The Graduate

Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Graduate was directed by Mike Nichols, and became one the biggest directors after creating this film.  Nichols was married to ABC  anchor , Diane Sawyer before his death in 2014. The Graduate was written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, and grossed over $40 million in box offices.  This film was one of the most groundbreaking films in the 1960's.


2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.  


The article expressed how it was one of the funniest comedic films of its time. During the time it was created its British directors brought a free spirit vibe to movies.  The movie is funny because its aspect and point of view, although it is also filled with funny punch lines.  This movie was very much realistic for many .  Many scenes were embarrassing to watch which makes this film so great, its real life; not always comfortable but bearable. 


3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

Some critics felt the cast and timing of the film was all wrong., but the film is still one of the best iconic films ever made.  It was easy to understand and was a coming of age film. The graduate of pop culture, it showed the viewer during that time that not everyone has it together and that it takes time to figure it out. 




4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Benajmin returns home from school and unsure of what he wants to do with his future. He doesn't know what to tell his wealthy parents and has been undecided about making strides in his life. Benjamin Braddock begins an affair with with an older woman, Mrs Robinson, who happens to be the wife of his fathers business partner.  Instead of uplifting him and giving him something to brag about amongst his friends, the affair makes him even more insecure of about what is going on in his life.  After continuing his affair with Mrs Robinson, he connects with his daughter and finally finds a purpose in life.

Casablanca

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Casablanca is a classic melodrama, that has been put on the top 100 best movies of all time. Casablanca was set in Casablanca, Morocco, during the early days of World War II and directed Michael Curtiz. Michael Curtiz won best director of Casablanca. The movie was written by Julius J., Howard Koch, and Phillip G. Epstein. Casablanca was praised so much because of its perfect balance of romance, comedy, and suspense. It was a film that depicted love and war, honor, and lost love. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.  
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/16/casablanca-romance

Casablanca is one of the best romance films of all time that expresses love separated by war. The story line revolves around not if the two will survive war, but will their love survive with the distractions of desire and temptation. The article expresses how realistic the movie seems to be to real life. It quotes, " Casablanca stands for movie romance in great part because it is hardly true to life." At the time of the war, divorce rates were increasing but Casablance gave couples hope; it promised them that war doesn't always have to separate them. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

Casablanca made me happy. I am not always a fan of love stories but this film was truly created beautifully and the fact that the film was created around War times made it wonderful. It is the perfect drama. While watching the movie , one notices the great cast and also how confusing the film is. As viewers you don't know if the love isn't going to work or if it will grow stronger. A lot of romance stories are cliche , but this movie wasn't. The scene of La Marseillaise was beautiful. and when you hear the quote of, " kiss me, kiss me , as if it was the last time;" you fall in love with the entire movie. 


4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Casablanca is one of the best romantic films in America due to its storyline and stellar  cast. The film is about Rick Blaine, an ex freedom fighter who now runs a night club during the early part of World War II. The local authorities are hounding Captain Renault about becoming a haven for refugees looking to transit into America. One day Rick is approached by Victor Lazslo and his wife, IIsa, who happened to be Ricks true love who left him when the Nazi's invaded Paris. She initially wanted Victor to escape to America with her, but now that Rick is now back in her life she wants to stay behind in Casablanca. She doesn't know  what to do at this point as she says to Rick, " you must do the thinking for both of us," in which he does in not a so happy ending. 

Citizen Kane

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Citizen Kane was written by Herman J. Markiewicz and Orsen Welles; it was directed by Orsen Welles. A movie review described the movie as "fresh sophisticated, and a masterpiece. Citizen Kane is arguably one of the most famous and highly rated films. The movie was nominated for a Oscars including best picture, best actor, best original screenplay, and best film editing. As Citizen Kane was taking over the film world, viewers till weren't  a fan. As the movie's nominations were announced, some people booed in the crowed.  The film was controversial because it fictionalized certain events. When the film was first released, it was a epic fail and because of that Orsen Welles never had another opportunity to have the same control he did when created Citizen Kane. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.  

http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/citizen-kane-a-masterpiece-at-50



