Gregory Lopez
Film History Journal
The Godfather
1) The Godfather, which is generally viewed as one of the best American films ever made, is a classic cinema: one of the most widely respected movies of all time. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino star as Vito Corleone and his youngest son, Michael. It is the late 1940s in New York and Corleone is, in the life of organized crime, a "godfather" or "don," the head of a Mafia family. Michael, a free spirit who disobeyed his father by enlisting in the Marines to fight in World War II, has returned a captain and a war hero. Having long ago excluded himself from the family business, Michael shows up at the wedding of his sister, Connie with his non-Italian girlfriend, Kay who learns for the first time about the family "business." A few months later around Christmas time, the don barely survives after being shot by gunmen in the service of a drug-trafficking rival whose request for aid from the Corleones' political connections was prohibited. After saving his father from a second assassination attempt, Michael convinces his eldest brother, Sonny, and family advisors Tom Hagen and Sal Tessio that he should be the one to execute revenge on the men responsible. After murdering a crooked police captain and the drug trafficker, Michael hides out in Sicily while a gang war explodes at home. Falling in love with a local girl, Michael marries her, but she is later assassinated by Corleone enemies in an attempt to kill Michael. Sonny is also exterminated, having been betrayed by Connie's husband. When Michael returns home and convinces Kay to marry him, his father recovers and makes peace with his rivals, realizing that another powerful don was pulling the strings behind the narcotics endeavor that began the gang warfare. Once Michael has been presented as the new don, he leads the family to a new era of affluence, and then launches a war of murderous revenge against those who once tried to annihilate the Corleones.
2) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/
3) The article basically describes the events that occur in the movie. It talks about the plot and important themes present in the movie that made it such a classic. In addition, it puts into perspective the “life” of the Corleone family and the world of organized crime that they indulged in.
4) In the Godfather, the story arises as Don Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", watches over his daughter's wedding. His beloved son Michael has just come home from World War 2, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Throughout Michael's life, the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is benevolent to those who give respect, but ruthless and violent whenever anything stands against or in the way of the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for family An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The Don declines and the clash of the Don's diminishing old country values and the new ways will become horrible at his own expense. Like anyone who has seen the Godfather and appreciates classic films, all I can say about this film is that it’s brilliant. From the cast to the cinematography, every moment of the movie will keep you guessing and craving for more. The variety of themes and genres present in the movie is staggering, which makes it a universal classic, which can be respected and valued by people of all ages.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Casablanca
Gregory Lopez
Film History Journal
1) Casablanca is a classic film, directed by Michael Curtiz that made its debut in 1942 and is thought to be one of the best movies of all time. There are many themes centered on Casablanca but the most notable ones are lust and love. Ilsa, one of the main characters, is married to Victor but had an affair with Rick in Paris, who is played by Bogart. The main summary of the film is that Rick runs a restaurant called Rick’s Café in Casablanca, Morocco. There was a girl named Ilsa who Rick met and fell in love with almost instantaneously when they first met in Paris. They both embraced each other’s company and couldn't get enough of each other. In this point in time, the Germans were going to invade and occupy France so they had to evacuate immediately. Ilsa kept a secret from Rick and chose not to meet Rick at the train station when they were supposed to leave together. The secret that she was keeping from Rick was that she was married to a man named Victor, who was a respected man who spent a year in a concentration camp and was a powerful leader in France. Later on in the movie, Ilsa walks into Rick’s Café and Rick and Ilsa see each other for the first time since their encounter in Paris. Towards the conclusion of the film, Rick and Ilsa reproduce the love that they always had for each other but Rick decides to let her go.
2) http://www.pictureshowman.com/articles_films_casablanca.cfm
3) The article basically talks about the film and its overall success. After giving a brief synopsis, a plot and cast overview, and a behind the scenes view, it states that "Casablanca" was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three, including the Oscar for Best Picture. The American Society of Cinematographers ranked "Casablanca" number 7 on their list of "Best Shot Films: 1894-1949". In 1998, the American Film Institute rated "Casablanca" second on their list of the "Top 100 American Movies of the Last 100 Years", using as part of their criteria: critical recognition; historical significance; and cultural impact. In 1989, "Casablanca" was among the first twenty-five films named to the National Film Registry.
4) The first time I saw Casablanca, I remembered how up-to-date it seemed. The themes of sacrifice and heroism stood out with emphasis and made the movie intriguing, as well as the witty dialogue. The characters played amazing roles and kept me interested throughout the movie. Although this movie was way before my time, I was able to appreciate its true value due to its classic, genuine nature and compelling storyline.
Film History Journal
1) Casablanca is a classic film, directed by Michael Curtiz that made its debut in 1942 and is thought to be one of the best movies of all time. There are many themes centered on Casablanca but the most notable ones are lust and love. Ilsa, one of the main characters, is married to Victor but had an affair with Rick in Paris, who is played by Bogart. The main summary of the film is that Rick runs a restaurant called Rick’s Café in Casablanca, Morocco. There was a girl named Ilsa who Rick met and fell in love with almost instantaneously when they first met in Paris. They both embraced each other’s company and couldn't get enough of each other. In this point in time, the Germans were going to invade and occupy France so they had to evacuate immediately. Ilsa kept a secret from Rick and chose not to meet Rick at the train station when they were supposed to leave together. The secret that she was keeping from Rick was that she was married to a man named Victor, who was a respected man who spent a year in a concentration camp and was a powerful leader in France. Later on in the movie, Ilsa walks into Rick’s Café and Rick and Ilsa see each other for the first time since their encounter in Paris. Towards the conclusion of the film, Rick and Ilsa reproduce the love that they always had for each other but Rick decides to let her go.
