THE SCREWBALL TOUCH.

The article focuses on the characteristics and historical development of screwball comedies during Hollywood's Golden Age, highlighting their subversion of social norms related to gender, sexuality, and class through fast-talking, witty couples. Originating in the 1930s and flourishing until the mid-1940s, the genre was shaped by filmmakers like Ernst Lubitsch, Frank Capra, Leo McCarey, Howard Hawks, and Preston Sturges, and featured stars such as Claudette Colbert, Cary Grant, and Rosalind Russell. Unlike modern films that may use aggressive banter to reflect psychological issues, classic screwball comedies presented outrageous behavior without justification, emphasizing playful social and romantic dynamics. The genre declined after World War II as social realism gained prominence in cinema.