James Mason

Sarah Thomas' study explores the complexity of Mason's career and star persona, covering his diverse roles, industry and power, and screen performance. It offers a new perspective on power, public image, and national identity, contextualizing his career in broader histories of transnational filmmaking.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Sarah Thomas' study delves beyond the stereotypical portrayal of the brooding, destructive man at odds with employers and his own star status to explore the complexity of Masons career and star persona. Her analysis is structured around three key strands that are essential for understanding stardom: the star persona, industry and power, and screen performance. Thomas examines the remarkable range of Masons star career, spanning from the 1930s 'quota quickies' to the 1940s Gainsborough melodramas, the desperate IRA man in Carol Reeds 'Odd Man Out (1947), and the Hollywood classics of the 1950s and beyond, including starring in Hitchcocks 'North by Northwest (1959) and playing Humbert Humbert in Kubricks 'Lolita (1962). She also delves into his undervalued post-1962 career, off-screen celebrity status, non-film work, comic and vocal performances, and the stars own self-commentary. Through this comprehensive analysis, Thomas offers a fresh perspective on topics such as power and powerlessness, public image and national identity, and contextualizes Masons career within broader histories of British, American, and European transnational filmmaking.

Weight: 190g
Dimension: 136 x 190 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781844576357