Screening Politics: The Politician in American Movies

by Harry Keyishian Professor Emeritus of Eng

Overview

This reference guide provides detailed discussions of over fifty movies about American politics and politicians. In his introduction, author Harry Keyishian describes how the political genre has evolved over the past seventy years. Then, in his discussions of individual films, arranged in alphabetical order, Keyishian shows how the patterns in the genre have played out over the decades. Concepts covered in the entries include the portrayal of redeeming politicians in the films of the 1930s, such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and the corrupting quality of politics found in post-World War II films such as All the King's Men (1949). Film historians, scholars and critics will find this to be an invaluable resource, which will enhance the experience for the informed film viewer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810858824
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/14/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.48(w) x 8.54(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Harry Keyishian is Professor of English, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

This book is an eclectic anthology about fifty-eight feature films released over a neat seven-decade period....interesting...

The Journal of Popular Culture

Harry Keyishian discusses how films help to shape our understanding of the American political process. He shows how the populist films of the Depression era, with their endorsement of the progressive ideals of Roosevelt's New Deal, gave way to a generally more ambiguous view of politics and politicians after World War II.. . Keyishian points out that despite the cynicism of the post-Watergate era, or perhaps precisely because of it, the reedemer hero of the 1930s has returned.

Film Quarterly

Keyishian (English, Fairleigh Dickinson U.) describes and analyzes more than 50 films dealing with politicians and the political process in the U.S. He provides an overview of the development of the genre in the introduction, while the main part of the volume consists of alphabetically arranged entries discussing individual films. This is the first paperback edition of a work previously published in 2003.

Reference and Research Book News

Harry Keyishian discusses how films help to shape our understanding of the American political process. He shows how the populist films of the Depression era, with their endorsement of the progressive ideals of Roosevelt's New Deal, gave way to a generally more ambiguous view of politics and politicians after World War II.. . Keyishian points out that despite the cynicism of the post-Watergate era, or perhaps precisely because of it, the reedemer hero of the 1930s has returned.

Winter 2007-08 Film Quarterly

Keyishian (English, Fairleigh Dickinson U.) describes and analyzes more than 50 films dealing with politicians and the political process in the U.S. He provides an overview of the development of the genre in the introduction, while the main part of the volume consists of alphabetically arranged entries discussing individual films. This is the first paperback edition of a work previously published in 2003.--Reference and Research Book News

This book is an eclectic anthology about fifty-eight feature films released over a neat seven-decade period....interesting...--The Journal of Popular Culture

Harry Keyishian discusses how films help to shape our understanding of the American political process. He shows how the populist films of the Depression era, with their endorsement of the progressive ideals of Roosevelt's New Deal, gave way to a generally more ambiguous view of politics and politicians after World War II. . . Keyishian points out that despite the cynicism of the post-Watergate era, or perhaps precisely because of it, the reedemer hero of the 1930s has returned.--Film Quarterly, Winter 2007-08

From the Publisher