Larger than life movie stars of the 1950s (Rutgers University Press, 2010)
Includes bibliographical references and index
The constellation of Hollywood stars burned brightly in the 1950s, even as the industry fell on hard economic times. Major artists of the 1940s continued to exert a magical appeal but the younger generation of moviegoers was soon enthralled by an emerging cast, led by James Dean and Marlon Brando. They, among others, ushered in a provocative acting style, "the Method," bringing hard-edged, realistic performances to the screen. Larger Than Life offers a comprehensive view of the star system in 1950s Hollywood and also in-depth discussions of the decade's major stars
Introduction / R. Barton Palmer -- Montgomery Clift : Hollywood pseudohomosexual / Tison Pugh, Barry Sandler -- Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck : organization men / R. Barton Palmer -- James Stewart and James Dean : the darkness within / Murray Pomerance -- James Mason : a star is born bigger than life / Amy Lawrence -- Reflexivity and metaperformance : Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Kim Novak / Matthew Solomon -- Audrey Hepburn : the film star as event / William A. Brown -- Doris Day and Rock Hudson : the girl next door and the brawny he-man / Foster Hirsch -- Marlon Brando : actor, star, liar / Susan White -- Jerry Lewis : from Hamlet to clown / Frank Krutnik -- Judy Holliday : the hungry star / Pamela Robertson Wojcik -- What a swell party this was : Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra / Adrienne L. McLean -- In the wings / R. Barton Palmer