The Other Hollywood Renaissance

The Hollywood Renaissance of the late 1960s was influenced by international art cinema, but critical study has focused on principal auteurs, overlooking many established and emerging directors. This book provides a revisionist account of the period, discussing and memorializing twenty-four directors who have not yet been given a proper place in the history of the period.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The late 1960s witnessed a significant shift in the Hollywood film industry, marked by the collapse of the classic studio system and a production trend heavily influenced by the international art cinema. This period, known as the Hollywood Renaissance, reflected a newfound self-consciousness in the US about the national film patrimony and led to a resurgence of artistic creativity. However, the critical study of this period has often focused on a select group of principal auteurs, neglecting the contributions of numerous established and emerging directors who played a crucial role in the era's most innovative and artistically successful releases. To address this imbalance, this book offers a revisionist account of the Hollywood Renaissance by exploring and commemorating the work of twenty-four directors who have not yet received the recognition they deserve in the broader historical narrative of the period. These directors include Hal Ashby, John Frankenheimer, Mike Nichols, and Joan Micklin Silver, among others. By taking a more inclusive approach to the auteurism of the late 1960s and 1970s, this book aims to correct the historical record and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the creative resurgence that occurred during this transformative time in Hollywood's history. The inclusion of these directors not only recognizes their significant contributions to the art of filmmaking but also contributes to the ongoing re-evaluation of Hollywood in the face of the challenges posed by the emergence and flourishing of new media. Through the contributions of leading film scholars, this book offers a fresh perspective on the Hollywood Renaissance, shedding light on the diverse range of voices and perspectives that contributed to the era's artistic excellence.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474442664