the Crist.”KRIN GABBARD, AUTHOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND THE CINEMA Lush, vaguely liturgical music floods the theater. A sonorous offscreen male voice slowly articulates the words, “And it was written...” or “In the year...”. On the screen, clouds mysteriously separate and a semi-transparent figure appears in the sky – this is the religious film. Conventional films about religious heroes are instantly recognizable, and average film-goers can easily identify the most common sounds and images and, more significantly, the values that most traditional films of this kind uphold: unquestioning faith, chastity, virtuous suffering, and the superiority of one religion over all others. Focusing on movies about Christianity, The Religious Film is a welcome introduction to this complex and iconic genre of film. Pamela Grace provides historical, cultural and critical background for religious films from the silent era through today, and explores the genre in its many guisesc – as spectacle, as musical, and as controversy. From The Gospel According to Matthew to Jesus Christ Superstar, from The Passion of Joan of Arc to The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus of Montreal, The Religious Film captures the glory, gore, and centrality of this important genre.

The Fantasy Film provides a clear and compelling overview of this revitalized and explosively popular film genre. Includes analyses of a wide range of films, from early classics such as The Wizard of Oz and Harvey to Spiderman and Shrek, and blockbuster series such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Harry Potter filmsProvides in-depth historical and critical overviews of the genreFully illustrated with screen shots from key films

The Hollywood War Film offers readers a lively introduction to the theory, history, stars, and major films constituting this vital genre, from Hollywood's earliest days to the current moment Combines broad historical and theoretical coverage of the genre with in-depth analysis of specific filmsIncludes chapters on All Quiet on the Western Front, World War II combat films, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, Eastwood’s Iwo Jima films, and Iraq war filmsAn ideal text for perennially popular courses on the war film genre

This revealing history of the American film musical synthesizes the critical literature on the genre and provides a series of close analytical readings of iconic musical films, focusing on their cultural relationship to other aspects of American popular music. Offers a depth of scholarship that will appeal to students and scholarsLeads a crucial analysis of the cultural context of musicals, particularly the influence of popular music on the genreDelves into critical issues behind these films such as race, gender, ideology, and authorshipFeatures close readings of canonical and neglected film musicals from the 1930s to the present including: Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain, Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, West Side Story, and Across the Universe

The most up-to-date study of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the development of sound to the twenty-first century, this book examines the history and conventions of the genre and surveys the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films. Provides a detailed interpretation of important romantic comedy films from as early as 1932 to movies made in the twenty-first centuryPresents a full analysis of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humorDevelops a survey of romantic comedy movies and builds a canon of key films from Hollywood's classical era right up to the present dayChapters work as discrete studies as well as within the larger context of the book

The Multi-Protagonist Film is an insightful and provocative introduction to this important new genre.  Explores the origins and history of one of the most exciting new developments in contemporary film worldwideGuides readers through the genre’s central characteristics and conventions, as well as it's evolution and cultural relevanceProvides a theoretical framework that is developed through the analysis several films, including Grand Hotel, Singles,  American Pie, Short Cuts, and Syriana. Reveals the duality of the genre's contemporary preoccupations:  the impact of globalization on human lives versus the current state of intimate affairs, the crisis of marriage, and the proliferation of sexual choices

The Hollywood Action and Adventure Film presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the history, myriad themes, and critical approaches to the action and adventure genre in American cinema. Draws on a wide range of examples, spanning the silent spectacles of early cinema to the iconic superheroes of 21st-century action films Features case studies revealing the genre’s diverse roots – from westerns and war films, to crime and espionage movies Explores a rich variety of aesthetic and thematic concerns that have come to define the genre, touching on themes such as the outsider hero, violence and redemption, and adventure as escape from the mundane Integrates discussion of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality alongside genre history Provides a timely and richly revealing portrait of a powerful cinematic genre that has increasingly come to dominate the American cinematic landscape

The Hollywood Action and Adventure Film presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the history, myriad themes, and critical approaches to the action and adventure genre in American cinema. Draws on a wide range of examples, spanning the silent spectacles of early cinema to the iconic superheroes of 21st-century action films Features case studies revealing the genre’s diverse roots – from westerns and war films, to crime and espionage movies Explores a rich variety of aesthetic and thematic concerns that have come to define the genre, touching on themes such as the outsider hero, violence and redemption, and adventure as escape from the mundane Integrates discussion of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality alongside genre history Provides a timely and richly revealing portrait of a powerful cinematic genre that has increasingly come to dominate the American cinematic landscape

