Sport Films: Social Dimensions Over Time, 1930-1995

Sport films depict sociocultural issues in American society and serve as a purveyor of values, mores, and customs. This study examines and analyzes American sport films over time (1930-1995). Emphases were placed on various trends, including sports depicted in films and their shifts over time, film content and theme, social and cultural relevance, and technological impacts. Archival research and content analysis were employed for 590 films. The major findings were (a) major shifts in the number of sport films and the proportion of particular sports among all sport forms during the 66-year period; (b) numerous shifts in the content, especially with respect to physical contact in contrast with non-physical contact sports; (c) the fewest number of sport films for the 1960s contrasted with any decade; and (d) a shift in the frequencies of sport films by their associations with socioeconomic sports.