FLM 173 — The Hollywood Western in the 1950s
Quarter: Winter
Instructor(s): Elliot Lavine
Date(s): Jan 6—Mar 10
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Class Meeting Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Tuition: $520
Refund Deadline: Jan 8
Unit(s): 2
Status: Registration opens Nov 30, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Winter
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 10 weeks
Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jan 6—Mar 10
Unit(s): 2
Tuition: $520
Refund Deadline: Jan 8
Instructor(s): Elliot Lavine
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Nov 30, 8:30 am (PT)
Westerns, a staple of Hollywood film production since the industry’s inception, were originally quickly and cheaply made, reflecting a not-so-distant past that still felt familiar to audiences. As time and technology advanced, so too did the Hollywood western. By the 1950s, westerns had, indisputably, become the most popular film genre in America, one that represented a strong tonal shift and one that shared common traits with seriously themed dramas and the dark psychology of film noir.
This immersive, 10-week survey will feature over 20 films that students will discuss each Wednesday evening in a Zoom session. Included will be films from seminal directors John Ford (The Searchers), Howard Hawks (Rio Bravo), Anthony Mann (The Naked Spur), Fred Zinnemann (High Noon), George Stevens (Shane), Fritz Lang (Rancho Notorious), and Nicholas Ray (Johnny Guitar), and featuring iconic screen stars like John Wayne, James Stewart, Joan Crawford, Randolph Scott, Henry Fonda, and Marlene Dietrich.
This immersive, 10-week survey will feature over 20 films that students will discuss each Wednesday evening in a Zoom session. Included will be films from seminal directors John Ford (The Searchers), Howard Hawks (Rio Bravo), Anthony Mann (The Naked Spur), Fred Zinnemann (High Noon), George Stevens (Shane), Fritz Lang (Rancho Notorious), and Nicholas Ray (Johnny Guitar), and featuring iconic screen stars like John Wayne, James Stewart, Joan Crawford, Randolph Scott, Henry Fonda, and Marlene Dietrich.
Students will watch assigned films outside of class. All films are available through major streaming platforms; the instructor will provide free viewing links when available.
ELLIOT LAVINE
Film Historian and Filmmaker
Elliot Lavine has been an active participant in both film production and film exhibition since the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, he directed a pair of short films in the film noir tradition, and he has been cited as among the nation’s leading film programmers. In 2010, he received the Marlon Riggs Award from the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle for his revival of rare archival titles and his role in the renewed popularity of film noir. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.