Post-War Hollywood Cinema is an accessible and comprehensive history of the American film industry, from 1946 to 1962. Drew Casper chronicles the restructuring of Hollywood cinema against the backdrop of the major political, economic, and social changes taking place after World War II.The most complete of its kind, this innovative book looks at a broad range of topics as it examines the cultural history, business practices, new technologies, censorship standards, emerging genres, and styles of postwar cinema. In-depth discussions of important and often-neglected films illustrate the culture/filmmaking interface, and demonstrate the triumphs and failures of Hollywood's new methods. Casper also includes valuable footnotes and a select bibliography.An ideal text for students of time-specific and broad survey courses, as well as for the home viewer devotee, Post-War Hollywood is an entertaining resource for readers studying this unique period of the American film industry.

Introduction.Part I: Cultural Overview:The Years of Change in America, 1946--1962:.Introduction.1. Major Historical Events.Introduction.Conclusion.2. Economic Situation.Introduction.Conclusion.3. Societal Issues.Introduction.Conclusion.4. Other Popular Leisure Activities.Introduction.Conclusion.Part II: Business:.Introduction.5. Production and Distribution.Introduction.6. Exhibition.Conclusion.Part III: Technology:.Introduction.7. Color.8. Screen Shapes and Accompanying Sound Systems.9. Three-Dimension, Special Effects, and Film Production Refinements.Conclusion.Part IV: Censorship:.Introduction.10. Test Cases.10. 4 Racism: Pinky (TCF, 1949) and Curley (UA, 1947).Conclusion.Part V: Genre:.Introduction.11. Adventure.12. Biography.13. Historical Spectacle.14. Comedy.15. Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy.16. Melodrama.17. Musical.18. Social Problem Film and Courtroom Drama.19. Suspense Thriller.20. War.21. Western.Conclusion.Part VI: Style:.Introduction.22. Noir.Introduction.23. Documentary Realism and Psychological-Sociological Realism.Introduction.24. Other Stylistic Devices.Conclusion.25. Coda.Select Bibliography.Appendix: Hierarchical Order of Postwar Hollywood's Top Ten Box-Office Stars (1946--62).Index