The constellation of Hollywood stars burned brightly brightly in the 1950s, even as the industry fell on hard economic times. Major artists of the 1940s---James Stewart, Jerry Lewis, and
Gregory Peck---Continued to exert a magical appeal, but the younger generation of moviegoers was soon enthralled by an emerging cast led by James Dean and Marlon Brando. They, among others,
ushered in a provocative acting style called "the Method," bringing hard-edged, realistic performances to the screen. Adult-oriented small-budget dramas were ideal showcases for Method actors,
starlingly realized when Brando seized the screen in on the Waterfront. But, with competition from television looming, Hollywood also featured film-making of epic proportion---Ben-Hur and other
cinema wonders captured the screen with amazing spectacle, making stars of physically impressive performers such as charlton Heston.
Larger Than Life offers a comprehensive view of the star system in 1950s Hollywood and alos in-depth discussions of the decade's major stars, including Montgomery clift, Judy Holliday, Jerry
Lewis, James Mason, Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Jayne Mansfield, and Audrey Hepburn.
A Volume in the Star Decades: American Culture/American Cinema series, edited by Adrienne L. McLean and Murray Pomerance
