A movie that swept the 1934 Academy Awards and captivated Depression-era America, It Happened One Night challenged the ways Americans imagined marriage, romance, gender, and class difference. This book examines key scenes and formal features of It Happened One Night, and explores its lasting importance in film history and in cultural studies.

• Consideration of the film's role in establishing the genre of the romantic comedy film
• Investigations into the film's persistent sexuality and its creativity in avoiding Depression-era censorship
• Establishment of...

Top Hat is the first volume to spotlight this classic Hollywood film, probing the musical genre, notions of romance and subjectivity, as well as the contested relations between the sexes.

• Offers a detailed analysis of one of Hollywood's greatest musicals, including a comprehensive survey of the film's production, promotion and reception, all measured against the background of 1930s socio-political contexts in the USA
• Explores the musical genre and questions of (gendered) national identity, romance, subjectivity and the notion of the couple
• Written in a clear,...

There are certain films and shows that resonate with audiences everywhere--they generate discussion and debate about everything from gender, class, citizenship and race, to consumerism and social identity. This new 'teachable canon' of film and television introduces students to alternative classics that range from silent film to CSI.

• Magnolia is one of those films students know and love. From the over-the-top performances by male and female leads to the -ripped from the pages of the Old Testament- conclusion, it is a cult favorite in American cinema
• This is the first book to...