A lively and reliable narrative account of the horror genre, featuring new and revised material throughout The Horror Film: An Introduction surveys the history, development, and social impact of the genre. Covering American horror cinema from its earliest period to the present, this reader-friendly volume explores the many ways horror movies have been received by filmmakers, critics, and general audiences throughout the decades. Concise, easily accessible chapters describe historical instances of the genre's social reception based on primary research, analyze landmark films such as Frankenstein, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and more. Incorporating recent scholarship on the genre, the second edition of The Horror Film contains new discussion and context for Hollywood horror films in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as notable developments in the genre such as “torture porn,” found-footage horror, remakes and reboots of past horror films, zombies, and the “elevated horror” debate. This edition explores the rise of new filmmakers such as Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Jordan Peele, surveys horror films made by women and African American filmmakers, and investigates contemporary issues in the production and consumption of horror films. Combining historical narrative with close readings of significant works, The Horror Film: Covers major works in the genre such as Cat People, Halloween, and Bram Stoker's DraculaExamines important antecedents including gothic literature and the Grand Guignol TheaterOffers thorough analyses of the style, context, and themes of specific horror milestonesProvides examples of close analysis that can be applied to a wide range of other horror filmsDiscusses important representative titles across the genre's evolution, including more recent films such as 2017's Get OutThe Horror Film: An Introduction, Second Edition, is an ideal textbook for undergraduate surveys of the horror genre and other courses in American film history, and an invaluable resource for scholars, lecturers, and general readers with an interest in the subject.

Combining historical narrative with close readings of several significant horror films, this brief volume offers a broad and lively introduction to cinematic horror.In doing so, it outlines and investigates important issues in the production, consumption, and cultural interpretation of the genre. An ideal text for perennially popular courses on the horror film genre.Examines the ways in which horror movies have been produced, received, and interpreted by filmmakers, audiences, and critics, from the 1920s to the present.Provides a short historical introduction of the horror film as an orientation to the field.Analyses a wide variety of major works in the genre, including Frankenstein, Cat People, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western is an original and compelling critical history of the American Western film. Provides an insightful overview of the American Western genreCovers the entire history of the Western, from 1939 to the presentAnalyses Westerns as products of a genre, as well as expressions of political and social desiresDeepens an audience's understanding of the genre's most important works, including Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Unforgiven, and Kill BillContains numerous illustrations of the films and issues discussed.

From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western is an original and compelling critical history of the American Western film. Provides an insightful overview of the American Western genreCovers the entire history of the Western, from 1939 to the presentAnalyses Westerns as products of a genre, as well as expressions of political and social desiresDeepens an audience's understanding of the genre's most important works, including Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Unforgiven, and Kill BillContains numerous illustrations of the films and issues discussed.

Film Noir offers new perspectives on this highly popular and influential film genre, providing a useful overview of its historical evolution and the many critical debates over its stylistic elements. Brings together a range of perspectives on a topic that has been much discussed but remains notoriously ill-definedTraces the historical development of the genre, usefully exploring the relations between the films of the 1940s and 1950s that established the "noir" universe and the more recent films in which it has been frequently revivedEmploys a clear and intelligent writing style that makes this the perfect introduction to the genreOffers a thorough and engaging analysis of this popular area of film studies for students and scholarsPresents an in-depth analysis of six key films, each exemplifying  important trends of film noir: Murder, My Sweet; Out of the Past; Kiss Me Deadly; The Long Goodbye; Chinatown; and Seven

Film Noir offers new perspectives on this highly popular and influential film genre, providing a useful overview of its historical evolution and the many critical debates over its stylistic elements. Brings together a range of perspectives on a topic that has been much discussed but remains notoriously ill-definedTraces the historical development of the genre, usefully exploring the relations between the films of the 1940s and 1950s that established the "noir" universe and the more recent films in which it has been frequently revivedEmploys a clear and intelligent writing style that makes this the perfect introduction to the genreOffers a thorough and engaging analysis of this popular area of film studies for students and scholarsPresents an in-depth analysis of six key films, each exemplifying  important trends of film noir: Murder, My Sweet; Out of the Past; Kiss Me Deadly; The Long Goodbye; Chinatown; and Seven

A comprehensive analysis of the historical film—a popular and controversial genre that’s been with us since the early days of cinema—and Hollywood’s unique ability to reshape our viewpoints while it sensually recreates the past. Provides a complete guide to the unique characteristics of historical film, distinguishing among sub-genres such as historical epics, war films, biographies, topical films, and meta-historic works like Nixon and JFKOffers detailed analyses of groundbreaking films such as Spartacus, Schindler’s List, and United 93Examines the dual role of the historical film to entertain and educate, with its tendency to arouse critical and popular controversyStimulates discussion about Hollywood’s power to persuade and reshape our views of the past

A comprehensive analysis of the historical film—a popular and controversial genre that’s been with us since the early days of cinema—and Hollywood’s unique ability to reshape our viewpoints while it sensually recreates the past. Provides a complete guide to the unique characteristics of historical film, distinguishing among sub-genres such as historical epics, war films, biographies, topical films, and meta-historic works like Nixon and JFKOffers detailed analyses of groundbreaking films such as Spartacus, Schindler’s List, and United 93Examines the dual role of the historical film to entertain and educate, with its tendency to arouse critical and popular controversyStimulates discussion about Hollywood’s power to persuade and reshape our views of the past

