Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Understanding the Historical Epic
2. The Rise of the Roadshow Epic
3. The Epic, the Western, and Dances with Wolves
4. Spielberg, the Holocaust, and Schindler's List
5. The Baby Boom, Public Memory, and Saving Private Ryan
6. Dreamworks and The Prince of Egypt
7. Gladiator and the Film Marketplace
8. The Epic in the Era of the Culture Wars
Conclusion

About the Author

James Russell is Principal Lecturer in Film Studies at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.

Reviews

"In this book...Russell...asks why prominent filmmakers...have revived historical epics...Marshalling an impressive amount of archival material, Russell examines the industrial conditions and the agendas of key directors, writers, and producers involved in the production of historical epics...The author points out that these filmmakers were raised on historical epic films released in the 1950s-60s, and once they became directors themselves, they adapted the genre as a medium by which to communicate historical knowledge to younger generations. Summing up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty." - M. Baskett, CHOICE, September 2008
*Choice*