The films of William Wyler / edited by John M. Price.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Price, John M. (Editor of The films of William Wyler), editor.

Series:

ReFocus, the American directors series.

ReFocus. The American directors series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wyler, William, 1902-1981--Criticism and interpretation.

Wyler, William.

Criticism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 290 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

At head of title: ReFocus

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2023.

Summary:

In his forty-five-year career, William Wyler not only traversed the silent and the sound eras, but also connected classic Hollywood to 'new Hollywood.' The range of his films also spans a wide spectrum of genres: from westerns to adaptations of classic literature, from crime thrillers to rom-coms, and from controversial topics to musicals. His three Oscars for Best Director are an achievement surpassed only by John Ford. His life experience as one of Hollywood's early immigrant artists also speaks to the foreign influence on classic Hollywood. Yet despite his awards and commercial success, artistic recognition has mostly eluded Wyler. This volume of the <i>ReFocus</i> series attempts to analyze this Wyler paradox and also seeks to contextualize and theorize selections from Wyler's canon and his relationship to American cinematic history and American culture. This collection has gathered contributions from international authors from extremely diverse backgrounds, and therefore differing perspectives on Wyler and his work.

Contents:

Introduction: William Wyler

Chariot Races and Flower Shows / John M. Price. Part I. Style. Wyler's early films / John M. Price

More than meets the eye / Kyle Barrowman

Traumatic history and the prosthesis of myth in Wyler's The best years of our lives / Carol Donelan

Persistent presence / Francis Mickus. Part II. Collaboration, genre, and adaptation. Clash of Titans / Milan Hain

Narratives of failure / Terrance H. McDonald

Wyler's Wuthering Heights (1939) / Gabrielle Stecher. Part III. Gender and sexuality. William Wyler's the heiress (1949) and the Unknown woman / Agustin Zarzosa

These three / Matthias Smith. Part IV. War and peace. A war of the people / Robert Ribera

Turning the other cheek / John M. Price. Part V. Global Wyler. William Wyler's voyage to Italy / Anthony Smith

"Down Eros, up Mars" / Kaitlin Pontzer

"Life isn't always what one likes" / Etienne Boumans.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 07 Mar 2025).

Includes bibliographical references, filmography and index.

ISBN:

1-3995-1049-5

1-3995-1048-7

OCLC:

1417148467