The Hollywood Historical Film

The Hollywood Historical Film is an entertaining and erudite cinematic journey through the controversial portrayal of history on film — from the swashbuckling epics of the silent era to up–to–the–minute dramas like World Trade Center . With thought–provoking analysis, film historian Robert Burgoyne reveals the dual nature of historic films — how they deepen our understanding of historical events while shaping and often altering our views of the past. Burgoyne examines the power of historic films to entertain and promote national myths while influencing public opinion. He also reviews how contemporary filmmakers like Oliver Stone cleverly restage the past to reframe our memories of actual historic events. For students of film and history — and fans alike — The Hollywood Historical Film is a timely exploration of the world of historical films.

List of Illustrations. Acknowledgments. Introduction. 1. The Cinematic Writing of History: An Overview. 2. The War Film: Saving Private Ryan . 3. The Epic Film: Gladiator and Spartacus . 4. The Biographical Film: Schindler’s List . 5. The Metahistorical Film: JFK . 6. The Topical Historical Film: United 93 and World Trade Center. Index

Robert Burgoyne is Professor of English and Film Studies at Wayne State University. He is the author of Bertolucci’s 1900: A Narrative and Historical Analysis ; Film Nation: Hollywood Looks at U.S. History ; and coauthor, with Robert Stam and Sandy Flitterman–Lewis, of New Vocabularies in Film Semiotics .

""The Hollywood Historical Film works well as a historiographical study ... The book most certainly fulfills the editor′s goal of furnishing educators and students entertaining and informative looks at major film genres. Burgoyne does a masterful job with the featured films and detailed descriptions of the ways filmmakers used cinematic techniques and imagery to write history." (Quarterly Review of Film and Video, 18 November 2011) "Still, this admirable book lays out the problems, and it does so with a sense of history, and of the specific language of films, that is quite brilliant. Burgoyne enhances filmgoers′ enjoyment and deepens their understanding. To use an appalling phrase, The Hollywood Historical Film is a must–read." ( Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television, Spring 2009) "Burgoyne manages to provide an interesting, easy to understand account of the representation of history in mainstream American cinema." ( Screening The Past, April 2010)"For a thorough analysis of a group of key historical film texts and new readings of these popular Hollywood movies Burgoyne ably assists in The Hollywood Historical Film ." ( Scope , February 2010) "This introduction to the Hollywood historical film is particularly welcome and useful. Specialists and generalists alike will find much to applaud. The chapter on the metahistorical film … is especially valuable. Recommended." ( Choice Reviews , October 2008) " The Hollywood Historical Film takes the reader right through the looking–glass, and while he can’t help but employ motives with a political edge, Burgoyne never loses sight of the powerful platform his subjects stand on. The author himself admits the genre is an elastic one, but he manages to find its four corners and frames it perfectly." ( Media Culture Reviews , July 2008) "An exceptional study, offering insightful analyses and significant points to illustrate the importance of using film to better appreciate and understand historical eras and events." ( RogueCinema.com )