This is a course that any film fan will love. Starting with a history of Hollywood, we will look at some of the best films ever made and the people who made them. We will find out more about the film-making process and how the Hollywood studios set the standard for modern film making. This class will involve informal discussion and lots of film clips; it will be an introduction to film studies for anyone who has always wanted to know more about the films they love and how they were made.
Hollywood Greats
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 19 Jan 2026
Week 1: Hollywood: how it began
Week 2: Hollywood directors past and present
Week 3: Genre films - what is genre and why is it important?
Week 4: Hollywood actors - the Star System
Week 5: The genius of the cinematographer
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Optional preparatory reading:
- The Star Machine / Basinger, Jeanine
- The Classical Hollywood Cinema Film Style and Mode of Production to 1960 / Bordwell,David and Staiger, Janet and Thompson, Kristin
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £180.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Mrs Kiri Walden
Kiri has been teaching Film and Cultural Studies at OUDCE for over a decade. She started her career working in various roles (behind and in front of the camera) in film and TV before becoming an author and lecturer. She has been lucky enough to work with many ground-breaking directors. She has written books (published by Bloomsbury and Liverpool University Press) about the history of British film studios, entertainment during WW2 and the Michael Powell film Peeping Tom. She has lectured for the BFI and Picturehouse cinemas at Powell & Pressburger-related events.
Course aims
This course will look at historical and contemporary films, introducing students to different themes within a Hollywood cinema context. Studying example films and directors in detail will enable students to appreciate films with more confidence and gain a wider understanding of academic film criticism and analysis.
Objectives:
- To understand how Hollywood established the rules of main-stream Western film making
- To understand how the role of the director influences the successful outcome of the film
- To understand different types of film genre and the shared characteristics of genre films
- To introduce students to films and themes of discussion that are new to them
Teaching methods
This course is taught in seminar format. Each class will include a slide presentation, informal discussion and film clips. Further reading will be provided after each class for students who want to continue their studies outside the class.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
- understand and identify the historical context that has influenced the way in which Hollywood films are made
- understand the methods of filming techniques and appreciate how films are made;
- be able to confidently discuss the artistic merits of famous Directors and Actors
Assessment methods
This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments.
Application
Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.