“Grace has theorized the religious film as elegantly as she has written it history. And what a history! From early, simple stories to Mel Gibson’s grily Passion of the Crist.”KRIN GABBARD, AUTHOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND THE CINEMA Lush, vaguely liturgical music floods the theater. A sonorous offscreen male voice slowly articulates the words, “And it was written...” or “In the year...”. On the screen, clouds mysteriously separate and a semi-transparent figure appears in the sky – this is the religious film. Conventional films about religious heroes are instantly recognizable, and average film-goers can easily identify the most common sounds and images and, more significantly, the values that most traditional films of this kind uphold: unquestioning faith, chastity, virtuous suffering, and the superiority of one religion over all others. Focusing on movies about Christianity, The Religious Film is a welcome introduction to this complex and iconic genre of film. Pamela Grace provides historical, cultural and critical background for religious films from the silent era through today, and explores the genre in its many guisesc – as spectacle, as musical, and as controversy. From The Gospel According to Matthew to Jesus Christ Superstar, from The Passion of Joan of Arc to The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus of Montreal, The Religious Film captures the glory, gore, and centrality of this important genre.

“Grace has theorized the religious film as elegantly as she has written it history. And what a history! From early, simple stories to Mel Gibson’s grily Passion of the Crist.”KRIN GABBARD, AUTHOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND THE CINEMA Lush, vaguely liturgical music floods the theater. A sonorous offscreen male voice slowly articulates the words, “And it was written...” or “In the year...”. On the screen, clouds mysteriously separate and a semi-transparent figure appears in the sky – this is the religious film. Conventional films about religious heroes are instantly recognizable, and average film-goers can easily identify the most common sounds and images and, more significantly, the values that most traditional films of this kind uphold: unquestioning faith, chastity, virtuous suffering, and the superiority of one religion over all others. Focusing on movies about Christianity, The Religious Film is a welcome introduction to this complex and iconic genre of film. Pamela Grace provides historical, cultural and critical background for religious films from the silent era through today, and explores the genre in its many guisesc – as spectacle, as musical, and as controversy. From The Gospel According to Matthew to Jesus Christ Superstar, from The Passion of Joan of Arc to The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus of Montreal, The Religious Film captures the glory, gore, and centrality of this important genre.

The Fantasy Film provides a clear and compelling overview of this revitalized and explosively popular film genre. Includes analyses of a wide range of films, from early classics such as The Wizard of Oz and Harvey to Spiderman and Shrek, and blockbuster series such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Harry Potter filmsProvides in-depth historical and critical overviews of the genreFully illustrated with screen shots from key films

The Hollywood War Film offers readers a lively introduction to the theory, history, stars, and major films constituting this vital genre, from Hollywood's earliest days to the current moment Combines broad historical and theoretical coverage of the genre with in-depth analysis of specific filmsIncludes chapters on All Quiet on the Western Front, World War II combat films, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, Eastwood’s Iwo Jima films, and Iraq war filmsAn ideal text for perennially popular courses on the war film genre

This revealing history of the American film musical synthesizes the critical literature on the genre and provides a series of close analytical readings of iconic musical films, focusing on their cultural relationship to other aspects of American popular music. Offers a depth of scholarship that will appeal to students and scholarsLeads a crucial analysis of the cultural context of musicals, particularly the influence of popular music on the genreDelves into critical issues behind these films such as race, gender, ideology, and authorshipFeatures close readings of canonical and neglected film musicals from the 1930s to the present including: Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain, Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, West Side Story, and Across the Universe

The most up-to-date study of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the development of sound to the twenty-first century, this book examines the history and conventions of the genre and surveys the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films. Provides a detailed interpretation of important romantic comedy films from as early as 1932 to movies made in the twenty-first centuryPresents a full analysis of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humorDevelops a survey of romantic comedy movies and builds a canon of key films from Hollywood's classical era right up to the present dayChapters work as discrete studies as well as within the larger context of the book

The Multi-Protagonist Film is an insightful and provocative introduction to this important new genre.  Explores the origins and history of one of the most exciting new developments in contemporary film worldwideGuides readers through the genre’s central characteristics and conventions, as well as it's evolution and cultural relevanceProvides a theoretical framework that is developed through the analysis several films, including Grand Hotel, Singles,  American Pie, Short Cuts, and Syriana. Reveals the duality of the genre's contemporary preoccupations:  the impact of globalization on human lives versus the current state of intimate affairs, the crisis of marriage, and the proliferation of sexual choices

The Hollywood Action and Adventure Film presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the history, myriad themes, and critical approaches to the action and adventure genre in American cinema. Draws on a wide range of examples, spanning the silent spectacles of early cinema to the iconic superheroes of 21st-century action films Features case studies revealing the genre’s diverse roots – from westerns and war films, to crime and espionage movies Explores a rich variety of aesthetic and thematic concerns that have come to define the genre, touching on themes such as the outsider hero, violence and redemption, and adventure as escape from the mundane Integrates discussion of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality alongside genre history Provides a timely and richly revealing portrait of a powerful cinematic genre that has increasingly come to dominate the American cinematic landscape