A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World)

A comprehensive treatment of the Classical World in film and television, __A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen__ closely examines the films and TV shows centered on Greek and Roman cultures and explores the tension between pagan and Christian worlds. Written by a team of experts in their fields, this work considers productions that discuss social settings as reflections of their times and as indicative of the technical advances in production and the economics of film and television. Productions included are a mix of Hollywood and European spanning from the silent film era though modern day television series, and topics discussed include Hollywood politics in film, soundtrack and sound design, high art and low art, European art cinemas, and the ancient world as comedy. Written for students of film and television as well as those interested in studies of ancient Rome and Greece, __A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen__ provides comprehensive, current thinking on how the depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on screen has developed over the past century. It reviews how films of the ancient world mirrored shifting attitudes towards Christianity, the impact of changing techniques in film production, and fascinating explorations of science fiction and technical fantasy in the ancient world on popular TV shows like __Star Trek__, __Babylon 5__, __Battlestar Galactica__, and __Dr. Who__. Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Contents 7 Notes on Contributors 11 Introduction 17 Part I The Development of the Depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen 31 Chapter 1 Greece and Rome on Screen: On the Possibilities and Promises of a New Medium 33 Film or Cinema? 34 Which Antiquity? 37 Spectatorship 40 Color 43 Conclusion 47 References 48 Further Reading 50 Chapter 2 The Creation of the Epic: Italian Silent Film to 1915 53 An Outline of Italy’s Social and Ideological History 53 The Origins of Italian Film‐making 55 Peplum: Historical and Epic Films 58 Cabiria as the Apex of Historical Films 67 Pastrone and Griffith 72 Notes 73 References 75 Further Reading 76 Chapter 3 From 1916 to the Arrival of Sound: The Systematization, Expressivity and Self-reflection of the Feature Film 77 Repetition: Quo Vadis? (UCI, Italy, 1924, dir. Gabriellino D’Annunzio and Georg Jacoby) 78 The Hollywood Star System: Cleopatra (Fox, USA, 1917, dir. J. Gordon Edwards) 82 The Hollywood Studio System: Ben-Hur (MGM, USA, 1925, dir. Fred Niblo) 87 National Cinema: Helen of Troy (Helena, Bavaria Film, Germany, 1924, dir. Manfred Noa) 91 Edification and Titillation: Ways to Strength and Beauty (Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit: Ein Film über modern Körperkultur, UFA, Germany, 1925, dir. Wilhelm Prager) 93 Intermediality and the Art of Cinema: The Slave of Phydias (L’Esclave de Phidias, Gaumont, France, 1917, dir. Léonce Perret) 95 Self-Reflection: La conquête des Gaules (The Conquest of Gaul, Les Films YDB, France, 1922, dir. Marcel Yonnet and Yann B. Dyl) 97 The Transition to Sound 99 Notes 100 References 101 Further Reading 104 Chapter 4 The Resurgence of Epics in the 1950s: Classical Antiquity in Post-war Hollywood 107 An Industry in Crisis 107 Revolutionizing the Big Screen 109 The First Blockbuster 114 A Galaxy of International Stars 117 Runaway Antiquity 122 Conclusion 127 Acknowledgment 129 References 129 Further Reading 132 Chapter 5 Hollywood Ascendant: Ben-Hur and Spartacus 135 I See Red: The Political Context 136 Epic Profits: The Commercial Context 137 Big Ben 139 Playing Fast and Loose with Spartacus 143 Conclusion 154 Notes 155 References 158 Chapter 6 The Peplum Era 161 Italian Historical Films 162 Peplum Humor 164 The Peplum Filone 166 The Gladiator Peplum 169 The Peplum Audience 171 The End of the Peplum 174 References 174 Part II Comedy, Drama, and Adaptation 177 Chapter 7 Hollywood Meets Art-House Cinema: Michael Cacoyannis’s “Hybrid” Euripidean Trilogy 179 A “Hybrid” Style 180 Beginnings and Endings 183 Heroines and Villains in Close‐Up 188 Ruins and Landscapes 192 Fidelity or Interpretation? 194 Greek Cinema and Theater 195 Reception 196 Acknowledgements 197 Notes 197 References 199 Further Reading 200 Chapter 8 Greek Tragedy as Theater in Screen-Media 203 Theatrical Document and/or Screen Art 204 Hybrid by Design, Televised Live 213 Cinematic Ends for Stage Performance 219 Acknowledgements 221 References 221 Chapter 9 Greece and Rome on the Comic Screen 225 Ancient Greece on Screen 226 Rome on the Comic Screen 232 Conclusion 242 Notes 242 References 245 Further Reading 247 Chapter 10 The Return of a Genre 249 Decadence 250 Moral Deviance 256 New Directions 263 Conclusion 265 References 266 Further Reading 267 Chapter 11 Franco Rossi’s Adaptations of the Classics 269 Franco Rossi 270 Adaptation: The Aeneid 272 Adaptation: A Persistent Theme 278 Rossi and Greek and Roman Film Studies 283 Notes 285 References 286 Chapter 12 I, Claudius and Ancient Rome as Televised Period Drama 287 Production: The BBC and British Drama in the Mid-1970s 288 Setting the Scene: The Opening Scenes of I, Claudius 294 Adapting the Novel 297 The Impact of I, Claudius on Later Screen Representations of Rome 301 Notes 304 References 306 Chapter 13 Premium Cable Television 309 HBO Rome (2005–2007) 309 STARZ Spartacus (2010–2013) 315 References 321 Chapter 14 Thinking through the Ancient World: “Late Antique Movies” as a Mirror of Shifting Attitudes towards Christian Religion 323 Late Antiquity in Film: From Silent Movies to the Age of Peplum 324 Shifting Attitudes: New Paradigms on Late Antiquity and the Authorial Movies of the 1970s 328 Secularization and Late Antiquity: The 2000s 333 Conclusion? Signs of a Christian Comeback 339 References 342 Further Reading 344 Chapter 15 Non-western Approaches to the Ancient World: India and Japan—Classical Heritage or Exotic Occidentalism? 