Acting for America: Movie Stars of the 1980s

Published by Rutgers University Press 2010

Acting for America

Movie Stars of the 1980s

Edited by: Robert Eberwein
With contributions by: Robert Eberwein , Aaron Baker , Rebecca Bell-Metereau , William Brown , Michael DeAngelis , Krin Gabbard , Chris Holmlund , Adam Knee , Christina Lane , Linda Mizejewski , James Morrison and Jerry Mosher

In the series Star Decades: American Culture/American

https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813551135

Overview
Contents

About this book

A captivating cast of 1980s power and talent--John Candy, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sissy Spacek, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, and the "Brat Pack"—stars in the drama of this decade. Acting for America focuses on the way these film icons have engaged in and defined some major issues of cultural and social concern to America during the 1980s.

Scholars employing a variety of useful approaches explore how these movie stars' films speak to an increased audience awareness of advances in feminism, new ideas about masculinity, and the complex political atmosphere in the Age of Reagan. The essays demonstrate the range of these stars' contributions to such conversations in a variety of films, including blockbusters and major genres.

Author / Editor information

ROBERT EBERWEIN is distinguished professor of English emeritus at Oakland University. He is the author of Armed Forces: Masculinity and Sexuality in the American War Film; The War Film; Sex ED: Film, Video, and the Framework of Desire (all Rutgers University Press), and The Hollywood War Film.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction: Stardom in the 1980s Robert Eberwein Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Robert De Niro: Star as Actor Auteur Aaron Baker Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
2. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger: Androgynous Macho Men Rebecca Bell-Metereau Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	36
3. Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek: Country Girls William Brown Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
4. Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise: Rebellion and Conformity Michael DeAngelis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	77
5 Michael J. Fox and the Brat Pack: Contrasting Identities Robert Eberwein Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
6. Eddie Murphy:The Rise and Fall of the Golden Child Krin Gabbard Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	120
7. Sigourney Weaver:Woman Warrior,Working Girl Chris Holmlund Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	139
8. Harrison Ford: A Well-Tempered Machismo Adam Knee Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	160
9. Sally Field and Goldie Hawn: Feminism, Post-feminism, and Cactus Flower Politics Christina Lane Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	180
10. Meryl Streep: Feminism and Femininity in the Era of Backlash Linda Mizejewski Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
11. Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis: Enforcers Left and Right James Morrison Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	223
12. Steve Martin and John Candy: Penny Wise and Pound Foolish Jerry Mosher Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	243
In the Wings Robert Eberwein Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
Works Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	271
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	279
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	281

Language: English
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 288
Illustrations
- Other: 59 illustrations. 59 photographs

eBook

Published: May 17, 2010
ISBN: 9780813551135