Preston Sturges's Vision of America - by Jay Rozgonyi (Paperback)

About the Book

Preston Sturges' independence was at least partially responsible for his unique filmmaking style, marked by razor-sharp dialogue, wild plot turns and wondrously original supporting characters. Works such as The Power and the Glory, The Lady Eve and The Sin of Harold Diddlebock offer a distinctive and often satirical view of American life, deflating many of the ideals (honesty, justice, hard work, democracy, and others) that Americans feel a need to embrace. Each entry includes full filmographic data, a plot synopsis, and critical analysis of the movie.

Book Synopsis

Preston Sturges's independence was at least partially responsible for his unique filmmaking style, marked by razor-sharp dialogue, wild plot turns and wondrously original supporting characters. Works such as The Power and the Glory, The Lady Eve and The Sin of Harold Diddlebock offer a distinctive and often satirical view of American life, deflating many of the ideals (honesty, justice, hard work, democracy, and others) that Americans feel a need to embrace. Each entry includes full filmographic data, a plot synopsis, and critical analysis of the movie.

Review Quotes

"discusses fourteen features, offering credits, lengthy synopses and readable commentary on each"-Classic Images; "detailed...delivered in a straightforward and highly entertaining text. What a relief that this examination of Sturges' snappy comedies isn't a dull, pedantic exercise in boredom like so many film analyses."-Past Times.

About the Author

Jay Rozgonyi is the Director of Academic Computing and an instructor in the Graduate School of Education at Fairfield University. His research and writing interests cover a wide range of topics related to media & technology and their influence on American culture.