The Drunken Journalist: The Biography of a Film Stereotype"No other human problem," a critic once remarked, "seems to have afflicted movie newspapermen more often than drinking." Howard Good's latest book analyzes the stereotype of the hard-drinking journalist, with the goal of discovering why it exists and how it operates in films. Early chapters consider whether there is a historical basis for the stereotype of the hard-drinking journalist;while later chapters deal with films from across the decades, including the 1980s and 1990s. They identify the fate of the romantic couple as a major-if not the major-concern of silent films featuring drunken journalists; explore the many and often conflicting meanings associated with drinking in the 1930s, the so-called "golden age of newspaper films"; and discuss the influence of Alcoholics Anonymous on such newspaper films of the 1940s and 1950s as Welcome Stranger and Come Fill the Cup. The concluding chapter points out that the dominant culture has frequently marginalized subgroups-for example, Native Americans and Irish immigrants-by stereotyping them as drunks, and theorizes that the stereotype of the hard-drinking journalist signals ambivalence not only about drinking, but also about the effects of the press on American life. Written in the clear, incisive style for which Good is known, this book offers illuminating new interpretations of classic newspaper films from The Front Page to All the President's Men. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the implications of popular culture for how we think and live. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 4
Page 79
We also behold the man who exploited him , and who never showed any previous signs of relenting in his crafty ways , suddenly showing the milk of human kindness.36 a In the ultimate ending , the characters have at least a bit more ...
We also behold the man who exploited him , and who never showed any previous signs of relenting in his crafty ways , suddenly showing the milk of human kindness.36 a In the ultimate ending , the characters have at least a bit more ...
Page 104
... a murder in an insane asylum is attacked by nymphomaniacs . The following year brought another exploitation film , Black Like Me , in which a white reporter posing as a black to investigate race relations in the 104 Chapter 8.
... a murder in an insane asylum is attacked by nymphomaniacs . The following year brought another exploitation film , Black Like Me , in which a white reporter posing as a black to investigate race relations in the 104 Chapter 8.
Page 139
Nonetheless , when he rehabilitates his career , it is by exploiting someone else's troubles , not by swearing off booze . Farrell drinks throughout the film . It is the symbolic meaning of his drinking that changes .
Nonetheless , when he rehabilitates his career , it is by exploiting someone else's troubles , not by swearing off booze . Farrell drinks throughout the film . It is the symbolic meaning of his drinking that changes .
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Common terms and phrases
adapted Addiction alcohol American American Film asks becomes begins believe bottle called Cast Chapter characters Charles City comic correspondents critic culture cynical death decade Director disease drank drinking Drug drunk drunken early editor example fact Fear fiction fifties Fire Frank Front George give glass going hard hard-drinking History Hollywood Howard Ibid Images James John journalism journalist kind late later least Lender less live London look March Martin mean moral movie never newspaper newspapermen night noted novel Oliver Stone once Photography picture play pointed popular present President's Press Problems Quoted reporter Review Richard Ring Lardner Robert Robert Riskin Roger role Room says scene screen Screenplay seems Shot social Society Star stereotype story Studies takes tells temperance things turned University Variety Walter White writer York young
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Drunken Journalist: The Biography of a Film Stereotype G - Reference,Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series |
| Author | Howard Good |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Scarecrow Press, 2000 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 20 May 2008 |
| ISBN | 081083717X, 9780810837171 |
| Length | 200 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |