Includes bibliographical references (p. 402-406) and index.

PART I: Cultural overview: the years of change in America, 1946-62. Major historical events -- Economic situation -- Societal issues -- Other popular leisure activities -- -- PART II: Business. Production and distribution -- Exhibition -- -- PART III: Technology. Color -- Screen shapes and accompanying sound systems -- Three-dimension, special effects, and film production refinements -- -- PART IV: Censorship. Test cases -- -- PART V: Genre. Adventure -- Biography -- Historical spectacle -- Comedy -- Horror, science fiction, and fantasy -- Melodrama -- Musical -- Social problem film and courtroom drama -- Suspense thriller -- War -- Western -- -- PART VI: Style. Noir -- Documentary realism and psychological-sociological realism -- Other stylistic devices -- Coda.