ReFocus: The Films of Lawrence Kasdan

by Brett Davies

Overview

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part I: "I’m making this up as I go": Lawrence Kasdan and Raiders of the Lost Ark
Chapter 1. Smith and Jones: Discourse Analysis of the Raiders of the Lost Ark Story Conference
Chapter 2. Visual Language in the Raiders of the Lost Ark Screenplay

Part II: Kasdan the Director: Developing Style(s)
Chapter 3. Body Heat: Heightened Style in the Neo-Noir
Chapter 4. Classical Structure in the "Perfect Ensemble" of The Big Chill

Part III: Voice of the Largest Generation
Chapter 5. Altruism and Otherness in The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist, and Grand Canyon
Chapter 6. Cowboys, Aliens, and Sixtysomethings: Age and Nostalgia in Kasdan’s Later Films

Part IV: Influences, Without and Within
Chapter 7. From Noir to Kurosawa: Allusion and Homage in Lawrence Kasdan’s Films
Chapter 8. Kasdan’s Collaborations: Creation and Performance

Part V: A Long Time in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Chapter 9. From Star Wars to Saga: Lawrence Kasdan and The Empire Strikes Back
Chapter 10. Revenge of the Monomyth: Reclaiming the Hero’s Journey in Return of the Jedi
Chapter 11. A New Hope in The Force Awakens
Chapter 12. A Changed Man: Solo and Beyond
Chapter 13. An Interview with Lawrence Kasdan

Lawrence Kasdan: Writing and Directing Credits

Filmography
Bibliography

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399524070
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	03/31/2024
Series:	ReFocus: The American Directors Series
Pages:	248
Sales rank:	467,248
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Brett Davies is Associate Professor of English at Meiji University, Tokyo

Table of Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part I: "I’m making this up as I go": Lawrence Kasdan and Raiders of the Lost Ark

Chapter 1. Smith and Jones: Discourse Analysis of the Raiders of the Lost Ark Story Conference

Chapter 2. Visual Language in the Raiders of the Lost Ark Screenplay

Part II: Kasdan the Director: Developing Style(s)

Chapter 3. Body Heat: Heightened Style in the Neo-Noir

Chapter 4. Classical Structure in the "Perfect Ensemble" of The Big Chill

Part III: Voice of the Largest Generation

Chapter 5. Altruism and Condescension in The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist, and Grand Canyon

Chapter 6. Cowboys, Aliens, and Sixtysomethings: Age and Nostalgia in Kasdan’s Later Films

Part IV: Influences, Without and Within

Chapter 7. From Noir to Kurosawa: Allusion and Homage in Lawrence Kasdan’s Films

Chapter 8. Kasdan’s Collaborations: Creation and Performance

Part V: A Long Time in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Chapter 9. From Star Wars to Saga: Lawrence Kasdan and The Empire Strikes Back

Chapter 10. Revenge of the Monomyth: Reclaiming the Hero’s Journey in Return of the Jedi

Chapter 11. A New Hope in The Force Awakens

Chapter 12. A Changed Man: Solo and Beyond

Part VI: An Interview with Lawrence Kasdan

Lawrence Kasdan: Writing and Directing Credits

Filmography

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

This is an important book that uses a holistic approach – drawing on primary source material, interviews and film analysis – to demonstrate why Lawrence Kasdan and his films should be taken seriously. Davies reinforces the importance of studying so-called non-auteur directors and writers, whose contributions to cinema are worthy of attention.

Claire Jenkins

In this wide-ranging volume, Brett Davies offers an absorbing overview of Lawrence Kasdan’s career as Hollywood screenwriter and director. As well as examining Kasdan’s directorial style, worldview, influences, and collaborations, Davies' volume is also notable for　revealing Kasdan’s role in the formation of the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises.

Warren Buckland