Passionate Love and Popular Cinema : Romance and Film Genre

This book analyses the romantic drama and the way that passionate love is presented as the central storyline in popular cinema, drawing upon genre studies and sociology. Exploring the passionate love story as a cinematic form, it also contributes, through comparison, to research on the romantic comedy. Love is a recurring element at the movies. While many different types of love are depicted in popular Hollywood cinema, there appears to be two types of texts that focus primarily on 'romance', or the intimate relations between two people. While the romantic comedy foregrounds companionate love, the romantic drama promotes passionate love. Given the wealth of research into the romantic comedy, Erica Todd focuses on the romantic drama and the ways that passionate love informs popular texts. Due to the short-term nature of passionate love and its association with irrationality, films that endorse this type of love often depict intense, idealistic courtships that usually end in suffering. Although the lovers in these films tend to separate, the significance of their time together remains through themes like memory and nostalgia Love Is A Recurring Element At The Movies. While Many Different Types Of Love Are Depicted In Popular Hollywood Cinema, There Appears To Be Two Types Of Texts That Focus Primarily On 'romance', Or The Intimate Relations Between Two People. While The Romantic Comedy Foregrounds Companionate Love, The Romantic Drama Promotes Passionate Love. Given The Wealth Of Research Into The Romantic Comedy, Erica Todd Focuses On The Romantic Drama And The Ways That Passionate Love Informs Popular Texts. Due To The Short-term Nature Of Passionate Love And Its Association With Irrationality, Films That Endorse This Type Of Love Often Depict Intense, Idealistic Courtships That Usually End In Suffering. Although The Lovers In These Films Tend To Separate, The Significance Of Their Time Together Remains Through Themes Like Memory And Nostalgia. Introduction: Depicting Love In Cinema -- 1. Passionate Love In Hollywood And The Romanic Drama Genre -- 2. Passionate Love In Early Hollywood Romantic Dramas -- 3. Passionate Love In Hollywood Romantic Dramas 1950s-1970s -- 4. Passionate Love In Contemporary Hollywood Dramas -- Conclusion: The Changing Landscape Of Passionate Love In Cinema. Erica Todd. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction: Depicting Love in Cinema....Pages 1-13 Passionate Love in Hollywood and the Romantic Drama Genre....Pages 14-33 Passionate Love in Early Hollywood Romantic Dramas....Pages 34-55 Passionate Love in Hollywood Romantic Dramas 1950s–1970s....Pages 56-72 Passionate Love in Contemporary Hollywood Romantic Dramas....Pages 73-95 Conclusion: The Changing Landscape of Passionate Love in Cinema....Pages 96-107 Back Matter....Pages 108-171 This work analyses the romantic drama and the way that passionate love is presented as the central storyline in popular cinema, drawing upon genre studies and sociology. It explores the passionate love story as a cinematic form and also contributes, through comparison, to research on the romantic comedy