2) http://www.pictureshowman.com/articles_films_casablanca.cfm
3) The article basically talks about the film and its overall success. After giving a brief synopsis, a plot and cast overview, and a behind the scenes view, it states that "Casablanca" was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three, including the Oscar for Best Picture. The American Society of Cinematographers ranked "Casablanca" number 7 on their list of "Best Shot Films: 1894-1949". In 1998, the American Film Institute rated "Casablanca" second on their list of the "Top 100 American Movies of the Last 100 Years", using as part of their criteria: critical recognition; historical significance; and cultural impact. In 1989, "Casablanca" was among the first twenty-five films named to the National Film Registry.
4) The first time I saw Casablanca, I remembered how up-to-date it seemed. The themes of sacrifice and heroism stood out with emphasis and made the movie intriguing, as well as the witty dialogue. The characters played amazing roles and kept me interested throughout the movie. Although this movie was way before my time, I was able to appreciate its true value due to its classic, genuine nature and compelling storyline.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Graduate
Gregory Lopez
Film History
Journal
“The Graduate”
1) Fresh college graduate Benjamin Braddock is locked into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her teenage daughter, Elaine. Through their happenstances, Benjamin determines that they have nothing in common but also picks up that Mrs. Robinson was required to give up college and marry someone she did not love when she became pregnant with her daughter, Elaine. Mrs. Robinson stresses to Benjamin that he should unwind and appreciate his youth while he still can. Upon arriving to the Robinsons' home to take Elaine out again, Mrs. Robinson threatens to disclose to Elaine her previous relationship with Benjamin. However, Benjamin preemptively exclaims the specifics of his affair to Elaine before Mrs. Robinson can proceed with her threat. Upset and heartbroken, Elaine returns to Berkeley and cuts off all communication with Benjamin.
2) Throughout the 1960s an immediate social, political, and artistic change was happening in America as a new generation fought to regroup its understanding of gender in the face of how their parents understood it. During this time, the women’s liberation movement and new ideas about masculinity pursued to break out of the 1950s suburban example that had been the norm, predominantly in terms of male and female relationships. This shift was portrayed in several films of the 1960s and forms the thematic essential of the film “The Graduate.” What is most captivating about this certain film in terms of gender is the way it reproduces the shifting understanding of gender of both males and females and of different ages as well.
http://www.articlemyriad.com/113.htm
3) The article relates to the screening because the film introduces two young people who are on the threshold of coming to terms with a new connotation of individuality and gender and also offer the older generation and its stable suburban standards. Wedged in the middle of these representations of gender is the mysterious character of Mrs. Robinson who exemplifies both the new understanding of femininity as well as the old masculine ideals that her suburban society is established upon. With such an impulsive combination of mismatched gender notions and generations, this film presents an almost perfect representation of the gender skirmishes of the 1960s.
4) “The Graduate” orbits around the story of Benjamin, a topical college graduate, who is at a main point in his life. Caught between adolescence and adulthood, he is examining meaning in the upper-middle class suburban world of his parents. While at home between schools, he begins a sexual relationship with the wife of a neighbor and family-friend, Mrs. Robinson. Uncomfortable with his own sexuality, Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson continue an affair for quite some time, during which she asks him to promise to stay away from her daughter, Elaine. Things become complex when Mr. Robinson and Benjamin’s father attempt to organize a date between the two young people. Not wanting to disrupt his mistress’ demand yet caught up in the wishes of his parents, Benjamin takes Elaine on a date, which is catastrophic as Benjamin tries to push her away. Ultimately, however, the affair between Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin is exposed and Elaine goes to school. Benjamin halts his affair and essentially stalks Elaine at college, hoping to win her back. She is engaged to a man her parents find reputable and is about to marry him, but at the last minute Benjamin takes a cross-country trip to try to stop her marriage. To the dismay of Mrs. Robinson and the other guests, he is successful and the two escape together. I thought this movie was a classic. It was a compelling screening that grasped my attention with ease, especially being a college student who is on the verge of graduating. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would absolutely watch it again.
Film History
Journal
“The Graduate”
1) Fresh college graduate Benjamin Braddock is locked into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her teenage daughter, Elaine. Through their happenstances, Benjamin determines that they have nothing in common but also picks up that Mrs. Robinson was required to give up college and marry someone she did not love when she became pregnant with her daughter, Elaine. Mrs. Robinson stresses to Benjamin that he should unwind and appreciate his youth while he still can. Upon arriving to the Robinsons' home to take Elaine out again, Mrs. Robinson threatens to disclose to Elaine her previous relationship with Benjamin. However, Benjamin preemptively exclaims the specifics of his affair to Elaine before Mrs. Robinson can proceed with her threat. Upset and heartbroken, Elaine returns to Berkeley and cuts off all communication with Benjamin.
2) Throughout the 1960s an immediate social, political, and artistic change was happening in America as a new generation fought to regroup its understanding of gender in the face of how their parents understood it. During this time, the women’s liberation movement and new ideas about masculinity pursued to break out of the 1950s suburban example that had been the norm, predominantly in terms of male and female relationships. This shift was portrayed in several films of the 1960s and forms the thematic essential of the film “The Graduate.” What is most captivating about this certain film in terms of gender is the way it reproduces the shifting understanding of gender of both males and females and of different ages as well.
http://www.articlemyriad.com/113.htm
3) The article relates to the screening because the film introduces two young people who are on the threshold of coming to terms with a new connotation of individuality and gender and also offer the older generation and its stable suburban standards. Wedged in the middle of these representations of gender is the mysterious character of Mrs. Robinson who exemplifies both the new understanding of femininity as well as the old masculine ideals that her suburban society is established upon. With such an impulsive combination of mismatched gender notions and generations, this film presents an almost perfect representation of the gender skirmishes of the 1960s.
