The Great Ones: The Generation of Actors Who Created the New Hollywood

When the legendary stars of the Golden Age faded, a revolutionary group of actors—including Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Robert de Niro and others—stepped into the light. Alongside a fresh crop of writers and directors, these actors built a "New Hollywood" populated by characters of flesh and blood: complex, visceral, and unapologetically real. In this course, we explore how these performers traded studio-crafted perfection for explosive, nuanced magnetism, forcing the American film to finally grow up. Unlike the archetypal stars of the past, this generation transformed the movies, spanning vast emotional ranges and diverse life experiences. Join us as we track the evolution of the leading man from classic idol to modern human and how these icons changed acting and the kinds of movies Hollywood made. Each session focuses on one iconic actor. Students will watch one assigned film per week to prepare for an in-depth class discussion.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• An understanding of the historical transition from the "classic idol" to the "modern human” of New Hollywood
• The ability to critically analyze the "Method" and other nuanced acting styles that brought complex, flesh-and-blood characters to life on the screen
• An appreciation for the collaborative evolution between actors, writers, and directors that forced American film to mature into a medium of psychological depth and social relevance

Ideal for

• Movie buffs
• All members of the community—working, retired, and in between