In this innovative historical examination of the American movie audience, Eric Smoodin focuses on reactions to the films of Frank Capra. Best known for his Hollywood features--including It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington--Capra also directed educational films, military films, and documentaries. Based on his analysis of the reception of a broad range of Capra's films, Smoodin considers the preferences and attitudes toward Hollywood of the people who watched movies during the "Golden Age" of studio production, from 1930 to...

In this innovative historical examination of the American movie audience, Eric Smoodin focuses on reactions to the films of Frank Capra. Best known for his Hollywood features--including It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington--Capra also directed educational films, military films, and documentaries. Based on his analysis of the reception of a broad range of Capra's films, Smoodin considers the preferences and attitudes toward Hollywood of the people who watched movies during the "Golden Age" of studio production, from 1930 to...