The article explains how much contrevery the film received. The film never had a proper release and was unable to be shown is certain theaters in major cities. Although the film was a epic film and praised by critics, it still was not advertised in Hearst papers. The Citizen Kane creators have been praised in Hollywood and has been labeled as legends because they did the unthinkable, which is have full control over creating a film. A young writer and directer were given free rein to create the movie that they wanted to create, and be crowned as one of the best movies ever made. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

Orsen Welles dominated his film and took full control over something he wanted to do; He produced, directed, and starred in his own film which was and still is the unthinkable. The writer of the script is what the controversy was about during the time of its release. The film was beautifully created and was a collaboration of some of Hollywood's most talented people. Orsen Welles had created films before Citizen Kane but they were all collaborations in which he had usually been given credit for the whole project.  Welles is the sole directer of the film but some disregard that he did not write the script.  Orsen Well's ego took over the fact that he collaborated with someone who was just as talented as he was which is why  Hollywood didnt approve of him. 


4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Citizen Kane, directed by Orsen Welles has been considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. A reporter  is assigned to analyze and the last words of  Charles Foster's last dying words. The investigation progresses and  reveals the life of a difficult man. The wife and mistress of Kane shed light of his life but the reporter fears that he will never decipher the words of the dying man. 

Gone With the Wind

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

African Americans in Hollywood didn't get main stream roles, they were casted as extras and rarely given leading roles.  Instead of casting black actors, they would hire white actors and paint them in Blackface.  The roles that the black actors did get were never serious. For example, Bojangles, who was a dancing character in the Shirley Temple  films.  Gone with the Wind was a epic Civil War drama, about a southern belle on a plantation and her love affairs.  Gone With the Wind is considered to be one of the most beloved popular films of all time. Gone With the Wind won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar).

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.  

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/25/351437425/when-it-comes-to-gone-with-the-wind-do-kids-today-give-a-damn

I loved this article so much because as a child, i seen Gone With the Wind multiple times. My mother is a lover of old classic movies which was the result of me seeing the movie so many times. Everyone who watches movies and has a love for them knows how special this particular film is to American Film and African American.  Gone with The Wind is a timeless classic. This article explains how children of this generation lack the knowledge of the significance of this film. The writer quotes, " hen I asked 13 students in a Georgetown University film class if they'd seen it, most either hadn't seen the film or had seen only parts of it. These students are serious about movies. But a lot of them sided with Mike Minahan, 20, who said when it comes to Gone with the Wind — frankly, he doesn't give a damn."  The movie made sense then, it surrounded, slavery, food, security, and love; these are all themes that our generation has trouble comprehending. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

Gone With the Wind is the famous and controversial American novel by American writer, Margaret Mitchell. The novel took 10 years to write. Like the classic, Romeo and Juliet, Mitchell creates a story about two star crossed lovers. The themes are also similar, the story is about catastrophies and how strong they are to go through them. I believe this is the greatest love to ever be told, because it is realistic. It is a struggle between selfishness and prosperity , morals and aristocracy, war and destruction, mercenaries and old maids. Still, they are honest characters. They are believable and independent from one another, equally dislikeable, but each in his or her own way. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, 

 Scarlett O'Hara is a headstrong sixteen-year-old and the daughter of wealthy Georgia plantation-owner Gerald O'Hara, is sick of hearing talk about going to war with the North. Hearing the news of Ashley’s engagement to Melanie, Scarlett O’Hara tricks Charles Hamilton into marrying her. This classic film narrates the love between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler during the American civil war. It's the history of a selfish woman who doesn't want to admit her feelings about the man she loves, and finally loses him.

Stage Coach

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Stage Coach is an American Western filmed by John Ford , starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne.  The film's dynamic is that a group of strangers are riding on a stagecoach in the dangerous territories of Apache.  The people who are traveling on the stagecoach find it difficult because they are threatened by Geronimo. Stage Coach was set in 1880 and was elevated to "A" movie status. The cost to create the movie was about $400,00 and once created grossed over $1 million.  At the time John Ford was a B movie actor but the creation of Stage Coach launched his career and made him famous. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/What-s-the-Big-Deal-Stagecoach-1939-899179.php

