The Hollywood Romantic Comedy
Conventions, History and Controversies
New Approaches to Film Genre
1. Edition March 2011
232 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
Though rarely explored in analytical detail, the romantic comedy remains a stalwart contributor to Hollywood entertainment. This book provides a comprehensive history of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the coming of sound to the twenty-first century, examining the conventions of the genre and surveying the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films. A full analysis is provided of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humor.
The most up-to-date study of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the development of sound to the twenty-first century, this book examines the history and conventions of the genre and surveys the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films.
* Provides a detailed interpretation of important romantic comedy films from as early as 1932 to movies made in the twenty-first century
* Presents a full analysis of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humor
* Develops a survey of romantic comedy movies and builds a canon of key films from Hollywood's classical era right up to the present day
* Chapters work as discrete studies as well as within the larger context of the book
Acknowledgements.
1 Introduction.
2 History, Cycles, and Society.
3 Thinking Seriously About Laughter and Romance.
4 Trouble in Paradise (1932): What is the Trouble in Paradise?
5 His Girl Friday (1940): Jailbreak!
6 The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944): The Home Front Romantic Comedy.
7 Adam's Rib (1949): Anatomy Lesson.
8 Some Like It Hot (1959): Riding Sidesaddle.
9 The Graduate (1967): Counter-Conventions and Cultural Change.
10 Annie Hall (1977): The Trials of Partnership.
11 When Harry Met Sally (1989): Friendship, Sex, and Courtship.
12 There's Something About Mary (1998): Parody and the Grotesque.
13 Waitress (2007): Women's Ambivalence.
A Chronology of Prominent Hollywood Romantic Comedies.
References.
Index.