Filmmakers have often encouraged us to regard people with physical disabilities in terms of pity awe humor or fearas Others who somehow deserve to be isolated from the rest of society. In this first history of the portrayal of physical disability in the movies Martin Norden examines hundreds of Hollywood movies and notable international ones finds their place within mainstream society and uncovers the movie industrys practices for maintaining the status quokeeping people with disabilities dependent and in their place. Norden offers a dazzling array of physically disabled characters who embody or break out of the stereotypes that have both influenced and been symptomatic of societys fluctuating relationship with its physically disabled minority.