One of the most versatile Hollywood filmmmakers, Robert Wise had a number of renowned films under his directorial belt, including The Day The Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Nonetheless, Wise remains a rarely studied Hollywood figure--while many filmgoers know and love his films, few recognize his name. This book, the first in-depth analysis of Wise's cinematic achievement, uncovers the elements linking the director's diverse cinematic subjects and examines in detail the manifold ways in which Wise explored the tensions between individuals and their societies. His films are seen from a new and more complex perspective, one which will heighten the viewer's appreciation for the range and depth of Wise's overall body of work.