Preston Sturges’s Vision of America

Preston Sturges’s independence was at least partially responsible for his unique filmmaking style, marked by razor-sharp dialogue, wild plot turns and wondrously original supporting characters. Works such as The Power and the Glory, The Lady Eve and The Sin of Harold Diddlebock offer a distinctive and often satirical view of American life, deflating many of the ideals (honesty, justice, hard work, democracy, and others) that Americans feel a need to embrace. Each entry includes full filmographic data, a plot synopsis, and critical analysis of the movie.

Jay Rozgonyi is the Director of Academic Computing and an instructor in the Graduate School of Education at Fairfield University. His research and writing interests cover a wide range of topics related to media & technology and their influence on American culture.

Jay Rozgonyi
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 207
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, notes, filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014 [1995]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9371-5
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Introduction 1


1. The Power and the Glory 5

2. Diamond Jim 16

3. Easy Living 27

4. Remember the Night 34

5. The Great McGinty 46

6. Christmas in July 60

7. The Lady Eve 72

8. Sullivan’s Travels 81

9. The Palm Beach Story 95

10. The Great Moment 105

11. The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek 118

12. Hail the Conquering Hero 132

13. The Sin of Harold Diddlebock 146

14. The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend 160

15. Conclusion 169


Filmography 185

Selected Bibliography 193

Index 195

“discusses fourteen features, offering credits, lengthy synopses and readable commentary on each”—Classic Images; “detailed…delivered in a straightforward and highly entertaining text. What a relief that this examination of Sturges’ snappy comedies isn’t a dull, pedantic exercise in boredom like so many film analyses.”—Past Times.