Robert Redford and American Cinema

Book excerpt: Michael Allen's insightful study explores the long and diverse career of the actor and director Robert Redford, from his early work in theatre and TV to his contemporary status as an iconic and enduring star. Allen assesses Redford's importance to the American film industry during a period of great transformation: as an influential industry player, an award-winning director and a committed political activist. Allen considers Redford's individual achievements in the context of shifts and changes in the industry as a whole: some of which benefited Redford's own progress and development; some which he engineered himself, as well as discussing Redford's star persona in relation to ageing and masculinity.