345 India—European Antiquity and “The Birth of the Indian Nation” 346 Japan—Welcome to the Land of Anime With a Touch of European Antiquity! 351 Conclusion 361 Notes 361 References 363 Further Reading 364 Part III Film Production and Ancient World Cinema 365 Chapter 16 Man to Man: Music and Masculine Relations in Ben-Hur (1925 and 1959) 367 Notes 395 References 399 Chapter 17 Visual Poetry on Screen: Sets and Costumes for Ancient Greek Tragedy 401 From the Fantasies of Méliès to the Glamour of Hollywood 402 Flavio Mogherini, Cinecittà and the Triumph of Hercules 403 The Four Faces of Greek Tragedy in Film 405 Oedipus and Orestes According to Dionysis Fotopoulos 408 Iphigenia, the Pinnacle of Scenography 410 Epilogue of a Genre 413 Notes 415 References 416 Further Reading 417 Chapter 18 Filming the Ancient World: Have Film Historians Made a Spectacular Omission of Epic Proportions? 419 References 440 Part IV The Ancient World as an Idea 443 Chapter 19 High Art and Low Art Expectations: Ancient Greece in Film and Popular Culture 445 In Search of the Popular 445 Looking for Greece in Popular Film 447 Hercules and the Power of Myth 450 The Rise of Peplum Cinema 453 The Mythic Recipe for Popular Success 456 The Bigger Picture 460 References 462 Chapter 20 “Soft” Science Fiction and Technical Fantasy: The Ancient World in Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica and Dr Who 465 Preliminary Remarks 465 Mythology, Oracles, and Narrative Structure 468 Philosophy 474 History 477 References 480 Chapter 21 The Ancient World is Part of Us: Classical Tragedy in Modern Film and Television 483 Theoretical Concerns: “Borrowing” from Adaptation Studies? 485 Looking for Electra 487 Shades of Electra 497 Conclusion: The Pleasures and Uses of Intertextuality 501 Notes 502 References 504 Filmography 505 Further Reading 506 Chapter 22 Ancient World Documentaries 507 Authored Narratives—Narratives of Authority 509 Travels Through Antiquity 512 Dramatizing Antiquity 519 List of Ancient World Documentaries 527 Notes 528 References 529 Chapter 23 Mythology for the Young at Heart 531 Tales of Different Worlds 531 Once Upon a Time, Zeus had a Son 533 The Long Journey Home 538 The Past is a Foreign Country 543 Truth Be Told 545 Notes 547 References 548 Further Reading 549 Index 551 EULA 567 Introduction / Arthur J. Pomeroy -- 1. Greece And Rome On Screen: On The Possibilities And Promises Of A New Medium / Pantelis Michelakis -- 2. The Creation Of The Epic: Italian Silent Film To 1915 / Irmbert Schenk -- 3. From 1916 To The Arrival Of Sound: The Systemization, Expressivity And Self-reflection Of The Featured Film / Maria Wyke -- 4. The Resurgence Of Epics In The 1950s: Classical Antiquity In Post-war Hollywood / Konstantinos P. Nikoloutsos -- 5. Hollywood Ascendant: Ben-hur And Spartacus / Fiona Radford -- 6. The Peplum Era / Arthur J. Pomeroy -- 7. Hollywood Meets Art-house Cinema: Michael Cacoyannis's Hybrid Euripidean Trilogy / Anastasia Bakogianni -- 8. Greek Tragedy As Theater In Screen-media / Meredith E. Safran -- 9 . Greece And Rome On The Comic Screen / Lisa Maurice -- 10. The Return Of A Genre / Jerry Benjamin Pierce -- 11. Franco Rossi's Adaptations Of The Classics / Arthur J. Pomeroy -- 12. I, Claudius And Ancient Rome As Televised Period Drama / Juliette Harrisson -- 13. Premium Cable Television / Monica S. Cyrino -- 14. Thinking Through The Ancient World: Late Antique Movies As A Mirror Of Shifting Attitudes Towards Christian Religion / Filippo Carlà-uhink -- 15. Non-western Approaches To The Ancient World: India And Japan--classical Heritage Or Exotic Occidentalism? / Anja Wieber -- 16. Man To Man: Music And Masculine Relations In Ben-hur (1925 And 1959) / Stephan Prock -- 17. Visual Poetry On Screen: Sets And Costumes For Ancient Greek Tragedy / Alejandro Valverde García -- 18. Filming The Ancient World: Have Film Historians Made A Spectacular Omission Of Epic Proportions? / Harriet Margolis -- 19. High Art And Low Art Expectations: Ancient Greece In Film And Popular Culture / Alastair J. L. Blanshard -- 20. Soft Science Fiction And Technical Fantasy: The Ancient World In Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica And Dr Who / Otta Wenskus -- 21. The Ancient World Is Part Of Us: Classical Tragedy In Modern Film And Television / Anastasia Bakogianni -- 22. Ancient World Documentaries / Fiona Hobden -- 23. Mythology For The Young At Heart / Martin Lindner. Edited By Arthur J. Pomeroy. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

