film history
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night
1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
As learned in class lecture the time of It Happened One Night was the time of when actors and actresses really began to showcase their talents. Actors were challenged more in their on screen performances and abilities. This was also the time that the industry became farmiliar with "Screwball Comdies" which are primariliy characterized by the female's role to be held more powerful than the man's and challenging their masculinity. It also became known as the war of the sexes. This theme can be seen early on in the movie from her initial escape off of her fathers yacht, to the bus ride when Gable questions her money habits and tries to restrict them to the very classic hitch hiking seen where she bears her leg to haul a car in one shot.
2) Find a related article and summarize the content.
In my chosen article published in February of 1934, the release time of the film, Mordaunt Hall writes a brief summary of the featured film It Happened One night. This article gives a summary of the plot and even gives a few foreshadowing statements and alludes readers to want to see it. Hall says that the film's, "pseudo suspense is kept on the wing until a few seconds before the picture ends" which is an intriguing statement and with her very positive adjectives used to discribe the film is what drew visitors to the theater and in the long run kept this film in our history.
My Article
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.
My chosen article undenyably supports our in class discussion on the film It Happened One Night. Hall uses vivid words to express the films pure magic describing it as, "a screen feast" and "a merry romance". She is also quoted telling readers, "it awaits visitors in Radio City". Her opinion of the film, "is a good piece of fiction, which, with all its feverish stunts, is blessed with bright dialogue and a good quota of relatively restrained scenes." As we know, this film will go on to win an Oscar for best picture which I think speaks for itself.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Obviously this movie was an excellent piece of work for its time and still to this day is parodied, quoted, and relived. With the dynamics of the two main characters Colbert and Gable, the film couldn't have worked out better on screen to directors and critiques. With Ashley and Scarlett, Ashley and Melanie, and Rhett and Scarlett's romances the movie appeals to many different audiences. The films pulls on the hearts strings periodically as members of the family pass away but makes up for the hardships with endless laughs and constant banter between the two main roles.
Gone With The Wind
Gone with The Wind
There are many reasons why Gone With The Wind won 8 Oscars as discussed in class. Specifically, one of those oscars was awarded Hattie McDaniel for her character Mammy. McDaniel was the first black woman to recieve an Oscar, and well deserved if asked. Her character didn't truly show their colors until the second half of the film but when the performance was needed she more than delivered as shown by her Oscar winning performance. Overall, this was an excellent movie, I do not think that anyone can really give Gone With The Wind a negative critique knowing how influencial it has been on the film industry, the highest grossing film at the box office, and known as the greatest film of all time.
2) Find a related article and summarize the content.
The movie "Gone With The Wind was based on the novel written by Margaret Mitchell. The movie was changed a little from the book. In the article below it describes some of the things that were left out of the movie. One of the things that was left out or changed was Belle Watling. In the movie she is the Atlanta prostitute. Her character was cleaned up in the scene where Rhett Butler goes to see her. Another thing that was taken out of the film was any mention of the Ku Klux Klan. In the film Rhett's hatred Ashley was softened, and also some of the love scenes from the novel were either taken out or lightened up a bit.
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.
The article definitely supports what I think of the film and what we went over in class. First of all in this film you did not see any mention of the Ku Klux Klan as in the novel like the article said. Another thing that I agree with is the downplay of Rhett's visit to Belle. The article summarizes a few things that were either cut out completely or downplayed in the movie.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Overall I think this was a great movie. It was a long movie but a great movie. The film had a great story line and great acting. The different scenarios in this movie make it great. You start with the wealthy plantation owners and their families celebrating wedding and having parties. Then all of a sudden a war breaks out, nut there is still hope and everyone is waiting for word from their loved ones. Then the story suddenly changes, the south starts to loose the war and the north starts to invade and destroy everything. Within this war story are also love stories. With Ashley and Scarlett, Ashley and Melanie, and Rhett and Scarlett. There are also sad moments like Scarlett's mom and dad dying, and also Scarlett and Rhett's daughter dying. You have all these dynamics coming together making a great story and a great movie.
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
![](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSC2eS0anfRvjjMSn8n-Y39_nTtovm54hm8JsFXgfmi-L-SUtWIpg)
1.) Relate what was discussed in class or text to the screening
Citizen Kane directed by Orson Welles, was predicted to be a failure when it was released in 1941. According to the American film institute Citizen Kane was ranked as the best american film of all times recieveing 11 oscar nomitations and 3 awards for best picture, director, and actor. Citizen Kane was written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Welles when he was only 24 years old, making this his first film ever. RKO gave Welles complete script control, director control, producer control, cast control and everything he needed. With Welles in control, Citizen Kane was able to become a huge success to America.
2.) Find a related article and summarize the content
According to Robert Ebert, Citizen Kane is one of the miracles of cinema, "It is more than a great movie, it is the gathering of all lessons of the emerging era of sound". Welles and Mankiewics worked hard to create every piece of citizen kane and they employed the best to do it such as Gregg Toland, cinematographer who worked on John Ford's "The Long Voyage Home", Joseph Cotten as Jed Leland (his New York colleague), and a few others with experince in the roles they played. The story Welles and Mankiewics put together was a masterpiece because "it created an emotional chronology set free from time" and "the screen play skips around in time, piecing together memories of those who knew Charles Foster Kane". The movie shows how our lives go after death, surviving only through the memories of others.
