"A comprehensive study of the changing attitudes of America in the 1950s as reflected by the films of that decade"--
Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties by Foster Hirsch is a book that examines Hollywood during the 1950s, a decade of significant change and upheaval. The book covers a wide range of topics, including:
The studio system: The collapse of the studio system and the weakening of its power
New technologies: The impact of new technologies, such as Cinerama, CinemaScope, and Todd AO, on the film industry
Film genres: The rise of the anti-hero, the popularity of noir films, science fiction, animated films, and musicals
Cultural and political upheaval: The book explores the cultural, political, and sexual upheavals that were taking place in the United States at the time
The rise of television: The rise of television as a competitor to the film industry
The McCarthy era: The blacklisting of politically suspect writers, directors, and actors during the McCarthy era