A comprehensive treatment of the Classical World in film and television, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen closely examines the films and TV shows centered on Greek and Roman cultures and explores the tension between pagan and Christian worlds.

Written by a team of experts in their fields, this work considers productions that discuss social settings as reflections of their times and as indicative of the technical advances in production and the economics of film and television. Productions included are a mix of Hollywood and European spanning from the silent film era though modern day television series, and topics discussed include Hollywood politics in film, soundtrack and sound design, high art and low art, European art cinemas, and the ancient world as comedy.

Written for students of film and television as well as those interested in studies of ancient Rome and Greece, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen provides comprehensive, current thinking on how the depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on screen has developed over the past century. It reviews how films of the ancient world mirrored shifting attitudes towards Christianity, the impact of changing techniques in film production, and fascinating explorations of science fiction and technical fantasy in the ancient world on popular TV shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Dr. Who.

"A comprehensive treatment of the Classical World in film and television, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen closely examines the films and TV shows centered on Greek and Roman cultures and explores the tension between pagan and Christian worlds. Written by a team of experts in their fields, this work considers productions that discuss social settings as reflections of their times and as indicative of the technical advances in production and the economics of film and television. Productions included are a mix of Hollywood and European spanning from the silent film era though modern day television series, and topics discussed include Hollywood politics in film, soundtrack and sound design, high art and low art, European art cinemas, and the ancient world as comedy. Written for students of film and television as well as those interested in studies of ancient Rome and Greece, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen provides comprehensive, current thinking on how the depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on screen has developed over the past century. It reviews how films of the ancient world mirrored shifting attitudes towards Christianity, the impact of changing techniques in film production, and fascinating explorations of science fiction and technical fantasy in the ancient world on popular TV shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Dr. Who."--Provided by publisher A comprehensive treatment of the Classical World in film and television, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen closely examines the films and TV shows centered on Greek and Roman cultures and explores the tension between pagan and Christian worlds. Written by a team of experts in their fields, this work considers productions that discuss social settings as reflections of their times and as indicative of the technical advances in production and the economics of film and television. Productions included are a mix of Hollywood and European spanning from the silent film era though modern day television series, and topics discussed include Hollywood politics in film, soundtrack and sound design, high art and low art, European art cinemas, and the ancient world as comedy. Written for students of film and television as well as those interested in studies of ancient Rome and Greece, A Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome on Screen provides comprehensive, current thinking on how the depiction of Ancient Greece and Rome on screen has developed over the past century. It reviews how films of the ancient world mirrored shifting attitudes towards Christianity, the impact of changing techniques in film production, and fascinating explorations of science fiction and technical fantasy in the ancient world on popular TV shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Dr. Who. Book jacket