Heroes, Antiheroes and Dolts
Portrayals of Masculinity in American Popular Films, 1921–1999
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About the Book
This book is a discussion of 75 of the most popular films in America from 1921 through 1999 and the changes that have taken place in how masculinity is portrayed in the movies over that period of time. Traditionally in popular films, men have met challenging tasks, but what they accomplish and how successful they are have been drastically changed since the early 1920s. Prior to World War II, men were most often presented within the context of a family. After the war, men were presented as concerned with issues beyond their immediate families, and after 1970, they were portrayed as being overwhelmed by their situations. Recently, popular films have tended to focus on the relationships between men. This work documents these changes over eight decades, using the movies as vehicles to illustrate the major transformations.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Ashton D. Trice and Samuel A. Holland
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 243
Bibliographic Info: photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2001
pISBN: 978-0-7864-1097-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5094-7
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction 1
IN THE BEGINNING 7
Valentino, the First Star? 9
1939 19
HEROES 41
Musicals of World War II 43
Men as Objects: Men in the Weepies 54
Casablanca 64
ANTIHEROES 75
Revisioning the War 77
Saints and Sinners: Masculinity in the Biblical Epics 96
The Good ’50s Family: Shane 113
Love Is Having to Say You’re Sorry: Dysfunctional Families 126
Bond: Stirred, Not Shaken 144
SUPERHEROES AND DOLTS 165
Star Wars 167
Disney’s Men and Boys 178
Gump and Gumper: Men as Idiots 192
Post-Feminist Heroes: Jack and Shakespeare 204
Chapter Notes 215
Bibliography 225
Index 229
Book Reviews & Awards
“very sharp insight…everything from Valentino to James Bond…thought-provoking”—Classic Images.
