The Hollywood Romantic Comedy: Conventions, History, Controversies (New Approaches to Film Genre)

The most up-to-date study of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the development of sound to the twenty-first century, this book examines the history and conventions of the genre and surveys the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films. Provides a detailed interpretation of important romantic comedy films from as early as 1932 to movies made in the twenty-first century Presents a full analysis of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humor Develops a survey of romantic comedy movies and builds a canon of key films from Hollywood's classical era right up to the present day Chapters work as discrete studies as well as within the larger context of the book Content: Chapter 1 Introduction (pages 1–24): Chapter 2 History, Cycles, and Society (pages 25–66): Chapter 3 Thinking Seriously About Laughter and Romance (pages 67–83): Chapter 4 Trouble in Paradise (1932) (pages 84–95): Chapter 5 His Girl Friday (1940) (pages 96–105): Chapter 6 The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) (pages 106–116): Chapter 7 Adam's Rib (1949) (pages 117–128): Chapter 8 Some Like It Hot (1959) (pages 129–138): Chapter 9 The Graduate (1967) (pages 139–149): Chapter 10 Annie Hall (1977) (pages 150–159): Chapter 11 When Harry Met Sally (1989) (pages 160–170): Chapter 12 There's Something About Mary (1998) (pages 171–180): Chapter 13 Waitress (2007) (pages 181–190): This book offers a history of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the coming of sound to the twenty-first century, examining the conventions of the genre and surveying the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films. A full analysis is provided of the range of romantic comedy conventions, including dramatic conflicts, characters, plots, settings, and the function of humor. Films analyzed include Trouble in Paradise, His Girl Friday, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Adam's Rib, Some Like it Hot, The Graduate, Annie Hall, When Harry Met Sally, There's Something About Mary, and Waitress Introduction History, cycles and society Thinking seriously about laughter and romance What is the trouble in paradise? : Trouble in paradise (1932) Jailbreak : His girl friday (1940) The home front romantic comedy and The miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) Anatomy lesson : Adam's rib (1949) Riding sidesaddle in Some like it hot (1959) Counter conventions and cultural change in The graduate (1967) The trials of partnership in Annie Hall (1977) Friendship, sex and courtship in When Harry met Sally (1989) Parody and the grotesque in There's something about Mary (1998) Women's ambivalence in Waitress. The most up-to-date study of the Hollywood romantic comedy film, from the development of sound to the 21st century, this book examines the history and conventions of the genre and surveys the controversies arising from the critical responses to these films