“Hollywood in Havana is thoughtful in its conception, astute in its argument, ambitious in its research, and elegant in its articulation. Feeney’s argument—that the values and behaviors seen in Hollywood films from the first half of the twentieth century positioned Habaneros to demand new and revolutionary rights and privileges—is original and compelling. This book’s transnational border-crossing style is particularly effective and exceedingly relevant as the United States begins to normalize relations with Cuba. Feeney engages with representation, history, criticism, politics, and economics, creating a truly interdisciplinary work.”
— Ann Marie Stock, College of William & Mary
“A significant contribution to our evolving understanding of how audiences outside the United States localized American cinema. Hollywood in Havana is well written and well researched, offering an intriguing addition to our knowledge of the cultural relationship between the US and Cuba.”
— Laura Isabel Serna, University of Southern California
“A rich and detailed history. . . This book is an impressive accomplishment. It sheds new light on a long overlooked period of film history in Cuba, while also contributing to a growing scholarship on cinema exhibition and reception outside of the Global North. Well-researched and engaging, Feeney’s book will be an important touchstone for scholars of Cuban and Latin American cinema and history and for all those interested in reevaluating the global impact of Hollywood.”
— The Americas
"Megan Feeney’s chronological study of the reception of Hollywood cinema and its accompanying values in Cuba, 1897–1958, is diligently researched and intelligently articulated."
— New West Indian Guide
"Hollywood in Havana charts the ebb and flow of Cuban-US relations across a series of major historical events, tracking how these relations were mediated through the local consumption of Hollywood film."
— Journal of Cinema and Media Studies