The Hero and the Grave: The Theme of Death in the Films of John Ford, Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone

by Alireza Vahdani

Overview

The theme of death is an essential component of film narrative, particularly in how it affects the hero. Filmmakers from different cultures and backgrounds have developed distinct yet archetypal perspectives on death and the protagonist's response. Focusing on Western and Japanese period genre films, the author examines the work of John Ford (1894-1973), Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) and Sergio Leone (1929-1989) and finds similarities regarding death's impact on the hero's sense of morality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476633541
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	08/15/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	175
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Alireza Vahdani is a film analyst and fiction writer. His research interests includes American and Japanese period films.
Alireza Vahdani is a film analyst and fiction writer. His research interests includes American and Japanese period films.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments deletevi
Introduction
Part One—Fundamental Functions of Death Within the Narrative
1. Romantic Involvement and Redemption
2. The Cycle of Life
3. The Cult of Death
Part Two—The Hero’s Position and the Theme of Death in Battle
4. Death, Personal Conflict and Battle
5. Death, Group Conflict and Battle
6. Death, External Conflict and Battle
Part Three—Narrative Attitude
Toward the Hero’s Suicide
7. Suicide and Redemption
8. Suicide and Despair
Part Four—The Hero’s Natural Death: Narrating the Past and the Way of the Future
9. Natural Death in Ford’s Narrative
10. Natural Death in Kurosawa’s Narrative
11. Natural Death in Leone’s Narrative
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Filmography
Index