Korean War Filmography: 91 English Language Features through 2000 [Hardcover]

Robert J. Lentz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0786410469 | ISBN-13: 978-0786410460

The Korean Conflict (as it is sometimes known) dramatically changed the way that Americans viewed war. The lack of a clear-cut victory inspired filmmakers to try to make sense of fighting another country’s civil war and risking American lives for a largely unpopular cause. More than 50 movies about the Korean War appeared in the 15 years after it ended, and dozens more have appeared since then.

This filmography details more than 90 English–language films that chronicle or depict the Korean War and its consequences. Each film entry includes complete cast and credit listings, a plot synopsis, evaluation, review snippets, and notice of video availability. This book places each Korean War film in its historical context, assesses the essential truthfulness and relevance of each film, evaluates each film’s entertainment value, and discusses how—and why—Korean War films differ from other Hollywood war genres. The book also provides information on themes and subjects that appear in the films and an outline of the war and those films which portray historical events. The first four appendices list the films by chronology, production company and studio, level of historical accuracy and subject and theme. The following appendices provide a listing of films with superficial or incidental references to the Korean War, a film listing of documentaries on the Korean War and a film listing of South Korean films about the Korean War. Also included are photographs from each film and its marketing campaign, a bibliography, and an index.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Author and movie fan Lentz states that "one of the many ways to gauge the social impact of the Korean War is to examine Hollywood's various depictions of the conflict." The 91 English-language films he covers in this volume had to meet at least one of two criteria: at least some of the film's story and action must be set in Korea during the war, and the war must be important enough to the film's story that it affects character action. Lentz admits that most of the movies examined are from Hollywood and therefore are primarily from an American frame of reference. Examples include The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, The Manchurian Candidate, and M*A*S*H.

The entries first list film credits and cast. Then the author provides ratings for historical accuracy and the level of patriotic propaganda included (Low, Medium, High). Additional "elements" highlighted in the film are also listed with each entry--aircraft carriers, bridge bombings, romance, or politics, for example. Each plot is discussed in great detail, with occasional quotations from movie critics. Black-and-white photographs and movie posters illustrate the text.

The filmography includes seven appendixes: a chronology of films in order of their theatrical release; a listing by production company and distributor; a listing (according to the author's judgment) by levels of accuracy and propaganda; a listing by subject and theme; additional films with only incidental Korean War references; documentary and compilation films; and South Korean films about the Korean War. These appendixes are most useful and add to the book's utility.

Finally, Lentz provides a film-by-film bibliography, including reviews in newspapers and magazines. The Korean War Filmography will make a useful addition to academic or special library collections supporting film studies and will appeal to serious movie fans. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"You can be assured that the facts in this book are accurate...the pictures are terrific...a must have." --Classic Images

"Highly recommended." --Choice

"Indispensable reference tool...a work of noteworthy accomplishment." --Film & History --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (January 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786410469
• ISBN-13: 978-0786410460
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,776,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Korean War Filmography: 91 English Language Features through 2000, November 13, 2011

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This review is from: Korean War Filmography: 91 English Language Features through 2000 (Paperback)

Lentz, Roberts J. Korean War Filmography: 91 English Language Features through 2000. McFarland, 2008

In this book, Robert J. Lentz deals with the lists of the Korean War films and critics. The focus of the book is to give the very detailed information of films. In first chapter, he provides the knowledge on the Korean War, and in the rest of the chapters, he talks about the movies. The basic information; credits, cast, historical accuracy level, patriotic propaganda lever, Elements, are provided for each movie with the critic. Seven different appendixes (Chronology of Films, Films Listed by Production Company, Films Listed by Levels of Accuracy and Propaganda, Films Listed by Elements of Subject and Theme, Films with Incidental Korean War References, Documentary and Compilation Films, and South Korean Films about the Korean War), Bibliography, and index are included. Long list of Bibliography adds the credibility of his critics and its reliability. The book did not intend to be written for specific group of people. However, it may work for the college-level student, specifically those who want to study Korean War or war films.