A Guide to Films on the Korean War (Bibliographies and Indexes in American History) [Hardcover]

Paul M. Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0313303169 | ISBN-13: 978-0313303166

Written by a knowledgeable film critic and Korean War scholar, this is the only guide exclusively devoted to the study of Hollywood and television films based on the Korean War, 1950-1953. It opens with eight short essays, discussing the appeal of the war film genre, government and filmmaker cooperation, the isolation of Korean War films from other war films, why John Wayne didn't make a Korean War film, the other actors who did, the plots of Korean War films, television and Korean War films, and the myths resulting from films. Eighty-four films are then discussed in alphabetically arranged entries. The entries include production unit, color status, producer, director, screenwriter, actors and actresses, movie length, and the author's numerical rating of the film. The commentary places each film within the context of other war films, the Korean War, trends in Hollywood, and the social and political realities of the United States. The films also are listed chronologically. Producers, directors, screenwriters, actors, and actresses are indexed by responsibility and are included in the general index. The book also provides a list of 109 documentary films available for public viewing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Both of these volumes should prove to be valuable reference works....Recommended for reference departments in major public and university libraries.”–Colorado Libraries

“Scrupulously researched and highly informative, this book clearly analyzes every facet of an important cinema movement.”–Film & History

About the Author

PAUL M. EDWARDS is Dean of the Graduate Program at Park College in Kansas City, MO.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (March 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313303169
• ISBN-13: 978-0313303166
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,375,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Korean War veteran critiques films of the conflict, April 29, 2000

By 

Robert J. Lentz (Randolph, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Guide to Films on the Korean War (Bibliographies and Indexes in American History) (Hardcover)

In his compact book, veteran Paul M. Edwards has written eight essays on various aspects of war films in general and the Korean ones in particular. He discusses the political ideology of the time, the isolation of the war, how Hollywood handled the subject and why not many of those films are very good. The second half of Edwards' book is a listing of eighty-four films (at least three of which have nothing to do with the war but take place in Korea before or afterward). These listings feature brief credits and incisive commentary regarding the films' authenticity, popularity and quality. Also included are a chronological list of the films, appendixes for actors and actresses (and one dog), producers, directors, and screenwriters, and - most welcome - an extensive list of documentary films about the Korean War. The book also features a bibliography and an index. While the book isn't comprehensive, it certainly covers most of the major films and many minor ones as well. It's easy to read and Edwards makes many thoughtful comments throughout.