American Film and Society since 1945

by Leonard Quart, Albert Auster

Although films rarely act as mirror reflections of everyday reality, they are, nevertheless, powerful cultural expressions of the dreams and desires of the American public. In the third edition of their seminal work, Leonard Quart and Albert Auster provide a complete post-World War II survey of American cinema and its often complex and contradictory values. From the self-confident affirmations of the immediate postwar era, through the social and cinematic turbulence of the sixties and seventies, to the darker, more pessimistic works of the nineties, America cinema has reflected and refracted American concerns. While adhering to the chronological structure and critical premises of the previous editions, American Film and Society Since 1945, Third Edition, adds key analyses of post-Cold War and Clinton-era cinema. While films of the nineties evoked no single political or cultural current, their diversity provides a panoramic view of this most complicated time. Movies that reaffirmed American patriotism (Saving Private Ryan) and debunked its politics (Bulworth), explored life in the inner city (Boyz N the Hood), dealt with homosexuality (Philadelphia), women's issues (Thelma & Louise), suburbia (American Beauty), and sexuality (Eyes Wide Shut) add up to a decade as multifaceted as any that Quart and Auster have considered. No other work provides such an exhaustive and rigorous account of this parallel history of the United States. The breadth and depth of this latest edition will hold appeal for scholars, students, and general readers alike.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Charles Sunday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I never took a film course during my studies, I always had an interest in understanding the influence of US film/Hollywood on history and culture. I came across this book when I previously worked as a custodian in the English building at West Chester University; I imagine it was used in a course there at one point.

It's definitely a dry read, as it's pretty much just an academic textbook that never dives too deeply into any passing subject. The textbook is most engaging in the early section--discussion of American film in the 40s. There's a bit more interesting philosophizing going on here ("Does film influence culture? Or does culture influence film?") The writers portray how, over the following years after WWII, films started to mature and expand beyond happy-go-lucky war propaganda. There's continued interesting writing, delving into the HUAC time period of Hollywood censorship.

Unfortunately, after the 40s/50s decade coverage, it seems to have diminishing returns. From the 60s section onward, the pace of movie references rapidly increases with less and less depth provided to each film. I was expecting the most analysis to come in the section on the 60s (a time of dramatic social upheaval) but it fell flat for me. By the end of the book, finishing up in the 80s, it felt like the writing lost steam and focus. It just jumps from movie to movie too quickly.

Overall, as someone who didn't know much about film culture previously, I can definitely say I gleaned some knowledge from this book. I'd say it's strongest asset is simply as a reference for good movies, or rather impactful movies, that you can later watch on your own.

[Catnaitab · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers a lot - a lot of films, a lot of decades and a lot of genres. It is an easy to read book that provides historical background regarding the decades' main events at the beginning of each chapter and then analises several films from said decade in connection with the trends in society. However it ends up feeling like a lot.
The authors try to cover too many films and does not provide some kind of summarising paragraph per chapter that connects it all. It fails to show what the films for each decade where focused on, as one does not get a big picture of the decade - it is all too unconnected and at times seems random. Additionally, the authors have the need to, at times, mention how a film is not intellectual or does not explain the political background for a particular war - which feels unnecessary. Not all films have to be intellectual and it seems that the authors do not recognise the fact that some films are fictional and do not need to provide a historical lesson.
The book does have a lot of interesting information but it does feel like it lacks focus (some arguments should have been expained deeper) and one comes away from it not really knowing how the films from each decade represented American film and society.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the book itself has great vast knowledge about films and how Hollywood has been altered by political issues going on in our great nation, the only downside is the fact that every single chapter has something negative to say about the Republican/ Conservative party. While writing this book, the authors should keep their own political opinions to themselves and just stick with the facts, instead of insulting a party every chance they get. Due to them being so immorally biased in their beliefs, they actually managed to get some facts wrong about every president that they talk about. Minor mistakes, but easily made when one is too stuck up their own agenda to listen to reason. I would only recommend this book if you are needing more information about some of the films mentioned for each decade, but other than that, this is not meant to be a history book about politics, but a book about films and the society who changed Hollywoods film direction.

[Amy W]

DNF

I read the introduction, the '40s and got half way through the '50s, but going to quit here.

Despite what the introduction says, I didn't find this very accessible to someone with a more casual interest in the history of film. You really need to know your stuff to penetrate some of this (which kinda defeats the object of the book, if you already know it all...).

I'm interested in the goings on of old Hollywood, but haven't actually seen most of the films the book referenced which also hampered my enjoyment.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 2 out of 5]

A workmanlike study of film and cultural history. It never gets too deep into either of its subjects, however, and ends up being especially superficial in the treatment of the films surveyed. Yes, it does give a basic run through of the films of the era and how they were received. So it's good for that. Perhaps someone coming into the subject matter cold, without any experience, will find it worthwhile.