Hollywood Auteur: Francis Coppola

Hollywood Auteur details the struggle between art and commerce in Hollywood filmmaking as exemplified by the career of Francis Coppola. Amid the dealmaking, creative compromise, and collaboration of modern American filmmaking, Coppola’s career demonstrates how problematic the term auteur is in this milieu. The author assesses the romanticism surrounding the cult of film directors in general and Coppola in particular. He argues that, ultimately, the idea that the actual personal vision of one director can be expressed in big-budget Hollywood films is highly suspect. Yet, the weight of this volume suggests that Coppola may have an individualistic genius in the management of his career. The author concludes that Coppola’s status as a role model for a generation of young filmmakers and directors is well earned. Cinema studies scholars, students of film theory/aesthetics or anyone with an interest in the workings of Hollywood may find this work of interest.