Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, 1970-1979

History of the American Cinema #9

by David A. Cook

The American film industry transformed itself during the 1970s: a new order emerged out of the chaos of the former studio system. A new rating system freed directors to explore serious subjects but allowed for the expansion of exploitation films as well. So while unprecedented social and political commentary emanated from the film-school-trained "New Hollywood" auteurs, the bigger change was the major studios' embrace of sensationalist content, mass advertising, and saturation booking. The methods of fringe exploitation producers became the norm.

Some of the films discussed in this book include:  Five Easy Pieces ,  Chinatown ,  Carnal Knowledge ,  Straw Dogs ,  A Clockwork Orange ,  Mean Streets ,  The Conversation ,  Nashville ,  Shampoo ,  Taxi Driver , and  Apocalypse Now .

Genres: Film, History, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Reference

718 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 1999

Reviews

[PennsyLady (Bev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Except for the introduction of sound, the American film industry changed more between 1969 and 1980 than any other period in its history.
At the beginning of the 1970's, movies were a group experience and by the end of the 1970's, we have videos played at home.


Lost Illusions is an immense resource (695pg hardcover) and very detailed.
What I list below is just a snapshot and if you've an interest in film history or simply the American time period 1970-1979, it's worth a look.

Formative industry trends such as "manufacturing the blockbuster, merchandising and marketing are explored in depth.

We see independent productions such as Easy Rider (1969) become a youth cult film overnight.
We see a calculated return to genre films, sequels and series.
American Graffiti (1973) successfully tapped nostalgia
and with The Exorcist (1974) we have exploitative horror.

Chapter 4 explores auteur cinema and "filmmakers whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp."

The 1970's witnessed the regular production of genre films such as the youth cult film, continuation of westerns, the gangster film, film noir and other crime genres, the musical, rock musicals, horror with its multitude of subgenres., the science fiction film and the disaster film. (Genre I)

Genre II might include black action, martial arts or kung fu and "adult" film.

Chapter 7 discusses in depth the individual film studios.
Chapter 8 is costs, agents and stars.

Technology advanced in 3 major arenas (cinematography, special effects and sound recording and playback) and television further developed the concept of movie watching. (ex HBO)

Documentary filmmakers emerged in the 70's (within a larger group of independent filmmakers)

Avant-garde is also part of the coming of age of cinema "as a fully developed, malleable art form."

"As a result of experimentation in the 70's, film has been accepted as a field of study."

The author (David Cook) has included
extensive appendixes, notes, bibliography, general index and film index
There is an extensive photo gallery included.
If you're looking for light reading on cinema, find another resource.
If you'd like something deeper, this is comprehensive, intense, and thorough

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[Bill Kte'pi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive book I've read on my favorite decade in film, covering not just New Hollywood and its flipside, the invention of the blockbuster, but changes in film technology, film distribution, the broadcasting of film on television, and the role of agents in the industry. Took everything I knew and put it in new perspective.