大学英语词汇7.docVIP

9 Is there such a thing as a typical American film? There are many features that mark a movie as American, but perhaps the most essential is the theme of the loner-hero. From the earliest days of silent films until the recent science fiction ones, the American movie has concentrated on the role of one individual who spends his or her life combining the forces of evil – and the good guy, the hero, usually wins. In the western movie, which comes out of many legends of the American West, a typical figure is the lonesome cowboy. He wanders into a town and straightens out his troubles. Then the strong and independent hero rides off into the sunset alone. Americans like this image in their films because they are highly independent, and individualism counts a great deal with them. An individual who is able to correct the evils of the world, or of a small town, is someone to admire. Even the gangster (匪徒) movie, a very popular form of the typical American film, usually has a hero. Either he is a lawman out to catch the criminals or a gangster who suddenly sees the light and tries to go straight. These films kept the same tone as the western the bad cannot triumph! One good person can save the innocent. Recent science fiction films deal with the same themes. Against the forces of alien powers, people will fight to protect their ideals. Here, too, the action centers around a single individual, but now he pr she must save the world. The hero battles the unknown, trusting in inner capabilities and in the power of good over evil. Fearless, the hero of a typical American movie does not hesitate to jump into the action. This dominant theme of the American movie is familiar to people around the world. What is the most essential feature of American films? A) The good guy. B) The loner-hero. C)The cowboy. D) The gangster. Americans like the image of the lonesome cowboy becaus