From Red Scare to Despair: Hollywood Movies 1951-1963
Hollywood's new challenges. Blacklisting became prominent. TV exploded in popularity. But great movies from Hitchcock, Kubrick, Sirk, and Wilder, were released, with subtexts on gay rights, sexism, blacklisting, hypocrisy and the horrors of War.
Hollywood faced new challenges in the 1950s. The HUAC investigations led to blacklisting of hundreds of talented people. The blacklist remained in force for most of the 1950s, losing momentum in 1955, and eventually dropped altogether by 1962. The studio troubles didn't end there. Families moved to suburbs. Television exploded in popularity, decimating revenues, eventually leading to major bankruptcies. The studios responded with new technologies, offering features such as wide screens, stereo sound, and vibrant color. These became fixtures in our current home entertainment systems. Despite these difficulties, great movies from Hitchcock, Kubrick, Sirk, Minnelli, Billy Wilder, Elia Kazan, and others were produced. While highly entertaining, these films often contained political subtexts about gay rights, sexism, the blacklist, moral hypocrisy, and the horrors of nuclear weapons.
| CRN | Class type | Location | Days & time | Dates | Seats available | More info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45916 | Remote | Not applicable | Tuesday from 7 to 8:50pm | From September 24 through November 12, 2024 | Instructor: Seth Friedman Tuition: $99 Fees: $0 |
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