The Columbia Companion to American History on Film

How the Movies Have Portrayed the American Past

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Edited by Peter C. Rollins

Type: Studies
Subject: Genre > Historical films
Keywords: historical films, United States, history (of the world)
Publishing date: 2004
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Hardcover • 696 pages
7 x 10 ¼ inches (18 x 26 cm)

ISBN-10 ISBN-13

0-231-11222-X
978-0-231-11222-2

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Book Presentation:
American history has always been an irresistible source of inspiration for filmmakers, and today, for good or ill, most Americans'sense of the past likely comes more from Hollywood than from the works of historians. In important films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915), Roots (1977), Apocalypse Now (1979), and Saving Private Ryan (1998), how much is entertainment and how much is rooted in historical fact? In The Columbia Companion to American History on Film, more than seventy scholars consider the gap between history and Hollywood. They examine how filmmakers have presented and interpreted the most important events, topics, eras, and figures in the American past, often comparing the film versions of events with the interpretations of the best historians who have explored the topic.

Divided into eight broad categories—Eras; Wars and Other Major Events; Notable People; Groups; Institutions and Movements; Places; Themes and Topics; and Myths and Heroes—the volume features extensive cross-references, a filmography (of discussed and relevant films), notes, and a bibliography of selected historical works on each subject. The Columbia Companion to American History on Film is also an important resource for teachers, with extensive information for research or for course development appropriate for both high school and college students.

Though each essay reflects the unique body of film and print works covering the subject at hand, every essay addresses several fundamental questions:

What are the key films on this topic?

What sources did the filmmaker use, and how did the film deviate (or remain true to) its sources?

How have film interpretations of a particular historical topic changed, and what sorts of factors—technological, social, political, historiographical—have affected their evolution?

Have filmmakers altered the historical record with a view to enhancing drama or to enhance the "truth" of their putative message?

About the Author:
Peter C. Rollins is Regents Professor of English and American Film Studies at Oklahoma State University and editor in chief of the scholarly journal, Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies (www.filmandhistory.org). Peter C. Rollins is Regents Professor of English and American Film Studies at Oklahoma State University and editor in chief of the magazine Film & History (www.filmandhistory.org).

Press Reviews:
This handy collection of 79 essays... should be most helpful as a reference guide for newcomers to film studies, but advanced scholars will also benefit from the historical analyses and interpretations of film texts. Highly recommended. Choice

Rollins's reference allows readers to appreciate films in context, enhancing the experience. Film buffs will find the mix of history and cinematic analysis captivating, while historians will be intrigued by the book's analysis of popular culture.Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly

This work flows well and would make a wonderful addition to any YA collection. It would benefit students interested in film production, history, or political science...it's just plain fun to thumb through. John Keifman, School Library Journal

It provides a solid introduction to many of the major themes of American history on film, and students will undoubtedly find it a very useful source. Michael Paris, Screening the Past

This is an excellent print source. This Columbia Companion that Rollins has crafted is highly recommended. Jim Agee, American Reference Books Annual

Rollins' book truly deserves to be called a standard work.... Not only is The Columbia Companion to American History on Film a must-read for students and scholars of film studies but also in other fields like history, English, or American studies. Literatur in Wissencraft und Unterricht

The Columbia Companion to American History on Film is yet another impressive volume on film and history edited by Peter C. Rollins. Leen Engelen, Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television

[Rollins] is to be praised for his splendid accomplishment, and each reader of the essays will congratulate himself or herself for having found the collection.Journal of American Culture Ray B. Browne, Journal of American Culture

Offers a wealth of significant material that is extremely informative and entertaining for film scholars, teachers, and film buffs alike. Carol E. Mitchell, Journal of Popular Culture

The useful background information will greatly enhance one's view of historical movies. Paul Milner, FGS Forum

See the publisher website: Columbia University Press

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