This new addition to the Directory of World Cinema series focuses on America and Hollywood cinema. Essays that critically evaluate the history of Hollywood, the industry, Hollywood audiences and Hollywood stars will set out important thematic, historical and cultural elements that inform the following reviews of some of the most famous Hollywood films. This volume also includes a series of essays on specific directors, discussing their impact on the industry and how their work has influenced Hollywood film. American Hollywood includes contributions from a variety of the field's leading scholars to give a comprehensive insight into some of the best-known American films and the industry behind them.