The Call of the Heart: John M. Stahl and Hollywood Melodrama

by Bruce Babington (Editor), Charles Barr (Editor)

Overview

The book assembles comprehensive data on Stahls career, and on the forty feature films that he directed, half of them silent; of these silents, half have been found to survive, already inspiring film festival screenings and alerting scholars afresh to Stahls historical importance. The editors supply a wealth of introductory and linking material, providing a context for essays on each of the surviving films by an international range of writers: Jeremy Arnold (US), Tim Cawkwell (UK), Ed Gallafent (UK), Adrian Garvey (UK), Pamela Hutchinson (UK), Lea Jacobs (US), Richard Koszarski (US), Lawrence Napper (UK), Tom Ryan (Australia), Neil Sinyard (UK), Imogen Sara Smith (US), Tony Tracy (Ireland), Melanie Williams (UK).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861969531
Publisher:	John Libbey Publishing
Publication date:	11/07/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Bruce Babington taught film for many years at Newcastle University. His publications include co-authored works with Peter W. Evans on Hollywood genres (the Musical, the Comedy of the Sexes. The Biblical Epic), and books on the British and New Zealand cinemas. His latest are The Sports Film: Games People Play  and The Family Film in Global Cinema (co-edited with Noel Brown).
Charles Barr worked for many years at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, and has since taught in St Louis, Dublin and Galway. He was joint writer, with Stephen Frears, of Typically British, Channel 4s centenary programme on British cinema. Publications include Ealing Studios and English Hitchcock; his most recent book is Hitchcock, Lost and Found: the Forgotten Films, co-authored with Alain Kerzoncuf.

Table of Contents

Introduction Charles Barr 1

Acknowledgments, Technical Notes & Abbreviations 8

Notes on Contributors 11

The Silent Films

John M. Stahl: The Early Years: 1886-1927 Bruce Babington 15

Silent Films (surviving titles in bold type)

1914 A Boy and the Law 26

1917 The Lincoln Cycle Richard Koszarski 29

1918 Wives of Men 36

1918 Suspicion 39

1919 Her Code of Honor Charles Barr 42

1919 The Woman Under Oath Pamela Hutchinson 48

1920 Women Men Forget 54

1920 The Woman in His House 56

1921 Sowing the Wind Lea Jacobs 59

1921 The Child Thou Gavest Me Lea Jacobs 64

1921 Suspicious Wives Pamela Hutchinson 68

1922 The Song of Life Imogen Sara Smith 74

1922 One Clear Call Lea Jacobs 79

1923 The Dangerous Age 84

1922 The Wanters 88

1924 Why Men Leave Home Imogen Sara Smith 91

1924 Husbands and Lovers Imogen Sara Smith Charles Barr 95

1925 Fine Clothes 105

1926 Memory Lane Lea Jacobs 108

1926 The Gay Deceiver 115

1927 Lovers (aka Lovers?) 119

1927 In Old Kentucky Imogen Sara Smith 121

Transition: Tiffany-Stahl

The Tiffany-Stahl Period 1927-1929 Bruce Babington 125

Stahl as Features Film Producer at Tiffany-Stahl 132

1929 Marriage by Contract Tom Ryan 137

The Sound Films

Stahl in the Sound Era 1929-1949: Introduction Bruce Babington 141

1930 A Lady Surrenders Imogen Sara Smith 146

1931 Seed Imogen Sara Smith 150

1931 Strictly Dishonorable Imogen Sara Smith 154

1932 Back Street Lea Jacobs 158

1933 Only Yesterday Charles Barr 164

1934 Imitation of Life Tom Ryan 172

1935 Magnificent Obsession Tom Ryan 180

1937 Parnell Tony Tracy 186

1938 Letter of introduction Bruce Babington 192

1939 When Tomorrow Comes Edward Gallafent 197

1941 Our Wife Bruce Babington 204

1943 Immortal Sergeant Jeremy Arnold 209

1943 Holy Matrimony Lawrence Napper 214

1944 The Eve of St Mark Jeremy Arnold 219

1944 The Keys of the Kingdom Tim Cawkwell 223

1945 Leave Her to Heaven Michael Walker 229

1947 The Foxes of Harrow Adrian Garvey 242

1948 The Walls of Jericho Melanie Williams Neil Sinyard 247

1949 Father Was a Fullback Bruce Babington 251

1949 Oh, You Beautiful Doll Bruce Babington 256

Bibliography John M. Stahl 261

Picture credits 266

Index of Films 267

Index of Names 271

Section of Colour Plates after page 136

Editorial Reviews

"As a resource for those interested in Stahl's work, this book is invaluable and likely to prove definitive for many years: it easily makes a case for upgrading his status, and captures much of what makes him a compelling and subtle master of narrative. "—Sight & Sound

"We must warmly welcome this enterprising collection, which fills many gaps and updates our knowledge of a major film-maker of the silent period and beyond."—Positif

From the Publisher

As a resource for those interested in Stahl's work, this book is invaluable and likely to prove definitive for many years: it easily makes a case for upgrading his status, and captures much of what makes him a compelling and subtle master of narrative.

Sight & Sound

We must warmly welcome this enterprising collection, which fills many gaps and updates our knowledge of a major film-maker of the silent period and beyond.

Positif