Steven Spielberg's America

250 Pages·2010·2.946 MB·English

by  Frederick Wasser

STEVEN SPIELBERG’S AMERICA
America Through the Lens
Martin Scorsese’s America – Ellis Cashmore
Steven Spielberg’s America – Frederick Wasser
STEVEN SPIELBERG’S AMERICA
FREDERICK WASSER
polity
Copyright © Frederick Wasser 2010
The right of Frederick Wasser to be identifi ed as Author of this Work has
been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act 1988.
First published in 2010 by Polity Press
Polity Press
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Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK
Polity Press
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Malden, MA 02148, USA
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ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-4082-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-4083-9 (paperback)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vi
Introduction: Culture, Politics, Film 1
1. The Formation of Spielberg’s Generation 18
2. Spielberg Gets His Break 39
3. The Shark and the Blockbuster 66
4. E.T. and All Things Private 101
5. Looking to the Past 137
6. The Historical Film 164
7. Spielberg and Dark Visions 193
Coda: Open Questions 215
Appendix 218
Notes 220
Works Cited 224
Index 232
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Although this is a relatively short work, its genesis was
encouraged by the enduring good will of many people.
Andrea Drugan was a great mentor and editor, and the Polity
staff have been very supportive. My approach to the topics
was developed through discussions with Al Auster, Jakob
Diel, Gerd Hallenberger, Peter Krämer, Angela Krewani,
Paul Lopes, William Megalos, various members of NECS,
Stephen Ogumah, and Karen Ritzenhoff. Jason MacDonald
was a tireless researcher and helped immeasurably. Ann
Klefstad guided my thinking and language at various stages.
Dana Polan gave a generous and thoughtful response to some
writing problems. The librarians at The Margaret Herrick
Library, University of Southern California, and Emerson
College helped to track down my eccentric requests. I received
tangible support from the Research Foundation of PSC/
CUNY, the Provost of Brooklyn College, and the New
Faculty Fund.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
Nancy Berke provided essential intellectual support
throughout the project.
The publishers would like to thank the following for permis-
sion to reproduce copyright material:
Page 3, 51, 68, 98, 134, 173, 177, 188 courtesy of Photofest;
44 © The Kobal Collection; 69, 201 courtesy of Herrick
Library; 74 © Universal/ The Kobal Collection; 83 ©
Columbia/ The Kobal Collection; 106 © the United States
National Archive; 140 © Tri-Star/ The Kobal Collection;
151 © Amblin/ Universal/ The Kobal Collection; 197 ©
Dreamworks/ The Kobal Collection; 209 © Dreamworks
SKG/ Universal/ The Kobal Collection/ Ballard, Karen; 217
© Bettmann/ CORBIS.