The Jewish Image in American Film:
A Century of Jewish Characters and Themes
By Lester D. Friedman

Since the silent era, movies have addressed a wide array of Jewish characters and themes. Drawing on a selection of outstanding works from 1925 to today, The Jewish Image in American Film explores not just what the films say about Jewish life and culture, but what they reveal about the society that created them.

Introduction

From Silents to Sound: The Early Decades
His People • The Jazz Singer • Street Scene

War and Peace: The Forties and Fifties
The Purple Heart • Gentleman's Agreement •
Marjorie Morningstar • Exodus

Times of Turmoil: The Sixties and Seventies
The Producers • Goodbye, Columbus •
Hester Street • The Frisco Kid

Comfort and Challenge: The Eighties and Nineties
The Chosen • Enemies, A Love Story •
Crimes and Misdemeanors • Homicide

Course Leader Notes