The Miracle Case (Paperback)

Language: English

Published by University Press of Kansas, Kansas, 2008

0700616195 / 9780700616190

Series: Book 19 of 86 - Landmark Law Cases and American Society

  • Softcover
  • New
See all details

Seller: AussieBookSeller, Truganina, VIC, AustraliaAussieBookSeller

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 22, 2007

Softcover

Condition: New

£ 60.29

£ 27.95 shipping 
Ships from Australia to U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

Paperback. It was only a forty-minute foreign film, but it sparked a legal confrontation that has left its mark on America for more than half a century. Roberto Rossellini's ""Il Miracolo"" (""The Miracle"") is deceptively simple: a demented peasant woman is seduced by a stranger she believes to be Saint Joseph, is socially ostracized for becoming pregnant out of wedlock, but is finally redeemed through motherhood.Although initially approved by state censors for screening in New York, the film was attacked as sacrilegious by the Catholic establishment, which convinced state officials to revoke distributor Joseph Burstyn's license. In response, Burstyn fought back through the courts and won.Laura Wittern-Keller and Raymond Haberski show how the Supreme Court's unanimous 1952 ruling in Burstyn's favor sparked a chain of litigation that eventually brought filmmaking under the protective umbrella of the First Amendment, overturning its long-outdated decision in Mutual v. Ohio (1915). Their story features a more formidable cast than did the film itself, with the charismatic Francis Cardinal Spellman decrying the film as a Communist plot, while outspoken film critic Bosley Crowther vigorously advocated ""freedom of the screen."" Meanwhile, movie producers stood by silently for fear of alienating the Church and its large movie-going membership, leaving Burstyn to muster his own defense.More than the inside story of one case, this book explores the unique place that the movies occupy in American culture and the way that culture continues to be shaped by anxiety over the social power of movies. The Burstyn decision weakened the ability of state censorship boards and the Catholic Church to influence the types of films Americans were allowed to see. Consequently, the case signaled the rise of a new era in which films would be more mature and more controversial than ever before.Focusing on this single most important case in the jurisprudence surrounding motion picture expression, Wittern-Keller and Haberski add a significant new dimension to the story of cinema, censorship, and the history of First Amendment protections. Roberto Rossellini's ""Il Miracolo"" is deceptively simple: a demented peasant woman is seduced by a stranger she believes to be Saint Joseph, is socially ostracized for becoming pregnant out of wedlock, but is finally redeemed through motherhood. This book explores the unique place that the movies occupy in American culture. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.…

Seller Inventory # 9780700616190

Title
The Miracle Case (Paperback)
Author
Laura Wittern-Keller
Publisher
University Press of Kansas, Kansas
Publication year
2008
Condition
new
Binding
Paperback
Language
English
ISBN 10
0700616195
ISBN 13
9780700616190
Series
Book 19 of 86: Landmark Law Cases and American Society

AussieBookSeller

Truganina, VIC, Australia

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 22, 2007

Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.

Item25 to 45 business days8 to 14 business days
First item£ 27.95£ 33.24
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Seller's business information

The Nile Group Pty Ltd

42 Apex Drive
Truganina, VIC Australia 3029