Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction: A Little Violence Never Hurt Anyone Prelude: 1971 "The Law's Crazy": The Vigilante and Other Myths Automatons: Hard Bodies and World Pacification Enter the Fists: The Body as the Weapon Into the Jungle, Out of the Wasteland: Action in the Wild Blowing Up All Those Familiar Places: Terror and the Confined Arena Unmitigated Disasters: Old Formulas and the New Spectacle Tomorrow's Heroes Today: Action Meets the Fantastic Excelsior!: March of the Superheroes Conclusion: Sifting through the Rubble Endnotes
Examines the American action movie as it has evolved into one of the most significant genres of Hollywood's post-studio era, exploring its major films, sources, stars, and conventions, and the ways in which it both has shaped and has reflected American culture.
Eric Lichtenfeld is a freelance writer who has contributed to film publications including Film Score Monthly, The Scenographer, and the journal of the Art Directors Guild.
"A lucid and informative survey of the modern American action film.
Both fans and scholars will find much to enjoy here."-Jon Davison,
Producer, Robocop and Starship Troopers
"Eric Lichtenfeld accomplishes the impossible, putting action films
under the microscope without robbing them of their ability to
startle and amuse us. His marriage of popcorn and the provocative
produces what can only be called a roller-coaster read."-Steven E.
de Souza, Screenwriter, Die Hard and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The
Cradle of Life
"Meticulously researched and fluently written, Eric Lichtenfeld's
Action Speaks Louder must stand as the definitive analysis to date
of the genre that, for better or worse, has dominated and
significantly defined the American cinema for the past three
decades. In a probing, even-handed way, the author explicates the
artistic and ideological aspects of blockbuster movies from Dirty
Harry to The Matrix and everything in between."-Todd McCarthy,
Chief Film Critic Variety
?Despite their importance to Hollywood's financial bottom line both
domestically and abroad, action movies always seem to get short
shrift from the film elite. Author Eric Lichtenfeld attempts to
correct that oversight with his compelling genre study Action
Speaks Louder. It's the perfect accompaniment to the high-octane
summer movie season....Utilizing reviews, interviews, promotional
materials and the films themselves, Lichtenfeld gives each trend
its due in thoughtful, analytical terms. What emerges is an
intelligent, coherent and frequently illuminating study of a genre
that has become firmly entrenched in pop culture Action Speaks
Louder flies in the face of those who hope to marginalize action
films and look down on them as "popcorn entertainment" somehow
unworthy of serious consideration. The book encourages the idea
that, although some action films may be "mindless," our reaction to
them doesn't have to be.?-Variety
?In "Dirty Harry," Clint Eastwood says, "You have to ask yourself.
'Do I feel lucky?'" You'll feel lucky reading this gem, which
traces the history of action films....Lichtenfeld excels at
defining the connections between action films and our social
constructs about masculinity."?-Playboy Magazine
?Since Bonnie and Clyde came to the screen in 1967, action film has
been more emblematic of America's issues than any other film genre.
Lichtenfeld mines interviews, publicity materials, and production
records for surprises that will fascinate....Recommended. All
collections; all levels.?-Choice
"In "Dirty Harry," Clint Eastwood says, "You have to ask yourself.
'Do I feel lucky?'" You'll feel lucky reading this gem, which
traces the history of action films....Lichtenfeld excels at
defining the connections between action films and our social
constructs about masculinity.""-Playboy Magazine
"Since Bonnie and Clyde came to the screen in 1967, action film has
been more emblematic of America's issues than any other film genre.
Lichtenfeld mines interviews, publicity materials, and production
records for surprises that will fascinate....Recommended. All
collections; all levels."-Choice
"Despite their importance to Hollywood's financial bottom line both
domestically and abroad, action movies always seem to get short
shrift from the film elite. Author Eric Lichtenfeld attempts to
correct that oversight with his compelling genre study Action
Speaks Louder. It's the perfect accompaniment to the high-octane
summer movie season....Utilizing reviews, interviews, promotional
materials and the films themselves, Lichtenfeld gives each trend
its due in thoughtful, analytical terms. What emerges is an
intelligent, coherent and frequently illuminating study of a genre
that has become firmly entrenched in pop culture Action Speaks
Louder flies in the face of those who hope to marginalize action
films and look down on them as "popcorn entertainment" somehow
unworthy of serious consideration. The book encourages the idea
that, although some action films may be "mindless," our reaction to
them doesn't have to be."-Variety
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