What Dreams Were Made Of: Movie Stars of the 1940s
Professor Sean GriffinWhat Dreams Were Made Of examines the performers who helped define American cinema in the 1940s, a decade of rapid & repeated upheaval for Hollywood & the United States. Through insightful discussions of key films as well as studio publicity & fan magazines, the essays in this collection analyze how these actors & actresses helped lift spirits during World War II, whether in service comedies, combat films, or escapist musicals.
The contributors, all major writers on the stars & movies of this period, also explore how cultural shifts after the war forced many stars to adjust to new outlooks & attitudes, particularly in film noir. Together, they represented the hopes & fears of a nation during turbulent times, enacting on the silver screen the dreams of millions of moviegoers.