APPENDIX 3: ANALYSIS OF 18 FILMS POPULAR AT THE UK BOX OFFICE
IN 1945-46, 1955-56, 1963-65
In this appendix I present analytic methods which I have
developed in order to facilitate comparison between films from
different historical periods, countries, production companies
and genres.
In the first section these methods are developed apropos a
group of six films popular at the UK box office in 1954. There
are two stages to the analysis; firstly all characters in each
film are allotted to one of four 'groups', and secondly the
characters in each of the groups are analysed according to
three different sets of criteria. The rationale for this
analytic method is discussed below (appendix 3.1).
In the second section each of the eighteen films in the sample
is presented in some detail. The film's themes, production
values and performances are discussed as appropriate: here, in
effect, is a relatively discursive essay on each film. These
essays vary considerably in length. In the case of each film,
following the discursive presentation, a list of all
characters in order of appearance is given, and the groups
into which various characters fall, according to the schema
outlined in the first section of this appendix, are indicated.
The third section presents tables showing the relative
disposition of female characters in the four groups in each
set of six films, and in the fourth section are tables showing
the analysis of female characters in each of the groups, again
according to the criteria outlined in the first section. These
analyses of 'character construction' are presented
sequentially for each of the three sets of six films, enabling
observations about changes in the typical over the twenty year
period. Such observations are the subject of discussion in the
main text of the thesis.
APPENDIX 3.1: Analytic methods developed apropos a group
of six films popular at the British box office in 1954.
In advance of the detailed analyses of the eighteen films in
my sample (see below, Appendix 3.2), generated through the
collation described in Appendix 2, I developed analytic
methods through the detailed study of another group of six
films popular at the British box office in 1954. These were
The Glenn Miller Story, Doctor in the House, On the
Waterfront, Hobson's Choice, Rob Roy the Highland Roque, and
The Million Pound Note.
My central questions concern the operation of popular culture
in respect of the social positioning of women. In order to
pursue these questions it was necessary to develop methods of
analysis which privileged the text, because there is a crucial
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