4) “The Graduate” orbits around the story of Benjamin, a topical college graduate, who is at a main point in his life. Caught between adolescence and adulthood, he is examining meaning in the upper-middle class suburban world of his parents. While at home between schools, he begins a sexual relationship with the wife of a neighbor and family-friend, Mrs. Robinson. Uncomfortable with his own sexuality, Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson continue an affair for quite some time, during which she asks him to promise to stay away from her daughter, Elaine. Things become complex when Mr. Robinson and Benjamin’s father attempt to organize a date between the two young people. Not wanting to disrupt his mistress’ demand yet caught up in the wishes of his parents, Benjamin takes Elaine on a date, which is catastrophic as Benjamin tries to push her away. Ultimately, however, the affair between Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin is exposed and Elaine goes to school. Benjamin halts his affair and essentially stalks Elaine at college, hoping to win her back. She is engaged to a man her parents find reputable and is about to marry him, but at the last minute Benjamin takes a cross-country trip to try to stop her marriage. To the dismay of Mrs. Robinson and the other guests, he is successful and the two escape together. I thought this movie was a classic. It was a compelling screening that grasped my attention with ease, especially being a college student who is on the verge of graduating. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would absolutely watch it again.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Citizen Kane
Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
“Citizen Kane”
1. In regards to Citizen Kane, Its multifaceted and gloomy theme of an emotionally-futile man is told from numerous, unpredictable perspectives and points-of-view, which were metaphorically interconnected by the jigsaw puzzle in the film. Several different characters, which included the associates and friends of the departed, provided an occasionally inconsistent and perplexing representation. The film tells the heart-rending epic story of a 'rags-to-riches' child who inherited a fortune, was taken from his down-to-earth environment, as well as his father and mother. He was raised by a banker whom he disliked, and became a resplendently affluent, arrogant, and vigorous newspaperman. He made his reputation as the liberal, perfectionistic campaigner of the underprivileged, and set his pompous mind on a political career, until those political dreams were shattered after the leak of a reckless 'love-nest' affair with a singer. Kane's life was corrupted and eventually self-destructed by greed to fulfill the American dream of success, fame, wealth, power and immortality. After two failed marriages and a conversion into a morose, outlandish, and tyrannical monster, his final days were spent alone, miserable and unhappy before his death in a withdrawn retreat of his own making - a gloomy palace filled with countless possessions to recompense for his life's overall emptiness.
2. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=20042
3. This article relates to the screening because it gives an overall impression and run-down about the film. For instance, it states that "Citizen Kane," released in 1941, was ahead of its time in cinematography. Many long cuts, showing action in real time, fill the film and the few short cuts are taken mainly to emphasize dialogue. This story of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane is based loosely on the life of William Randolph Hearst, who fought the release of this film into theaters. The article goes into detail about how this film, shot in black and white, uses the space of the audience's screen to show a well-focused insight in the field of vision. Lighting is preserved through low key lights and sharp angles of hard light, with characters all remaining in focus. Characters in the beginning of the film are shot almost in silhouette lighting, mainly focusing on voice and dialogue rather than the actual visual images. Symbolically, the public is in the dark about who Kane was and became. The older Kane gets, the darker shots become, reflecting pragmatism of cinema in the beginning of the film, but changing to extravagant and excessive with the passage of time. The perspective of the author in this article about the film gives the reader a clear insight about what the film is intended to say and why the message is important through symbolic dialogue and a captivating storyline.
4. A film known to many as Citizen Kane, and known by few, lives up to the hype even if it's not the so-called best film ever made. I honestly didn’t think the film wasn’t going to be as good as it was. I loved the message behind the movie, characters and the sequence of events .Everything fell into place in the movie, which kept me at the edge of my seat. I would definitely see this movie again due to the fact that it is without a doubt, one of the best movies of all time.
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
“Citizen Kane”
1. In regards to Citizen Kane, Its multifaceted and gloomy theme of an emotionally-futile man is told from numerous, unpredictable perspectives and points-of-view, which were metaphorically interconnected by the jigsaw puzzle in the film. Several different characters, which included the associates and friends of the departed, provided an occasionally inconsistent and perplexing representation. The film tells the heart-rending epic story of a 'rags-to-riches' child who inherited a fortune, was taken from his down-to-earth environment, as well as his father and mother. He was raised by a banker whom he disliked, and became a resplendently affluent, arrogant, and vigorous newspaperman. He made his reputation as the liberal, perfectionistic campaigner of the underprivileged, and set his pompous mind on a political career, until those political dreams were shattered after the leak of a reckless 'love-nest' affair with a singer. Kane's life was corrupted and eventually self-destructed by greed to fulfill the American dream of success, fame, wealth, power and immortality. After two failed marriages and a conversion into a morose, outlandish, and tyrannical monster, his final days were spent alone, miserable and unhappy before his death in a withdrawn retreat of his own making - a gloomy palace filled with countless possessions to recompense for his life's overall emptiness.
2. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=20042
3. This article relates to the screening because it gives an overall impression and run-down about the film. For instance, it states that "Citizen Kane," released in 1941, was ahead of its time in cinematography. Many long cuts, showing action in real time, fill the film and the few short cuts are taken mainly to emphasize dialogue. This story of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane is based loosely on the life of William Randolph Hearst, who fought the release of this film into theaters. The article goes into detail about how this film, shot in black and white, uses the space of the audience's screen to show a well-focused insight in the field of vision. Lighting is preserved through low key lights and sharp angles of hard light, with characters all remaining in focus. Characters in the beginning of the film are shot almost in silhouette lighting, mainly focusing on voice and dialogue rather than the actual visual images. Symbolically, the public is in the dark about who Kane was and became. The older Kane gets, the darker shots become, reflecting pragmatism of cinema in the beginning of the film, but changing to extravagant and excessive with the passage of time. The perspective of the author in this article about the film gives the reader a clear insight about what the film is intended to say and why the message is important through symbolic dialogue and a captivating storyline.
4. A film known to many as Citizen Kane, and known by few, lives up to the hype even if it's not the so-called best film ever made. I honestly didn’t think the film wasn’t going to be as good as it was. I loved the message behind the movie, characters and the sequence of events .Everything fell into place in the movie, which kept me at the edge of my seat. I would definitely see this movie again due to the fact that it is without a doubt, one of the best movies of all time.
Grapes of Wrath
Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
“Grapes of Wrath”
1. John Steinbeck grew up in California and observed the troubles of the migrant workers, or Okies, as they were so-called because many of them migrated from the dust bowl of Oklahoma. He worked beside them, visited their camps, and traveled to Oklahoma as he researched this phenomenon. As a result, The Grapes of Wrath was conceived and then, published in 1939, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. When the rain wouldn't fall, and the crops couldn't grow, the dust still blew and the days and nights still proceeded. They were jam-packed with the dry, infertile earth, in this hard time known as the Dust Bowl. Farmers such as the Joads in this screening and in the book lost their farms to the banks as well as their family history. Unable to come to a conclusion to solve this matter, they packed up and headed for California with hopes of finding work in order to prosper and survive with the bountiful land that had multiple, luscious growing seasons in store. Although it seemed like the Promise Land, when they arrived, they found that they were part of a great migration and there wasn't enough work for the masses, little to none for them to survive. There was a huge prominence on the importance of family values, ethics, and morals. Social injustices were depicted as well and assisted in making this an efficacious, compelling screening that many can relate to.
2. http://www.helium.com/items/1180767-john-steinbeck-the-grapes-of-wrath-dusk-bowl-okies-oklahoma-joads-family-hooverville
3. This article relates to the screening because it basically talks about what the film was about, where the idea derived from, and how it was conceived and developed into such a timeless masterpiece. The articles states what’s especially resonance about the Graphs of Wrath. It discusses how it epitomizes human latent strengths and evident weaknesses in the face of struggles and hardships, implying that often the weak becomes stronger and the strong weakens under unrelenting pressure. This was in accordance to The Grapes of Wrath since it was about the Joad family's adversities and struggles in Oklahoma during the Great Depression and later on in California. The Joads, like many farmers, were in calamitous financial quandaries and incapable of paying home mortgages or buy farm equipment that was essential to maintain and sustain their farms. Consequently, many of the Dust Bowl farmers were required to move to greener meadowlands, leaving behind all their belongings except what they could take in their automobiles.
4. Personally, I enjoyed the screening for many reasons, as well as the book. The author/director examines the causes behind the suffering, asking and answering from his perspective the definitive questions about land ownership, the use of power, government's role, the nature of justice and the principles of capitalism. He clearly sponsors the lower classes working collectively through unions. He points a reproachful finger at wealthy property owners for thoughtless policies meant to maximize profit while forcing laborers to work for less than cheap wages. These controversial views make the screening very interesting in its own way. The whole film in general is brilliant and makes it understandable through its cinematography why it’s regarded as a masterpiece.
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
“Grapes of Wrath”
1. John Steinbeck grew up in California and observed the troubles of the migrant workers, or Okies, as they were so-called because many of them migrated from the dust bowl of Oklahoma. He worked beside them, visited their camps, and traveled to Oklahoma as he researched this phenomenon. As a result, The Grapes of Wrath was conceived and then, published in 1939, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. When the rain wouldn't fall, and the crops couldn't grow, the dust still blew and the days and nights still proceeded. They were jam-packed with the dry, infertile earth, in this hard time known as the Dust Bowl. Farmers such as the Joads in this screening and in the book lost their farms to the banks as well as their family history. Unable to come to a conclusion to solve this matter, they packed up and headed for California with hopes of finding work in order to prosper and survive with the bountiful land that had multiple, luscious growing seasons in store. Although it seemed like the Promise Land, when they arrived, they found that they were part of a great migration and there wasn't enough work for the masses, little to none for them to survive. There was a huge prominence on the importance of family values, ethics, and morals. Social injustices were depicted as well and assisted in making this an efficacious, compelling screening that many can relate to.
2. http://www.helium.com/items/1180767-john-steinbeck-the-grapes-of-wrath-dusk-bowl-okies-oklahoma-joads-family-hooverville
3. This article relates to the screening because it basically talks about what the film was about, where the idea derived from, and how it was conceived and developed into such a timeless masterpiece. The articles states what’s especially resonance about the Graphs of Wrath. It discusses how it epitomizes human latent strengths and evident weaknesses in the face of struggles and hardships, implying that often the weak becomes stronger and the strong weakens under unrelenting pressure. This was in accordance to The Grapes of Wrath since it was about the Joad family's adversities and struggles in Oklahoma during the Great Depression and later on in California. The Joads, like many farmers, were in calamitous financial quandaries and incapable of paying home mortgages or buy farm equipment that was essential to maintain and sustain their farms. Consequently, many of the Dust Bowl farmers were required to move to greener meadowlands, leaving behind all their belongings except what they could take in their automobiles.
