1. The screenplays and films of Lawrence Kasdan
- Author
-
Davies, Brett
- Abstract
This doctoral thesis analyses the films and screenplays of the American writer-director Lawrence Kasdan. As the first in-depth study into Kasdan's career, it represents a significant contribution to the understanding of the work of a filmmaker who has created some of the most influential films of the past 40 years. The thesis adopts an interdisciplinary approach in order to investigate various aspects of Kasdan's filmography. Chapter one summarizes the existing literature on Kasdan, establishing his current reputation and identifying aspects of his work that have been under-discussed, thus formulating the approaches required of this study. Chapter two examines the creative process behind Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Kasdan's first screenplay as 'writer-for-hire'. Analyses of the story conference then various script drafts reveal that Kasdan was integral to the creation of a film that altered audience expectations of big-budget action cinema. Chapter three employs a neo-formalist approach, establishing how Kasdan adapted his visual style to present the contrasting narratives of his first two films as writer-director, Body Heat (1981) and The Big Chill (1983). Chapter four interrogates Kasdan's position as the 'archetypal' baby-boomer filmmaker, examining the values expressed in his films that make him so representative of America's largest ever demographic. Chapter five provides an intertextual analysis of the ways that Kasdan's work has been influenced by George Stevens and Akira Kurosawa, showing how he has exemplified the mode of pastiche that has underpinned post-classical Hollywood filmmaking. Finally, chapter six explores Kasdan's role as the writer of four Star Wars films. By comparing his screenplay drafts to those of his co-writers, and by establishing which of his personal concerns he was able to impart in Star Wars, this analysis demonstrates Kasdan's authorial presence in the most profitable franchise in cinema history. Through this application of multiple methodologies, the thesis proves that Lawrence Kasdan has made a unique and important contribution to American film, both as writer and director, and it is hoped that the study will provide a starting point for future scholars to examine his filmography in greater detail.
- Published
- 2021