This outstanding collection of the best film history scholarship gathers recent essays and supporting documents to illustrate the power of movies to change, and be changed by, American society. The book follows movies from their beginnings in nickelodeons to the current state of Hollywood globalism. It illustrates that movies have played an important role in shaping and reflecting how millions of Americans see and think about their world. The essays show to a great extent exactly how and why movies have a unique influence on all aspects of American culture, including ideology, politics, and race relations. Editorial introductions place these readings in historical and ideological context, and lists of recommended readings and screenings give guidance for further research. This is the ideal collection for anyone interested in film history.