Psychos, Gangsters, Vampires and Aliens: Great Movie Thrillers

Saturday, July 7, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
$30 

Why are thrillers an important movie genre?  Why are they controversial?  This class will examine the history of the thriller, and ask some questions about its founding myths and themes. 

We will look at scenes from various kinds of thrillers to trace some common questions.  Sample topics include serial killers (Lang’s M [1931] and The Silence of the Lambs [1991] to political thrillers (The Manchurian Candidate [1962]), vampire thrillers (Interview with The Vampire [1994] to Twilight [2009), sci-fi thrillers (Blade Runner [1982]) and Alfred Hitchcock (maybe North By Northwest [1959]).   

Join us for a chilling—but thoughtful!—morning.

George Butte has taught in the English department at Colorado College since 1974. He specializes in the 18th and 19th century British novel, and teaches many film theory courses, with special interests in Hitchcock and film comedy. His most recent book is “I Know That You Know That I Know: Narrating Subjects from Moll Flanders to Marnie” (Ohio State Press, 2004). Professor Butte received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow from 1967-1968 and Rhodes Scholar from 1968-1970.