Title
The Populist Dilemma: Frank Capra's Increasingly Unresolved Populist Films of the Depression Era
Author's Department/Program
American Cultural Studies
Language
English (en)
Date of Award
January 2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Chair and Committee
Lutz Koepnick
Abstract
As the United States endured the depths of the Great Depression, Hollywood's studio system sought to entertain the masses through a standardized process designed to maximize profit. Frank Capra, a director with more freedom than was customary under the classical model, attempted to reassure the American public of the fundamental strenghth of the American system through his populist films of the period. This, however, became more difficult as the financial concerns of the decade were joined by the totalitarian threats emerging in Europe.
Recommended Citation
Johnston, Nathan, "The Populist Dilemma: Frank Capra's Increasingly Unresolved Populist Films of the Depression Era" (2011). All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). 492.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd/492
Comments
Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K78P5XHD