4. Personally, I enjoyed the screening for many reasons, as well as the book. The author/director examines the causes behind the suffering, asking and answering from his perspective the definitive questions about land ownership, the use of power, government's role, the nature of justice and the principles of capitalism. He clearly sponsors the lower classes working collectively through unions. He points a reproachful finger at wealthy property owners for thoughtless policies meant to maximize profit while forcing laborers to work for less than cheap wages. These controversial views make the screening very interesting in its own way. The whole film in general is brilliant and makes it understandable through its cinematography why it’s regarded as a masterpiece.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Stagecoach
Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600: Film History
Stagecoach
1. In regards to the screening “Stagecoach”, we discussed in class that it was set in 1880 and involved a variety of themes and roles. The roles include a banker, sheriff, outlaw, prostitute, doctor, wife, salesman, gambler, and stagecoach driver. The themes in Stagecoach consist of different social classes in a compact setting, greed, revenge, redemption, prejudice, discrimination, alcoholism, shame, and empathy. We discussed how the characters in this film all come from different backgrounds with different mind frames and morals. This relates to the screening because in the film, a crowd of unlikely traveling acquaintances find themselves together on the same stagecoach to Cheyenne. They include a drunken doctor, a bar girl who's been thrown out of town, a professional gambler, a traveling liquor salesman, a banker who has decided to steal money, a gunslinger out for revenge and a young woman who’s determined to join her husband whom is an army captain. All are full of mysteries but when they are ambushed by a Geronimo Indian war clan and then a group of outlaws, they come to the conclusion that they must all work together in order to stay alive.
2. The article I chose talks about John Wayne and John Ford’s collaborations, their success, and how they both benefited from each other in regards to “Stagecoach” and other screenings. Most likely because of his long relationship with Wayne, Ford was often seen as a conservative in regards to his films. Within the film "Stagecoach," beats a benevolent heart that shows compassion with a humanitarian nature that reflects the views of Ford and overall talent of Wayne, providing perspective as to why both were so prestigious and well-endowed in their careers. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110801/REVIEWS08/110809999/1004
3. This article relates to the screening because it mainly talks about John Wayne and John Ford’s careers, their relationship, and how their careers were renewed as a result of their collaborations. It discusses how they came together at a promising moment in Ford's career. He was 45. He had directed his first silent films in 1917, along with 9 more. He had experienced awesome success, and won an Academy Award for directing "The Informer" in 1936. But now came his years of triumph. No director of the sound era made more great films more quickly than Ford did when he followed "Stagecoach" with "Young Mr. Lincoln" and "Drums Along the Mohawk," all three in 1939, and then made "The Grapes of Wrath" and "The Long Voyage Home" in 1940 and "Tobacco Road" and "How Green Was My Valley" in 1941, accumulating in that period three nominations and two Oscars for directing. In regards to Wayne, Ford had his eye on John Wayne from the days when he was called Marion Morrison, nicknamed Duke, and was a football player from USC, working summers at 20th Century-Fox. In the decade before "Stagecoach" Wayne worked in about 40 Westerns, from an extra to a lead, without differentiating himself. Ford thought he had the true makings of a star, and decided Wayne was perfect for the key role of the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach." With Ford’s influence as a director and Wayne’s clout as an actor, it proceeds to discuss how both would continue to make iconic films and later establish themselves as one of the legendary partnerships in film history.
4. A group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo Indians and learned many facts about each other in the process. I personally enjoyed the film due to the morals, themes, roles, and overall plot of the movie. I loved how they all didn’t approve of each other in the beginning but came to a common point when they find out they need to stick together in order to stay alive. The suspense and action scenes in the movie really grasped my attention, as well as the whole film in general. Since seeing this film, I have a newfound respect for John Wayne and John Ford.
FILM 2600: Film History
Stagecoach
1. In regards to the screening “Stagecoach”, we discussed in class that it was set in 1880 and involved a variety of themes and roles. The roles include a banker, sheriff, outlaw, prostitute, doctor, wife, salesman, gambler, and stagecoach driver. The themes in Stagecoach consist of different social classes in a compact setting, greed, revenge, redemption, prejudice, discrimination, alcoholism, shame, and empathy. We discussed how the characters in this film all come from different backgrounds with different mind frames and morals. This relates to the screening because in the film, a crowd of unlikely traveling acquaintances find themselves together on the same stagecoach to Cheyenne. They include a drunken doctor, a bar girl who's been thrown out of town, a professional gambler, a traveling liquor salesman, a banker who has decided to steal money, a gunslinger out for revenge and a young woman who’s determined to join her husband whom is an army captain. All are full of mysteries but when they are ambushed by a Geronimo Indian war clan and then a group of outlaws, they come to the conclusion that they must all work together in order to stay alive.
