This authoritative collection of introductory and specialized readings takes students and scholars through the rich, varied, and innovative history of early American film, from its inception in the late-1890s, through the decline of the studio system in the 1960s. Accessibly structured by historical period to provide cultural, social, political, and technological contexts, this volume includes coverage of a range of essential subjects, from silent film and iconic figures such as Charlie Chaplin to the coming of sound; from the rise of film genres and studio moguls to the early contributions of women, African-Americans, and avant-garde filmmakers; from the enforcement of the Production Code to the Cold War Hollywood Blacklist.
Written by established film scholars, American Film History: Selected Readings, Origins to 1960 balances its coverage of the vital trends and developments in mainstream film with topics often relegated to the margins of standard film histories. Key filmmakers and films covered include D.W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Erich von Stroheim, Cecil B. DeMille, Don Juan, The Jazz Singer, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Scarface, Red Dust, Glorifying the American Girl, Meet Me in St. Louis, Citizen Kane, Bambi, Frank Capra’s Why We Fight series, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Rebel Without a Cause, Force of Evil, and selected American avant-garde and underground films, among many others. It is designed with both the student and scholar in mind: each section opens with an historical overview and provides close, careful readings of individual films clustered around specific topics. Additional online resources available such as sample syllabi, which include suggested readings and filmographies for both general and specialized courses.
