American History through Hollywood Film From the Revolution to the 1960s [Paperback]

American History through Hollywood Filmoffers a new perspective on major issues in American history from the 1770s to the end of the twentieth century and explores how they have been represented in film. Melvyn Stokes examines how and why representation has changed over time, looking at the origins, underlying assumptions, production, and reception of an important cross-section of historical films.

Chapters deal with key events in American history including the American Revolution, the Civil War and its legacy, the Great Depression, and the anti-communism of the Cold War era. Major themes such as ethnicity, slavery, Native Americans and Jewish immigrants are covered and a final chapter looks at the way the 1960s and 70s have been dealt with by Hollywood. This book is essential reading for anyone studying American history and the relationship between history and film.

Melvyn Stokes is Reader in Film History in the Department of History at University College London, UK.

Introduction
1. The American Revolution
2. Slavery
3. Abraham Lincoln
4. The Civil War
5. The War's Legacy: the Lost Cause and the Ku Klux Klan
6. 'The Good Indian':Dances With Wolves
7. The Golden Door:Hester StreetandThe Godfather Part II
8. The Limits of Hollywood History:The Grapes of Wrathand the Great Depression
9. HUAC and Hollywood:The Way We WereandGuilty by Suspicion
10. Remembering the 1960s:Mississippi BurningandJFK
Bibliography
Index