Happy endings in Hollywood cinema : cliche, convention and the final couple / James MacDowell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

MacDowell, James.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion pictures--California--Los Angeles.

Motion pictures.

Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles.

Motion picture industry.

Couples in motion pictures.

Man-woman relationships in motion pictures.

Romance films.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (v, 218 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is thus the first in-depth examination of one of the most overused and under-analysed concepts in discussions of popular cinema. What exactly is the 'happy ending'? Is it simply a cliché, as commonly supposed? Why has it earned such an unenviable reputation? What does it, or can it, mean? Concentrating especially on conclusions featuring an ultimate romantic union - the final couple - this wide-ranging investigation probes traditional associations between the 'happy ending' and homogeneity, closure, 'unrealism', and ideological conservatism, testing widespread assumptions against the evidence offered by a range of classical and contemporary films.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Introduction : the 'happy ending' : the making of a reputation

The 'happy ending' and homogeneity

Happy endings and closure

Happy endings and unrealism

Happy endings and ideology

Conclusion : Provisions for the future

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-7486-9382-3

0-7486-8018-7

OCLC:

856870108