The ability of children to steal scenes and make or break a film by evolving brilliant nostalgia or cloying sentimentality makes them the most dangerous element in any film that depicts childhood. Yet this theme has been constant from the silent era to the present day. Many directors, from Chaplin to Woody Allen, have used it and every generation of film-goer has been drawn to see films about childhood. Here is a book which looks exclusively at this subject. From"Shane" to "Fanny and Alexander", from "Meet me in St. Louis" to "The Exorcist", Neil Sinyard uses a broad spectrum of films - fantasy, horror, musical, melodrame and war - illustrated by an unusual selection of stills, to consider the different themes of childhood - rebellion and delinquency, freedom and education, innocence and experience, and gangs and games.
- ISBN10 0713461470
- ISBN13 9780713461473
- Publish Date 31 December 1999
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 18 October 2003
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Pavilion Books
- Imprint Batsford Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Language English