The Cinematic Challenge- Volume 2

Your guide to colonial films

DURING THE TRANSFORMATION PERIOD

OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA, 1950-1975

How did the collapse of the studio system and the rise of “independent” film companies affect the production of motion pictures about colonial America? The Cinematic Challenge seeks to answer this question and uses in-depth case studies of four films to reveal the shift in historical interpretation, which occurred during this period. In the process other queries will be addressed including: Did Walt Disney’s Light in the Forest make a political statement about civil rights? What was the unique financial system producer Samuel Bronston developed in Spain to produce the naval epic John Paul Jones and establish his own film studio there? Why did the Hecht-Hill- Lancaster company select George Bernard Shaw’s play The Devil’s Disciple as a film project, when their company was on the brink of financial ruin? Why did Jack Warner decide to film the Broadway musical 1776 while our nation was being torn apart by the Vietnam war strategy?

This study will indicate how accurate the depictions of colonial life were in each film and whether the modern political and economic climate affected the completed motion picture, making it the most in-depth resource available today on colonial films. 

Being a member of IATSE for nearly fifty years has given author John P. Harty. Jr. the opportunity to have an inside view of theater, television and film production, which combined with his love of history has led to the creation of The Cinematic Challenge series of books. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Bonaventure University, a master’s degree in political science from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has studied Russian and English history at the doctoral level at New York University.