Category Archives: Hollywood Melodrama

The American melodrama, made popular in the 1950s is revisited in Todd Haynes’ 2002 film “Far From Heaven”.  Haynes employs many of the stylistic features and conventions common to the melodramas of Douglas Sirk to successfully create an adaptation that … Continue reading →

In “Stella Dallas” (1937), Stella is transitioned from Spectator to Spectacle back again to Spectator.  While Stella plays a role in each of these transitions, she cannot be held ultimately responsible, as society also has a hand in the casting … Continue reading →

While “Imitation of Life” and “Home From the Hill” differ, these two family melodramas have many common features worthy of close examination.  A valuable perspective from which to base such an examination is that of the offspring in each of … Continue reading →

Laura Mulvey states that the concept of ‘Hollywood Melodrama’ wasn’t an invention of Hollywood studios but instead emerged organically from an accumulated body of work.  When analyzing film of any genre or era, including the present, the concept of hindsight … Continue reading →

Haskell identifies 4 categories related to the melodrama: Choice, Competition, Sacrifice and Affliction. Clearly, in Way Down East it is the sacrifice that Anna makes for her mother (by going to the cousins’ to ask for financial assistance) that initiates … Continue reading →