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class
Citizen Kane intended and was an obvious depiction of William Hearst's own personal life. Now knowing that Hearst family wasn't happy with the production of the film at all, it kind of makes me look at the film differently. Hearst claimed the film to be very deceptive an even exaggerated at certain parts such as his relationship with Susan Alexander, her alcoholic nature and his vigorous influence on her to be a successful opera singer.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Citizen Kane was a film that depicted many personal experiences of our own personal live that we go through. Charles Foster Kane was once a child of no worries or any big responsibility. His life seemed so simple in the scene depicting him as a child playing with his sled with the label Rosebud. He was then put into a position that granted a lot of opportunity but only with much responsibility. He went in and open his own newspaper publishing companies because it was something he thought would be fun and he was sincere an took his job as a duty. But with all this money and fame he lost the two romances of his life and spent the last few minutes of his life remembering his life as a child when he was simple an innocent and his final word is Rosebud.
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
matt freda
1.) Relate what was discussed in class or text to the screening
Citizen Kane directed by Orson Welles, was predicted to be a failure when it was released in 1941. According to the American film institute Citizen Kane was ranked as the best american film of all times recieveing 11 oscar nomitations and 3 awards for best picture, director, and actor. Citizen Kane was written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Welles when he was only 24 years old, making this his first film ever. RKO gave Welles complete script control, director control, producer control, cast control and everything he needed. With Welles in control, Citizen Kane was able to become a huge success to America.
2.) Find a related article and summarize the content
According to Robert Ebert, Citizen Kane is one of the miracles of cinema, "It is more than a great movie, it is the gathering of all lessons of the emerging era of sound". Welles and Mankiewics worked hard to create every piece of citizen kane and they employed the best to do it such as Gregg Toland, cinematographer who worked on John Ford's "The Long Voyage Home", Joseph Cotten as Jed Leland (his New York colleague), and a few others with experince in the roles they played. The story Welles and Mankiewics put together was a masterpiece because "it created an emotional chronology set free from time" and "the screen play skips around in time, piecing together memories of those who knew Charles Foster Kane". The movie shows how our lives go after death, surviving only through the memories of others.
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class
Citizen Kane intended and was an obvious depiction of William Hearst's own personal life. Now knowing that Hearst family wasn't happy with the production of the film at all, it kind of makes me look at the film differently. Hearst claimed the film to be very deceptive an even exaggerated at certain parts such as his relationship with Susan Alexander, her alcoholic nature and his vigorous influence on her to be a successful opera singer.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Citizen Kane was a film that depicted many personal experiences of our own personal live that we go through. Charles Foster Kane was once a child of no worries or any big responsibility. His life seemed so simple in the scene depicting him as a child playing with his sled with the label Rosebud. He was then put into a position that granted a lot of opportunity but only with much responsibility. He went in and open his own newspaper publishing companies because it was something he thought would be fun and he was sincere an took his job as a duty. But with all this money and fame he lost the two romances of his life and spent the last few minutes of his life remembering his life as a child when he was simple an innocent and his final word is Rosebud.
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
matt freda
1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
In class we discussed how this movie is a great love story and we would recognize many quotes from this movie. This movie had some great quotes that I did recognize. We discussed how in this film the characters is what made this film. Humphrey Bogart did a great job playing Ricks character. He was the tough bar owner who had a broken heart. In the end he winds up doing the right thing by letting both of them on the plane and staying back.
2) Find a related article and summarize the content.
The movie was not the only thing that is a classic here. The props from the movie are also very much valued and cherished by fans. The article below stated how the piano from the movie went up for auction in 2012. The piano is the same piano that Sam played throughout the movie and Rick also played. The piano was supposed to bring in anywhere from $800,000 to &1.2million. Another article said that the piano was indeed sold for a price of $602,500. Not as much as they were expecting but still a lot of money.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239371/Casablanca-piano-heads-auction-block-1-2m-70th-anniversary-Hollywood-classic.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/16/showbiz/casablanca-piano-auction
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.
In class we talked about how this film was a classic. This is a film that has been referenced by many other shows and movies in the past. This is a film that made history and I can see why its one of the best films out there. The article not only confirmed that this film was a hit but it is still making history. It has such great fan fare that people are willing to spend $600,000 on a piano from this movie. This movie is making history to this day.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
I loved this movie, I have never seen this movie before and I am glad this class introduced it to me. When the movie first started you see Rick as the business owner, is is involved in corruption, gambling, and the bar business. He is a tough guy, then you later find out that is is a heartbroken man. He was hurt in the past and it has stuck with him to this day. All in all this was a great movie, the acting was one of the best parts of this film. They pulled it off perfectly.
1) (x) I have
not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) (x) If I
reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I
clearly explain that in the paper.
3) (x) If I
used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used
indentation and citation within the text.
4) (x) I have
not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the
bibliography
in the text of the paper.
