Spyscreen

by Toby Miller

"Spyscreen presents a genre study of English-language spy fiction film and television from the 1930s to the 1960s. Toby Miller guides the reader through a wide range of critical approaches, from textual interpretation, audience studies, and cultural history, through auteurism, imperial history, class, and governmentalism, to genre, cultural imperialism, and gender. Beginning with an overview of the history, production, and analysis of spy fiction, topics discussed include the first canonical espionage movie, The 39 Steps; key film-noir texts such as Gilda and The Third Man; the figure of the spy, including James Bond; and the importance of women to the genre. The result is not just an insightful new study of key texts in this popular genre; it is an important intervention in the methodology and practice of Screen Studies."--BOOK JACKET.