While John Ford (1894-1973) remains one of the most influential and revered directors in film history, he is also one of the most frequently misunderstood. One widespread assumption is that he was almost exclusively a man's director, dismissive of, or at best not well attuned to, the stories, perspectives and concerns of women.

Boldly challenging such an assumption, this book gives readers a richer understanding of the director's view of the world and of the women as well as the men who inhabit it. Taking a fresh look at dozens of Ford films, both familiar favourites and under...

Beginning in the mid-1940s, the bleak, brooding mood of film noir began seeping into that most optimistic of film genres, the western. Story lines took on a darker tone and western films adopted classic noir elements of moral ambiguity, complex anti-heroes and explicit violence. The noir western helped set the standard for the darker action and science fiction and superhero films of today, as well as for acclaimed TV series such as HBO's Deadwood and AMC's Breaking Bad . This book cover the stylistic shift in westerns in mid-20th century Hollywood, offering close readings of the first noir...

When the movie business adopted some of the ways of other big industries in 1920s America, women--who had been essential to the industry's early development--were systematically squeezed out of key behind-the-camera roles. Yet, as female producers and directors virtually disappeared for decades, a number of female film editors remained and rose to the top of their profession, sometimes wielding great power and influence. Their example inspired a later generation of women to enter the profession at mid-century, several of whom were critical to revolutionizing filmmaking in the 1960s and...