Description
Body and Soul explores the work of Robert Aldrich, a producer and director responsible for several notable films, including The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, Too Late the Hero, The Longest Yard and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Author Tony Williams examines the relationship of Aldrich's films to the Cultural Front movement of the 1930s as well as to the blacklist of the 1950s. He also delineates Aldrich's attempts to follow the progressive ideals of such mentors as Jean Renoir, Lewis Milestone, and Charlie Chaplin. From the noir classic Kiss Me Deadly to the controversial thriller Twilight's Last Gleaming, Body and Soul focuses on the dilemmas-both personal and political-that affect individuals in all of Aldrich's films.
About the Author
Tony Williams is Professor of English at Southern Illinois University, where he is the head of Film Studies. He has written a number of books on film, including critical studies on George Romero and Larry Cohen.
Reviews
Recommended. All collections; all levels. * CHOICE *
In this critical study of the director and producer of such films as The Dirty Dozen, Kiss Me Deadly, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Williams...places Aldrich in his cultural and social context. Williams explores Aldrich's relationship to the cultural front of the 1930s, the blacklist of the 1950s and to his mentors and contemporaries. In addition to his study of Aldrich's personal and political dilemmas, Williams provides careful and insightful readings of his films. * Reference and Research Book News *
...an admirable and rigorous addition to film studies in general and to an understanding of the films of Aldrich in particular. In the space of 350 densely argued and superbly documented pages the author makes out a persuasive case for seeing the director as an auteur... -- Reynold Humphries, Professor of Film Studies, University of Lille III
Book Information
ISBN 9780810849938
Author Tony J. Williams
Format Paperback
Page Count 392
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 513g
Dimensions(mm) 214mm * 178mm * 29mm
About the Author
Tony Williams is Professor of English at Southern Illinois University, where he is the head of Film Studies. He has written a number of books on film, including critical studies on George Romero and Larry Cohen.
Reviews
Recommended. All collections; all levels. * CHOICE *
In this critical study of the director and producer of such films as The Dirty Dozen, Kiss Me Deadly, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Williams...places Aldrich in his cultural and social context. Williams explores Aldrich's relationship to the cultural front of the 1930s, the blacklist of the 1950s and to his mentors and contemporaries. In addition to his study of Aldrich's personal and political dilemmas, Williams provides careful and insightful readings of his films. * Reference and Research Book News *
...an admirable and rigorous addition to film studies in general and to an understanding of the films of Aldrich in particular. In the space of 350 densely argued and superbly documented pages the author makes out a persuasive case for seeing the director as an auteur... -- Reynold Humphries, Professor of Film Studies, University of Lille III
Book Information
ISBN 9780810849938
Author Tony J. Williams
Format Paperback
Page Count 392
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 513g
Dimensions(mm) 214mm * 178mm * 29mm
