Projections of Passing: Postwar Anxieties and Hollywood Films, 1947-1960

289 Pages·2016·9 MB·English

by  N. Megan Kelley

Projections of Passing
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Projections of
Passing
Postwar Anxieties and Hollywood Films,
1947–1960
N. MegAN Kelley
University Press of Mississippi / Jackson
www.upress.state.ms.us
Designed by Peter D. Halverson
The University Press of Mississippi is a member of the Association of
American University Presses.
Copyright © 2016 by University Press of Mississippi
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
First printing 2016
∞
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kelley, N. Megan, author.
Title: Projections of passing : postwar anxieties and Hollywood films,
1947–1960 / N. Megan Kelley.
Description: Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, 2016. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015045695 (print) | LCCN 2015048294 (ebook) | ISBN
9781496806277 (hardback) | ISBN 9781496806284 (epub single) | ISBN
9781496806291 (epub institutional) | ISBN 9781496806307 (pdf single) |
ISBN 9781496806314 (pdf institutional)
Subjects: LCSH: Identity (Psychology) in motion pictures. | Passing
(Identity) in motion pictures | Motion pictures—United
States—History—20th century. | Motion pictures—Social aspects—United
States. | BISAC: PERFORMING ARTS / Film & Video / History & Criticism. |
HISTORY / United States / 20th Century. | SOCIAL SCIENCE / Discrimination
& Race Relations.
Classification: LCC PN1995.9.I34 K35 2016 (print) | LCC PN1995.9.I34 (ebook)
| DDC 791.43/653—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015045695

British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
Dedicated to the memory of my brother Michael and my sister ana
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contents
introDuction — 3
cHaPter one: Hollywood’s Passing Contexts
The Rise of Psychoanalytic Discourse, Identity Studies, and
Cold War Culture — 11
cHaPter tWo: Passing as Social Strategy
The Early Postwar “Message” Pics — 29
cHaPter tHree: Passing as Identity Crisis
The Psychoanalytic Turn in Hollywood — 68
cHaPter four: “Hiding in Plain Sight”
Political Passing, Communist Fears, and Hollywood — 93
cHaPter fiVe: They Walk among Us
Science Fiction Films and Passing Aliens — 114
cHaPter siX: “Both Body and Meaning Can Do a Cartwheel”
Postwar Hollywood Masculinities and Passing Anxieties — 137
cHaPter seVen: Hollywood’s Postwar Feminine Masquerades
Masculine Women, Blonde Goddesses, and Passing for Normal — 165
conclusion — 194
afterWorD anD acknoWleDgMents — 196
notes — 198
BiBliograPHy — 233
select filMograPHy — 248

inDeX — 254
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Projections of Passing