AfascinatinglookatHollywood’smostturbulentdecadeandthedemiseofthestudiosystem--setagainsttheboomofthepost-WorldWarIIyears,theColdWar,andtheatomicage--andthemoviesthatreflectedtheseismicshifts“Thedefinitivebookon1950sHollywood.“--Booklist“Lavish...insightful,rich,expansive,penetrating.“--KirkusHollywoodinthe1950swasaperiodwhenthefilmindustrybothsetconventionsandbrokenormsandtraditions--fromCinerama,CinemaScope,andVistaVisiontotheepicfilmandlavishmusical.Itwasadecadethatsawtheriseoftheanti-hero;thesmoldering,thehidden,andtheunspoken;teenagersgonewildinthestreets;thesacredandtheprofane;therevolutionoftheMethod;thesociallyconscious;theimplosionofthestudios;theendoftheproductioncode;andtheinvasionoftheultimatebodysnatcher:the“smallscreen“television.HereisEisenhower’sAmerica--seeminglycomplacent,conformity-riddenrevealedinVincenteMinnelli’sFatheroftheBride,WaltDisney’sCinderella,andBrigadoon,amongothers.Andhereisitsdarkening,resonantlandscape,besetbyconflict,discontent,andanxiety(TheManWhoKnewTooMuch,TheAsphaltJungle,APlaceintheSun,TouchofEvil,ItCameFromOuterSpace)...anAmericaonthevergeofcultural,politicalandsexualrevolt,bustingupandbreakingout(EastofEden,FromHeretoEternity,OntheWaterfront,SweetSmellofSuccess,TheWildOne,AStreetcarNamedDesire,andJailhouseRock).Animportant,rivetinglookatournationatitspeakasaworldpowerandatthepolitical,cultural,sexualupheavalsitendured,reflectedandexploredinthequintessentialAmericanartform.
HERO MOVIES THECOLDWAR HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION cultural
