Christians in the Movies: A Century of Saints and Sinners (Sheed & Ward Books) - Softcover

Dans, Peter E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0742570312 ISBN 13: 9780742570313

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011

Synopsis

Christians in the Movies traces the arc of the portrayal in film of Christians from 1905 to the present. For most of the first six decades, the portrayals were favorable and even reverential. By contrast, from 1970 on, Christians have often been treated with hostility and often outright ridicule. This book explores this shift through in-depth reviews and commentaries on 100 important films, as well as briefer discussions of about 75 additional Christian-themed films.

Peter E. Dans examines various causative factors for this change such as the abolition of the Hays Motion Picture Production Code, the demise of the Catholic Legion of Decency, and the associated profound societal and cultural changes. From a look at the real story behind the Scopes trial to portraits of actors, directors and writers most prominently associated with films involving Christians and Christianity, Christians in the Movies provides a great resource for those who wish to select films for showing at churches, universities or for personal viewing and critical examination of the recent cultural movements and thought.

About this title

About the Author

Peter E. Dans, M.D. is associate professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the author of Doctors in the Movies.

Review

Dr. Dans provides a thoughtful and informed perspective on the fascinating intersection of faith and film, using some surprising insights and examples to explode the discouraging old idea that movies and religion must always convey opposing messages. (Michael Medved, nationally syndicated talk radio host, author of The 10 Big Lies About America)

Dans's critical judgments are generally reliable or provocative. . . . Students researching depictions of Christians and Christian concerns and people selecting Christian-themed films for churches and other institutions will find valuable information here. (Library Journal)

Dans, a Catholic, has published a second book, Christians in the Movies, a similarly impressive inquiry into the cinematic portrayal of Christianity and Christians. Like his first book, Christians in the Movies is both a highly readable and informative work of film commentary and a discussion of changing social attitudes. . . . Dans not only documents changing images of faith, he sketches the larger social context of films from The Passion of Joan of Arc and Angels With Dirty Faces to Dogma and The Magdalene Sisters. . . . Even when Dans' opinions diverge from the reader's, his views are always engaging and thought-provoking, and the reader's views will benefit from interacting with Dans'. For serious Christian movie buffs, Christians in the Movies is a must-have. (National Catholic Register)

Dans is a physician and professor by trade, and a man of good film taste by a lifetime of cultivation. The longtime writer of a movie column for the Pharos journal and author of Doctors in the Movies: Boil the Water and Just Say Aah, Dans is a true cinephile. Approximately 200 titles are covered in this volume, from the silent era right up to 2008's Doubt. Each entry features a plot summary and brief commentary from Dans on how a film fares in its treatment of Christianity. We hear a fair amount of grumbling about Hollywood's "ridicule of organized religion, especially Christianity," but Dans also enjoys highlighting films that handle the faith with sympathy or ingenuity, from mid-century Bible spectaculars to made-for-TV gems that you probably missed....Dans packs his chapters with tons of information, including mini-essays that historicize cinematic and cultural developments, institutions like the Catholic Legion of Decency, and directors like Buñuel. These essays are delivered in Dans' frank style, and his writing is enjoyably informed by a lifetime of learning. (Books and Culture)

Dans adds a welcome, stimulating voice to the discussion about those smudged and sterling religious characters created more in the image of Hollywood than in imago Dei. . . . Recommended. (CHOICE)

Dans, a professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School, wrote a well-received volume about Hollywood's portrayal of doctors from 1931 to 2000. As a serious Catholic and longtime film aficionado, he decided to do the same for Christians. Dans selected over 200 Christian-themed films produced from 1905 to 2005 and organized them by decade, with a brief historical overview for each section. Although he likes most of the films, he also includes films that attack Christians. In this way he is able to trace the steady decline, with some notable exceptions, of the generally positive film portrayals of Christians until, as he puts it, 'all orthodox clergy and believers were either vicious predators or narrow-minded, mean spirited Pharisees.' Dans includes plenty of photos along with the plots and his analyses. . . . A worthy participant in the ongoing battle for the culture, Dans' book should find a prominent place in every family's home theater. (First Things)

Dans is a thoughtful, intelligent observer whose considered views merit respect. As either a historical study of the shifting fortunes of the Church in Hollywood or as a guide to particular films, this solid book offers much of use, and is happily recommended to academic and parish libraries. (Catholic Library World)

He exhibits a deep knowledge of film history and, by and large, insightful engagements of each film.... Given the wealth of material here, there is much to praise about Dans' work.... As a whole, Christians in the Movies is a valuable resource and a much-needed one. This will be a perfect text for classroom and congregational use. Entire courses, lectures, and discussion series are just waiting to be created from the material that he has provided here. (Patheos)

Christians in the Movies traces the arc of the portrayal in film of Christians from 1905 to the present [2008]....To do an exhaustive study would take more time and effort than an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University would have, so [Dans] narrowed the field down to a manageable number. That, in turn, makes the book more accessible to the reader than one with several hundred....This is a book to be watched with your computer on and your web browser open to your Netflix account, because you will learn about films you'll want to watch. (Christian Cinema)

The author presents generally informative and interesting plot summaries for each film, followed by his commentary on its merits. . . . Dans offers a comprehensive and insightful overview of religious-themed films. (Publishers Weekly)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0742570312
• ISBN 13: 9780742570313
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 410