5) (x) I have
cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) (x) I have
used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another
way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) (x) I did
not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or
originality.
8) (x) I
checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the
research and ideas used in my paper.
Name:
__________matt freda________________ Date:
The Graduate
The Graduate
1.) Relate
what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
Director Mike
Nichols is one of only twelve people to have won all the major American
entertainment awards. These are the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. In
2010 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film
Institute. Right away, we know that the director Nichols is credible for
creating great films. Nominated for best actor, this is Dustin Hoffman’s first
debut film. The Graduate is one of the first true youth rebellion movies. This
is obvious when Hoffman clearly does whatever he wants in the film. The movie
also showed younger generation audiences some possible events of things that
might happen after gradation.
2.) Find a related article and summarize the content.
I read the article "Rebellion in the 1960s and "The Graduate"" by John Adamczyk. In the article, Adamczyk discussed how the film captured the spirit of the era in the 60s. It talked about the changing of the times and the satirical point of view that the movie offered. After a short summary of the film, Adamczyk goes on to point out the rebellion that happens. He covers the rebellion of Ben with school and work, the rebellion of Ben and the Robinson women, and the rebellion of Ben and his parents. All of it comes together to outline the rebellion of the youth in the 60s and how this movie depicted it.
3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? It was the highest-grossing motion picture of 1968. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards. The American Film Institute ranked it at number seven in its list of the greatest films of the century. It features one of the most recognizable soundtracks in movie history, by one of pop music's best-loved duos. It helped launch the careers of actor Dustin Hoffman, screenwriter Buck Henry and director Mike Nichols and has been credited with the assassination of the romantic comedy
4) Write a
critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a
result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the
article.
I thought the
movie was great. I set high standards for the movie after hearing about it and
reading the powerpoints in class. I knew it was a good movie before
watching it but I didn’t know it won the amount of awards it did. These are one
of those movies that you have to rewatch to get the full meaning and affect. I
didn’t notice the small things like Mike’s hand when he was standing out front
of the hospital standing guard. It is those kinds of clues and hints that make
the movie deep and more interesting.
CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) (x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) (x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) (x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the
bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) (x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) (x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) (x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
matt freda
matt freda
film history god father
The Godfather Journal Assignment
1.) Relate
what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
Aside from the
many nominations and awards The Godfather was known for many other things.
Throughout the movie, the Corleone family had family values. The story is told
within the family instead of being told out in the open in society. The opening
scene starts off at a wedding. Also toward the end of the movie, there is a
baptism scene. You’ll notice throughout the movie that there is 50 scenes with
food in them.
2) Find a
related article and summarize the content.
The article
goes through the conflict and controversies behind the scenes of the film. I’m
going to focus on the director Coppola. Coppola had to focus on keeping his job
as director ever since filming began. Paramount began to worry when Coppola
seemed to be “lost” on set. He would often go back and forth with
cinematographer Gordon Willis. This is recognized as Coppola’s low point as a
director. When in the bathroom, Coppola overheard some of the cast members. The men started
venting about Coppola’s apparent lack of competence. Despite the negativity, The
Godfather would go on to become the highest grossing film in motion picture
history (at that time). It would also be nominated for eleven Academy Awards,
winning Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), and Best Screenplay.
3)
Apply the article to
the film screened in class.
When comparing the article to the film in class I like how they talked about the idea of the anti-hero and us rooting for the Corleone's even though they are terrible people. This is achieved through putting the characters in human moments and telling the story from inside the family. We see the wedding and the dancing and the laughing and playing with the children. The other side of that of course is the murder and the illegal things that the family indulges in. I find it interesting that the audience even at that level still takes sides.
When comparing the article to the film in class I like how they talked about the idea of the anti-hero and us rooting for the Corleone's even though they are terrible people. This is achieved through putting the characters in human moments and telling the story from inside the family. We see the wedding and the dancing and the laughing and playing with the children. The other side of that of course is the murder and the illegal things that the family indulges in. I find it interesting that the audience even at that level still takes sides.
Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed
as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the
article.
Coming from an Italian family I think it would be blasphemous to speak badly on behalf of this movie. Sure it creates an identity and some Italians may have a problem with that but I don't see it that way. It's a movie and people should regard it as just that. My favorite scene in the movie was the actually Godfather part where they're baptizing the baby and killing people at the same time. The scene is perfectly edited with the music and the priest saying the prayer. The way that the shots are split up is perfect too. It depicts nicely the human side of the Corleone family and then the ruthless, gangster side of the family as well in the montage.
CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) (X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
matt freda
8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
matt freda
Coming from an Italian family I think it would be blasphemous to speak badly on behalf of this movie. Sure it creates an identity and some Italians may have a problem with that but I don't see it that way. It's a movie and people should regard it as just that. My favorite scene in the movie was the actually Godfather part where they're baptizing the baby and killing people at the same time. The scene is perfectly edited with the music and the priest saying the prayer. The way that the shots are split up is perfect too. It depicts nicely the human side of the Corleone family and then the ruthless, gangster side of the family as well in the montage.
CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) (X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
matt freda
8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
matt freda
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