2. The article I chose talks about John Wayne and John Ford’s collaborations, their success, and how they both benefited from each other in regards to “Stagecoach” and other screenings. Most likely because of his long relationship with Wayne, Ford was often seen as a conservative in regards to his films. Within the film "Stagecoach," beats a benevolent heart that shows compassion with a humanitarian nature that reflects the views of Ford and overall talent of Wayne, providing perspective as to why both were so prestigious and well-endowed in their careers. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110801/REVIEWS08/110809999/1004
3. This article relates to the screening because it mainly talks about John Wayne and John Ford’s careers, their relationship, and how their careers were renewed as a result of their collaborations. It discusses how they came together at a promising moment in Ford's career. He was 45. He had directed his first silent films in 1917, along with 9 more. He had experienced awesome success, and won an Academy Award for directing "The Informer" in 1936. But now came his years of triumph. No director of the sound era made more great films more quickly than Ford did when he followed "Stagecoach" with "Young Mr. Lincoln" and "Drums Along the Mohawk," all three in 1939, and then made "The Grapes of Wrath" and "The Long Voyage Home" in 1940 and "Tobacco Road" and "How Green Was My Valley" in 1941, accumulating in that period three nominations and two Oscars for directing. In regards to Wayne, Ford had his eye on John Wayne from the days when he was called Marion Morrison, nicknamed Duke, and was a football player from USC, working summers at 20th Century-Fox. In the decade before "Stagecoach" Wayne worked in about 40 Westerns, from an extra to a lead, without differentiating himself. Ford thought he had the true makings of a star, and decided Wayne was perfect for the key role of the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach." With Ford’s influence as a director and Wayne’s clout as an actor, it proceeds to discuss how both would continue to make iconic films and later establish themselves as one of the legendary partnerships in film history.
4. A group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo Indians and learned many facts about each other in the process. I personally enjoyed the film due to the morals, themes, roles, and overall plot of the movie. I loved how they all didn’t approve of each other in the beginning but came to a common point when they find out they need to stick together in order to stay alive. The suspense and action scenes in the movie really grasped my attention, as well as the whole film in general. Since seeing this film, I have a newfound respect for John Wayne and John Ford.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
"His Girl Friday" Journal
Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600:Film History
Dr.Cathleen Londino
Journal
His Girl Friday
1) In relation to what we discussed in class and the motion picture “His Girl Friday”, it’s evident that they both deal with screwball comedy. In the movie, there is a consistent battle of the sexes. The warring Walter Burns and Hildy Johnson constantly collide through fast-paced, witty dialogue complemented by intriguing and unique characteristics and personalities displayed by the two. This battle clearly portrays the components of a screwball comedy. Hildy Johnson was portrayed as an “equal” amongst her male peers in the movie. It was almost as if she was like “one of the guys”. This is compelling simply due to the discrimination towards women during the early 1900s; She surpassed the traditional role of women in movies at the time due to her dominant nature and sarcastic demeanor in the film. This is also confirmed due to the fact that the change in this version of the movie is that the role of Hildy Johnson was converted from male to female, thus showing the growth of importance and significance of women’s roles in movies and everyday life. It made it clear that women are equal to men in many aspects and in general
2) The article I chose basically explains why “His Girl Friday” was proclaimed the No. 13 best comedy of all-time. It explains how this movie jump-started the careers of plenty journalists and showed that women could take on lead roles in screwball comedies. This was the second screen version of Hecht and MacArthur's popular stage play, The Front Page, which was eloquently directed by Howard Hawks. He decided in an inspirational and detrimental moment that the Hildy Johnson character would work best as a woman. It states that when Burns gets the news that she is leaving her career as a journalist to marry a lame insurance man and move to Albany in upstate New York, he is determined to eliminate her plans. Then he puts the ball in her court, involving an upcoming execution and political corruption, which he knows she won't be able to resist due to its sincere newsworthiness. It makes it know that the chaotic feud is genuinely funny, although you'll have to watch it numerous times to absorb every bit of humor. With excellent and classic verbal exercises, the film earns its reputation as one of the greatest fastest-talking comedies ever made.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/18/his-girl-friday-comedy
3) The articles relates to the screening because it speaks about why “His Girl Friday” was such a classic film. It gives a brief summary about the movie, involving the plot and main points. It speaks about how Hildy Johnson has divorced Walter Burns and visits his office to tell him that she is engaged to another man and that they are going to get married the next day Walter Burns can't let this happen and frames the other man for a lot of illegal actions getting him into trouble consecutively, while he tries to direct Hildy back into her old job as his employee and retrieving her again as his wife. Walter Burns is the editor of a major Chicago newspaper and is really about to lose his best reporter and former wife, Hildy Johnson, to boring insurance salesman Bruce Baldwin, but not without a fight to the end. The witty editor uses every trick in the book to get Hildy to write one last major story, about murderer Earl Williams and the clumsy Sheriff Hartwell. The comedy becomes more and more enticing as William's friend, Molly Malloy, the crooked Mayor, and Bruce's mother all get tied up in Walter's mischievous ways and web of lies.
4) The second screen version of the Ben Hecht play The Front Page, His Girl Friday changed hard-working newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson from a man to a woman, changing the story into an impactful battle of the sexes with a slew of suspenseful moments and thrills. Rosalind Russell plays Hildy, on the verge of disowning journalism for marriage to dull Bruce Baldwin. Cary Grant plays Walter Burns, Hildy's editor and ex-husband, who pretends to be happy about her impending marriage as a deceptive tactic to win her back. The important trick up Walter's sleeve is a breaking news story concerning the impending execution of Earl Williams, a direct example of political corruption that Hildy can't pass up even if her life depended on it. The story gets better and better when Williams escapes and is hidden from the cops by Hildy and Walter in the pressroom. In my opinion, this movie was an excellent screening that combined great comedy and suspense. I appreciated the fast-paced, lengthy dialogue since every phrase or line was captivating in its own way. After watching this screening, it made me value screwball comedies even more with a newfound respect for them as well.
