All That Heaven Allows: Film Melodrama

From Broken Blossoms to Black Swan, melodrama has been a staple of popular cinema. Variously defined as a genre, a style, or a register, film melodrama draws on theatrical and literary influences to create works that emphasise emotional intensity and visual richness. This module examines some of the key examples of film melodrama, from Griffith to Almodovar, including Stella Dallas, Now Voyager, Written on the Wind, High Heels and Far from Heaven. We will discuss the work of some canonical Hollywood figures, including Borzage, Vidor, Stahl, Ophüls, Sirk, Minnelli and Ray, but will also consider international examples of the genre, from India, Italy, Spain and Britain, as well as contemporary films which consciously draw on the melodramatic tradition. Topics include: defining melodrama; the melodramatic style – the heightened mise-en-scène; performance and music associated with the genre; melodrama and gender – women’s films and male melodramas; laughter and tears – responding to melodrama; and postmodern melodrama. The module includes some full-length screenings, and extensive use of film extracts.

15 credits at Level 4

Relevant qualifications

This module is part of the following programme(s):

• Film and Media Studies (Certificate of Higher Education)