The Secret Life of Romantic Comedy

Winner of the 2009 Enrique García Diez book award for literary research, from the Spanish Association for English and American Studies. The secret life of romantic comedy offers a new approach to one of the most popular and resilient genres in the history of Hollywood. Steering away from the rigidity and ideological determinism of traditional theories of the genre, this book advocates a more flexible theory which allows the student to explore the presence of the genre in unexpected places, extending the concept to encompass films that are not usually considered romantic comedies. Combining theory with detailed analyses of a selection of films, including To Be or Not to Be (1942), Rear Window (1954), Kiss Me Stupid (1964), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Before Sunset (2004), the book aims to provide a practical framework for the exploration of a key area of contemporary experience - intimate matters - through one of its most powerful filmic representations: the genre of romantic comedy. Original and entertaining, The secret life of romantic comedy is perfect for students and academics of film and film genre.

Author: Celestino Deleyto
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Published: 07/01/2011
Pages: 194
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.53lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9780719085598

About the Author

Celestino Deleyto is Professor in English Literature and Film at the University of Zaragoza, Spain