"Written on the Wind" (1956) is a striking melodrama by Douglas Sirk, focusing on an alcoholic playboy's marriage to his best friend's love. This study reassesses the film's artistic legacy and cultural significance, exploring themes of time, memory, and class, while highlighting its vivid aesthetics and powerful performances.
Biblical Sacred Narrative in the Hollywood Cinema is a major survey and analysis of the relationship between religion and film, and traces the development of this genre in Hollywood. The book examines the impact of religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender on this complex genre, within the context of American history. Together, Bruce Francis Babington and Peter William Evans raise questions of narrative spectacle, Jewish-Christian relations, authorship, star meanings, the representation of Christ, and sexual desire. The authors theorize the Biblical epic in its three main the Old Testament epic; the Christ film; and the Roman-Christian epic. Films analyzed include David and Bathsheba, The Last Temptation of Christ, The King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Demetrius and the Gladiators, Samson and Delilah, and Ben Hur.
Focusing on the distinctive contributions of a prominent British film director, this work provides a fresh perspective on Carol Reed's cinematic legacy. It delves into his unique style and explores his significant role in the evolution of British cinema, highlighting key elements of his films and their impact on the industry.