FILM 2600:Film History
Dr.Cathleen Londino
Journal
His Girl Friday
1) In relation to what we discussed in class and the motion picture “His Girl Friday”, it’s evident that they both deal with screwball comedy. In the movie, there is a consistent battle of the sexes. The warring Walter Burns and Hildy Johnson constantly collide through fast-paced, witty dialogue complemented by intriguing and unique characteristics and personalities displayed by the two. This battle clearly portrays the components of a screwball comedy. Hildy Johnson was portrayed as an “equal” amongst her male peers in the movie. It was almost as if she was like “one of the guys”. This is compelling simply due to the discrimination towards women during the early 1900s; She surpassed the traditional role of women in movies at the time due to her dominant nature and sarcastic demeanor in the film. This is also confirmed due to the fact that the change in this version of the movie is that the role of Hildy Johnson was converted from male to female, thus showing the growth of importance and significance of women’s roles in movies and everyday life. It made it clear that women are equal to men in many aspects and in general
2) The article I chose basically explains why “His Girl Friday” was proclaimed the No. 13 best comedy of all-time. It explains how this movie jump-started the careers of plenty journalists and showed that women could take on lead roles in screwball comedies. This was the second screen version of Hecht and MacArthur's popular stage play, The Front Page, which was eloquently directed by Howard Hawks. He decided in an inspirational and detrimental moment that the Hildy Johnson character would work best as a woman. It states that when Burns gets the news that she is leaving her career as a journalist to marry a lame insurance man and move to Albany in upstate New York, he is determined to eliminate her plans. Then he puts the ball in her court, involving an upcoming execution and political corruption, which he knows she won't be able to resist due to its sincere newsworthiness. It makes it know that the chaotic feud is genuinely funny, although you'll have to watch it numerous times to absorb every bit of humor. With excellent and classic verbal exercises, the film earns its reputation as one of the greatest fastest-talking comedies ever made.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/18/his-girl-friday-comedy
3) The articles relates to the screening because it speaks about why “His Girl Friday” was such a classic film. It gives a brief summary about the movie, involving the plot and main points. It speaks about how Hildy Johnson has divorced Walter Burns and visits his office to tell him that she is engaged to another man and that they are going to get married the next day Walter Burns can't let this happen and frames the other man for a lot of illegal actions getting him into trouble consecutively, while he tries to direct Hildy back into her old job as his employee and retrieving her again as his wife. Walter Burns is the editor of a major Chicago newspaper and is really about to lose his best reporter and former wife, Hildy Johnson, to boring insurance salesman Bruce Baldwin, but not without a fight to the end. The witty editor uses every trick in the book to get Hildy to write one last major story, about murderer Earl Williams and the clumsy Sheriff Hartwell. The comedy becomes more and more enticing as William's friend, Molly Malloy, the crooked Mayor, and Bruce's mother all get tied up in Walter's mischievous ways and web of lies.
4) The second screen version of the Ben Hecht play The Front Page, His Girl Friday changed hard-working newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson from a man to a woman, changing the story into an impactful battle of the sexes with a slew of suspenseful moments and thrills. Rosalind Russell plays Hildy, on the verge of disowning journalism for marriage to dull Bruce Baldwin. Cary Grant plays Walter Burns, Hildy's editor and ex-husband, who pretends to be happy about her impending marriage as a deceptive tactic to win her back. The important trick up Walter's sleeve is a breaking news story concerning the impending execution of Earl Williams, a direct example of political corruption that Hildy can't pass up even if her life depended on it. The story gets better and better when Williams escapes and is hidden from the cops by Hildy and Walter in the pressroom. In my opinion, this movie was an excellent screening that combined great comedy and suspense. I appreciated the fast-paced, lengthy dialogue since every phrase or line was captivating in its own way. After watching this screening, it made me value screwball comedies even more with a newfound respect for them as well.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
"The Gold Rush" Journal
Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
THE GOLD RUSH
1) With high regards to Charles Chaplin and silent films, we learned in class that Chaplin was passionate about telling stories surrounded by aesthetic beauty that conveyed meaning, morals, and lessons. In contrast to films with sound, Chaplin’s silent films were artistically enhanced in a unique manner through exaggerated gestures and expressions that stimulated the viewer’s imagination. Chaplin’s overall emphasis on style, ideas, and intricate storytelling is what brought his films to life, generating and evoking a wide variety of emotions and feelings. Although Chaplin mainly evoked laughter through his assembly of motion pictures, he also provoked feelings of sadness and pity. For instance, in “ The Gold Rush”, when the tramp (Chaplin) was stood up on New Year’s eve by Georgia and her friends, after being promised by her that she would attend, made me sad and heartbroken. I felt his pain as if it was my own. This is a perfect example of how Chaplin exemplified emotions through his storytelling that inevitably affected the audience and their imagination. It was brilliant simply because he transmitted ideas through silent visual art as opposed to visuals containing the benefits of the new sound technology and innovations during the late 1920s. Chaplin’s universal style of visual art allowed him to appeal to a vast audience as opposed to being limited by sound and language, which alienated certain races, nationalities, classes, and social groups. Chaplin was able to appeal to a wide diversity through his silent works of art, which in turn, made him a universal master filmmaker.
2) Charlie Chaplin- About the Actor-American Masters
In this article, Chaplin is glorified as a king of improvisation with all due respect and acknowledgement. It shines light on his famous slapstick acrobatics and him being one of the greatest silent movie stars, who created many of the funniest and most compelling films of his time. The early life of Chaplin is review in this article with regards to his achievements that allowed him to become a master of his craft. It reveals that Chaplin was known as “ one of the most demanding men in Hollywood”. He was a strict perfectionist that stressed the importance of every actor’s part in every scene, regardless of the size. He promoted unity amongst the cast in his productions because he knew that a successful scene was not simply about the star, but everyone on the screen. His concern for quality acting and directing made his films genuinely awesome and paved the way for a new, more sophisticated generation of cinema.
