The American War Film: History and Hollywood

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Surveys American war film development within the context of American and world history. McAdams provides the first extensive synthesis of American and world history with the war film genre. He demonstrates how the war film reflects the currents of history of the time with actual events portrayed and in dramatic plot points. Beginning with the Birth of a Nation in 1915, McAdams weaves the development of Hollywood, the larger socio-economic and political events of the time with the way war was and is portrayed in American film. In wartime he shows the struggle between propaganda and patriotism on the one side and the desire of many directors and film people to portray war as they came to know it on the other. He concludes with Pearl Harbor and Hollywood's search for historical film blockbusters. A fascinating survey for film and American military history scholars and students as well as the general public interested in American film in context.

Reviews

[e]xamines the role the war film plays in reflecting and developing trends in social and military history, along with its use as a tool of propagandists. The natural tension between patriotism and propaganda on the one hand, and those who were sincerely trying to depict war as they came to know it, makes for a fascinating read. All students and scholars of both war and film will appreciate this marvelously informative and entertaining survey of the war film and its role in American history.-Parameters
"examines the role the war film plays in reflecting and developing trends in social and military history, along with its use as a tool of propagandists. The natural tension between patriotism and propaganda on the one hand, and those who were sincerely trying to depict war as they came to know it, makes for a fascinating read. All students and scholars of both war and film will appreciate this marvelously informative and entertaining survey of the war film and its role in American history."-Parameters
"[e]xamines the role the war film plays in reflecting and developing trends in social and military history, along with its use as a tool of propagandists. The natural tension between patriotism and propaganda on the one hand, and those who were sincerely trying to depict war as they came to know it, makes for a fascinating read. All students and scholars of both war and film will appreciate this marvelously informative and entertaining survey of the war film and its role in American history."-Parameters

Author Bio

FRANK McADAMS is Adjunct Professor, Department of Cinema/TV at the University of Southern California and an instructor in the screenwriting programs of the University of California Los Angeles and the University of California, Irvine.