The Populist Dilemma: Frank Capra's Increasingly Unresolved Populist Films of the Depression Era

As the United States endured the depths of the Great Depression, Hollywood's studio system sought to entertain the masses through a standardized process designed to maximize profit. Frank Capra, a director with more freedom than was customary under the classical model, attempted to reassure the American public of the fundamental strenghth of the American system through his populist films of the period. This, however, became more difficult as the financial concerns of the decade were joined by the totalitarian threats emerging in Europe.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

American Cultural Studies

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Johnston, Nathan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lutz Koepnick

• American Studies
• Frank Capra; Populism

Language dc:language

English (en)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7936/K78P5XHD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:etd-1491