Work Cited- http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/charlie-chaplin/about-the-actor/77/
3) This article relates to the screening because as Chaplin’s popularity increased, he took more pride and liberties with filming. The screening we seen in class was a “hit” in 1925 that demanded overtime, over-budget, unending reworking of scenes and reconstructing of sets. It speaks on his demanding nature, which reflects his hard work, skills, performance, leadership, ambition, and determination that certainly led to his brilliant hit, “ The Gold Rush”. Though Chaplin is of the silent movie era, we can witness his accomplishment living vicariously through today’s films.
4) As a participant in the 1898 Yukon gold rush, Charlie or “the tramp” finds himself sharing a cabin with two larger and intimidating prospectors: Big Jim McKay (Mack_Swain) and Black Larsen (Tom_Murray). After going through harsh weather and near death experiences, Charlie parts company with Big Jim. In addition, Black Larson dies after attempting to go find food for the 3. Overtime, when Charlie stations himself in a nearby town, he falls in love with a woman named Georgia who barely knows he exists. He then invites her and her friends over for dinner on New Years Eve and is stood up by them, leaving him emotionally crushed. The next day, Big Jim arrives in town and where he spots Charlie. Hoping that the tramp will help him find his mountain of gold. Big Jim heads back to the mountains with Charlie determined to find gold. The two men nearly lose their lives when their cabin is almost blown over a mountain cliff. Luckily, the cabin slides safely down the side of the mountain, landing directly upon Big Jim's gold strike. Now stupendously wealthy, Charlie and Big Jim head back to the States on a freight train. Also on board is Georgia, who is unaware that Charlie has become extremely rich and thinks that he's a bum due to his attire for the picture he was going to take. She offers to hide him from the authorities, and it is at this concluding point that Charlie and Georgia discover that they're truly in love with one another.
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
THE GOLD RUSH
1) With high regards to Charles Chaplin and silent films, we learned in class that Chaplin was passionate about telling stories surrounded by aesthetic beauty that conveyed meaning, morals, and lessons. In contrast to films with sound, Chaplin’s silent films were artistically enhanced in a unique manner through exaggerated gestures and expressions that stimulated the viewer’s imagination. Chaplin’s overall emphasis on style, ideas, and intricate storytelling is what brought his films to life, generating and evoking a wide variety of emotions and feelings. Although Chaplin mainly evoked laughter through his assembly of motion pictures, he also provoked feelings of sadness and pity. For instance, in “ The Gold Rush”, when the tramp (Chaplin) was stood up on New Year’s eve by Georgia and her friends, after being promised by her that she would attend, made me sad and heartbroken. I felt his pain as if it was my own. This is a perfect example of how Chaplin exemplified emotions through his storytelling that inevitably affected the audience and their imagination. It was brilliant simply because he transmitted ideas through silent visual art as opposed to visuals containing the benefits of the new sound technology and innovations during the late 1920s. Chaplin’s universal style of visual art allowed him to appeal to a vast audience as opposed to being limited by sound and language, which alienated certain races, nationalities, classes, and social groups. Chaplin was able to appeal to a wide diversity through his silent works of art, which in turn, made him a universal master filmmaker.
2) Charlie Chaplin- About the Actor-American Masters
In this article, Chaplin is glorified as a king of improvisation with all due respect and acknowledgement. It shines light on his famous slapstick acrobatics and him being one of the greatest silent movie stars, who created many of the funniest and most compelling films of his time. The early life of Chaplin is review in this article with regards to his achievements that allowed him to become a master of his craft. It reveals that Chaplin was known as “ one of the most demanding men in Hollywood”. He was a strict perfectionist that stressed the importance of every actor’s part in every scene, regardless of the size. He promoted unity amongst the cast in his productions because he knew that a successful scene was not simply about the star, but everyone on the screen. His concern for quality acting and directing made his films genuinely awesome and paved the way for a new, more sophisticated generation of cinema.
Work Cited- http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/charlie-chaplin/about-the-actor/77/
3) This article relates to the screening because as Chaplin’s popularity increased, he took more pride and liberties with filming. The screening we seen in class was a “hit” in 1925 that demanded overtime, over-budget, unending reworking of scenes and reconstructing of sets. It speaks on his demanding nature, which reflects his hard work, skills, performance, leadership, ambition, and determination that certainly led to his brilliant hit, “ The Gold Rush”. Though Chaplin is of the silent movie era, we can witness his accomplishment living vicariously through today’s films.
4) As a participant in the 1898 Yukon gold rush, Charlie or “the tramp” finds himself sharing a cabin with two larger and intimidating prospectors: Big Jim McKay (Mack_Swain) and Black Larsen (Tom_Murray). After going through harsh weather and near death experiences, Charlie parts company with Big Jim. In addition, Black Larson dies after attempting to go find food for the 3. Overtime, when Charlie stations himself in a nearby town, he falls in love with a woman named Georgia who barely knows he exists. He then invites her and her friends over for dinner on New Years Eve and is stood up by them, leaving him emotionally crushed. The next day, Big Jim arrives in town and where he spots Charlie. Hoping that the tramp will help him find his mountain of gold. Big Jim heads back to the mountains with Charlie determined to find gold. The two men nearly lose their lives when their cabin is almost blown over a mountain cliff. Luckily, the cabin slides safely down the side of the mountain, landing directly upon Big Jim's gold strike. Now stupendously wealthy, Charlie and Big Jim head back to the States on a freight train. Also on board is Georgia, who is unaware that Charlie has become extremely rich and thinks that he's a bum due to his attire for the picture he was going to take. She offers to hide him from the authorities, and it is at this concluding point that Charlie and Georgia discover that they're truly in love with one another.
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