About the book
Probably no decade saw as many changes in the Hollywood film industry and its product as the 1930s did. At the beginning of the decade, the industry was still struggling with the transition to talking pictures. Gangster films and naughty comedies starring Mae West were popular in urban areas, but aroused threats of censorship in the heartland. Whether the film business could survive the economic effects of the Crash was up in the air. By 1939, popularly called \"Hollywood's Greatest Year,\" films like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz used both color and sound to spectacular effect, and remain American icons today. The \"mature oligopoly\" that was the studio system had not only weathered the Depression and become part of mainstream culture through the establishment and enforcement of the Production Code, it was a well-oiled, vertically integrated industrial powerhouse.
The ten original essays in American Cinema of the 1930s focus on sixty diverse films of the decade, including Dracula, The Public Enemy, Trouble in Paradise, 42nd Street, King Kong, Imitation of Life, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Swing Time, Angels with Dirty Faces, Nothing Sacred, Jezebel, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Stagecoach .
Editions of American Cinema of the 1930s
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780813540825
- EBook
- ISBN 9780813576664
Read an Excerpt
Probably no decade saw as many changes in the Hollywood film industry and its product as the 1930s did. At the beginning of the decade, the industry was still struggling with the transition to talking pictures. Gangster films and naughty comedies starring Mae West were popular in urban areas, but aroused threats of censorship in the heartland. Whether the film business could survive the economic effects of the Crash was up in the air. By 1939, popularly called \"Hollywood's Greatest Year,\" films like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz used both color and sound to spectacular effect, and remain American icons today. The \"mature oligopoly\" that was the studio system had not only weathered the Depression and become part of mainstream culture through the establishment and enforcement of the Production Code, it was a well-oiled, vertically integrated industrial powerhouse.
The ten original essays in American Cinema of the 1930s focus on sixty diverse films of the decade, including Dracula, The Public Enemy, Trouble in Paradise, 42nd Street, King Kong, Imitation of Life, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Swing Time, Angels with Dirty Faces, Nothing Sacred, Jezebel, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Stagecoach .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is American Cinema of the 1930s about?
Probably no decade saw as many changes in the Hollywood film industry and its product as the 1930s did. At the beginning of the decade, the industry was still struggling with the transition to talking pictures. Gangster films and naughty comedies starring Mae West were popular in urban areas, but aroused threats of censorship in the heartland. Whether the film business could survive the economic effects of the Crash was up in the air. By 1939, popularly called \"Hollywood's Greatest Year,\" films like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz used both color and sound to spectacular effect, and remain American icons today. The \"mature oligopoly\" that was the studio system had not only weathered the Depression and become part of mainstream culture through the establishment and enforcement of the Production Code, it was a well-oiled, vertically integrated industrial powerhouse.
The ten original essays in American Cinema of the 1930s focus on sixty diverse films of the decade, including Dracula, The Public Enemy, Trouble in Paradise, 42nd Street, King Kong, Imitation of Life, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Swing Time, Angels with Dirty Faces, Nothing Sacred, Jezebel, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Stagecoach .
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in American Cinema of the 1930s?
The Arts > Performing arts > Films, cinema > Film history, theory or criticism
Where can I read a sample of American Cinema of the 1930s?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780813540825
Is American Cinema of the 1930s part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Screen Decades: American Culture/American Cinema
Who is/are the Author/s of the book American Cinema of the 1930s?
Ina Rae Hark
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
American Cinema of the 1930s is available as paperback(ISBN 9780813540825) and ebook(ISBN 9780813576664)
Where can I buy American Cinema of the 1930s online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy American Cinema of the 1930s from below
Where can I buy American Cinema of the 1930s?