Hollywood Romantic Comedy: States of Union, 19341965

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Description

This work explores the changing representation of the couple in romantic comedy, focusing on the key themes of marriage, equality and desire. It considers the three cycles of production: screwball comedy in the thirties; career woman comedy in the forties; and sex comedy in the fifties. This work analyses shifting discourses around heterosexuality, gender, romance and love; includes detailed discussion of Myrna Loy and William Powell, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and Doris Day and Rock Hudson; and, enables a more sophisticated understanding of the functions of such generic conventions as masquerade, gender inversion, the 'green world' and the happy ending.

Reviews

"'I feel that from the opening pages I am in the presence of an author who knows with absolute confidence what she is doing and that she has all the necessary skills to carry her project through. Kathrina Glitre's book on the heyday of Hollywood romantic comedy seems to me destined to become a classic of its kind.' Brian McFarlane, Editor of the Encyclopedia of British Cinema"

Author Bio

Kathrina Glitre is Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of the West of England