Crooked, but never common : the films of Preston Sturges / Stuart Klawans.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Klawans, Stuart, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States.

Sturges, Preston--Criticism and interpretation.

Sturges, Preston.

Comedy films--United States--History and criticism.

Comedy films.

Motion pictures--United States--History--20th century.

Motion pictures.

Motion picture producers and directors--United States--Biography.

Motion picture producers and directors.

Screenwriters--United States--Biography.

Screenwriters.

Genre:

Biographies.

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

History.

Physical Description:

366 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 22 cm

Other Title:

Films of Preston Sturges

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, [2023]

Summary:

"For a brief period of about five years in the early 1940s, Preston Sturges sat on the top of Hollywood. At the time, he was one of the few people, along with Orson Welles and Frank Capra, who both wrote and directed his films. Sturges's films including The Great McGinty (1940), Sullivan's Travels (1941), The Palm Beach Story (1942), The Miracle of Morgan Creek (1942), and Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) have become classics of American comedy and took the genre of screwball comedy in new directions. Beyond their comedic elements and brilliant dialogue, Sturges's films remain timely in their critical view of social and political arrangements, yearning for and disillusionment with romantic love, and defiance of prudery. His work's influence continues to influence contemporary directors such as the Coen brothers. In Crooked, but Never Common, longtime film critic for The Nation, Stuart Klawans examines what made Sturges's film so distinctive, fun, and incisive in their critique of the hypocrisies of American society. The book ties the films into the director's own life and his struggles navigating the Hollywood studio system, and presents Sturges as a filmmaker whose work balanced slapstick and critique, American and European traditions, and a cynicism and affection for his characters."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Instead of an introduction : a rhetoric of Preston Sturges

Ya can't get away from arithmetic : The great McGinty

He thinks he has ideas : Christmas in July

I'm not a poet, I'm an ophiologist : The Lady Eve

As you are, so shall you remain : Sullivan's travels

Topic A : The Palm Beach story

Homo sapiens, the wise guy : Triumph over pain

Psychology : The miracle of Morgan's Creek

That's all you know how to hurt : Hail the conquering hero

You arouse the artist in me : The sin of Harold Diddlebock

Every emotion was exaggerated : Unfaithfully yours

Instead of a conclusion : a genealogy of Preston Sturges.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Beardwood Fund bookplate.

Other Format:

Online version: Klawans, Stuart. Crooked, but never common

ISBN:

9780231207287

023120728X

9780231207294

0231207298

OCLC:

1323467232