
Sabu
Michael Lawrence(Author)
BFI Publishing
Published on 15. August 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
152 pages
978-1-84457-455-1 (ISBN)
Description
The first Indian to become an international film star, Sabu rose to fame as a child actor in Elephant Boy (1937), and subsequently appeared in a succession of British pictures before relocating to Hollywood, where he died in 1963. Repeatedly cast in orientalist extravaganzas and jungle thrillers, he was associated with the 'exotic' and the 'primitive' in ways that reflected contemporary attitudes towards India and 'the East' more generally.
In this captivating study, Michael Lawrence explores the historical, political, cultural contexts of Sabu's popularity as a star, and considers the technological and industrial shifts that shaped his career - from the emergence of Technicolor in the late 1930s to the breakdown of the studio system in the 1950s. Attending to the detail of Sabu's distinctively physical performances, Lawrence shows how his agency as an actor enabled him to endure, exceed and exploit his unique star image.
In this captivating study, Michael Lawrence explores the historical, political, cultural contexts of Sabu's popularity as a star, and considers the technological and industrial shifts that shaped his career - from the emergence of Technicolor in the late 1930s to the breakdown of the studio system in the 1950s. Attending to the detail of Sabu's distinctively physical performances, Lawrence shows how his agency as an actor enabled him to endure, exceed and exploit his unique star image.
More details
Edition
2014 edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
images
Dimensions
Height: 188 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84457-455-1 (9781844574551)
DOI
10.1057/9781137446220
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Michael Lawrence is Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Sussex, UK.
Content
Acknowledgments.- Introduction.- 1. 'Starring' Sabu.- 2. Technicolor.- 3. Camp.- 4. Trash.- Notes.- Bibliography.- Filmography.- Index.

