This book interprets the mutually influential relationship of political films and American culture. Surveying over two hundred films, Christensen identifies ways in which the genre has changed to reflect individual periods of history. In doing so, he builds the argument that even the most politically progressive of Hollywood's films are ultimately conservative, mirroring and reinforcing traditional American political values and maintaining the myths of American politics. Films examined include: "Birth of a Nation", "Intolerance", "The Grapes of Wrath", "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", "The Great Dictator", "Citizen Kane", "All the King's Men", "The Last Hurrah", "Dr. Strangelove", "Advise and Consent", "Patton", "The Candidate", "All the President's Men", and "Reds."

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