Film Appreciation through Genres

Our love of films often leads us to discuss them in enthusiastic, if not necessarily sophisticated, conversations. Many moviegoers want a better understanding so that they might better articulate their experiences. This midpoint between theorizing and plot summary is not difficult to achieve. Since their introduction just before the turn of the 20th century, the vast majority of narrative films have followed the same structure—now known as Classic Hollywood Cinema. This book examines what “classic” means, particularly in Westerns, gangster films, film noir, horror, science fiction, slapstick comedy and screwball comedy/romance. The reader is introduced to concepts of film theory, which leads to a better and deeper appreciation of the movies. A 20-page comprehensive industry glossary of film terms is included for easy reference.

Michael Patrick Gillespie is a professor of English at Florida International University. He has published books on James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Kennedy, Irish film, and chaos theory. He lives in Coconut Grove, Florida.

Michael Patrick Gillespie

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 59 photos, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7639-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3550-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Prologue: But First, a Brief Word 1
Introduction: Do the Right Thing 4
One. Once Upon a Time in the West: Westerns 23
Two. Angels with Dirty Faces: Gangster Films 55
Three. A Touch of Evil: Film Noir 74
Four. Die, Monster, Die: Horror Films 94
Five. It Came from Outer Space: Science Fiction Films 121
Six. Monkey Business: Slapstick Comedies 145
Seven. It Happened One Night: Screwball Comedy/Romantic Comedies 173
Now What Am I Looking At? 196
Glossary 199
Chapter Notes 219
For Further Reading 223
Index 227