The article expresses how John Wayne played a huge role on American Western films. As talked about in class, John Wayne and John Ford go hand in hand. Eric D. Snider writes, " For movie-history enthusiasts, it goes further: You can't think of John Wayne without thinking of director John Ford, and if you think of John Ford you gotta think of Stagecoach. The 1939 film is still considered a classic of the genre."  John Ford was always a creator but the creation of Stage Coach brought his career back to life, that one film was respected because it brought realism and respectability back to Western films.  Stage Coach made John Wayne a star. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The structure of the film is simple and classic. If one is paying attention, they will notice that ford uses close ups in  this film which says he is trying to display something. The characters in the film play a huge role in Stage Coach because they all are the subject of the film. The film's dynamic is about the strangers riding on the stagecoach. The movie is so special because it had no clear cut main character. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Seven strangers board a stagecoach bound to Lordsburg, New Mexico.  Each one is either running away from their past or trying to catch up with it. he film is contextual to the events of the Depression Era and becomes representational of the situation at hand.  As the stagecoach comes under fire from the Indians, the passengers whom have had disagreements before, bond together against a common foe. 

It happened one night

Relate what was discussed in class or the text screening.

1) This was honestly one of the best films I've ever seen. I have always been a little skeptical about black and white films, but this particular film kept me interested the whole time. It happened one Night is one of the greatest romantic comedies in film history. Ellie, the main character was a brilliant add to the film because she was independent during a time which wasn't likely for women to be. Opposites attract in this film, where a spoiled brat falls in love with a not so classy reporter. 







Find a related article and summarize the content.

2) http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/looking-back-at-it-happened-one-night

This movie is one of the easiest movies to love and the hardest to think of as a work of art.  Ellie's character is a master piece, she is smart and naive, conceited yet caring, stubborn yet willing to take chances. The run away bride theme is used heavily in this film. At the end of the film she once again elopes, but not with King. It is wonderful seeing how two people coming from opposite upbringings fall in love with one another, yet the love seems so organic. The film is described for its "sexiness and wisdom."






 Apply the article to the film screened in class.

3) It was revealed in class that this wonderful film was created 81 years ago. In the article written by Michael Oleszczyk he writes, " Eighty years after being made, "It Happened One Night" remains a mirror and a measuring stick—not only for all subsequent romantic comedies, but also (perhaps more significantly) for all lovers who came after Peter and Ellie and dream of a similar union of bodies, wits and fates." Although this film was created so long ago, its wit and theme is something that we can see now in films. It was created some beautifully and thoughtfully.





Write a critical analysis of the film.

4) Ellie just tied the knot with King Westley and her father whisked her away from him and held her captive on his yacht. Her father strongly disapproves of her marriage to King and tries to keep her away from him by any means necessary.  After arguing with her father, she jumps ship to find herself at a bus station to be with her husband. On her way back to her husband, she sits next to a loud obnoxious man, a out of work reporter, Peter Waryne.  Ellie is trying to keep a low profile, so when he purse gets stolen she doesn't report it.  The next day, the two seat mates decide to go to breakfast which results in them missing their bus. Peter reveals that he knows who Ellie is but surprisingly he isn't interested in what she has to offer. Peter and Ellie eventually travel North and engage in numerous adventures and fall in love with each other. 

Journal Assignment #1

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Charlie Chaplin's, The Gold Rush was one of his most perfectly accomplished films. In the film it shows Chaplin mixing slapstick and heartbreak from a artistic standpoint. The mashup of  pathos and comedy throughout the movie, especially in the final scene is surprising. This film was the first of Chaplin's films that he was given all creative control of. Many think that the Gold Rush is a masterpiece of slapstick. In a review said, "  It's sweet but dark, like human beings, and ultimately an ode to the ability of the human spirit to remain elevated in hard times--even when his cabin mate is hallucinating him as a chicken so he can eat him! The choreography in the individual scenes is forehead-smacking: when Big Jim and Black Bart (or whatever his name was) were fighting with a loaded rifle and the Little Fellows was in its sights, it was breathtaking. His dance with the rolls is a tour de force." 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-gold-rush-where-the-money-was

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

During the Gold Rush to Alaska, hundreds of thousands of men came from all parts of the world to search for gold. The men for the search of the gold were lacking the knowledge that it took to get a hold of the gold. The journey and hardships included, extremely cold weather, a lack of food, and random and intense storms. The problems of this journey were an issue that awaited them. In the opening of the film, there are thousands of me on the journey in mid Alaska in the year of 1898. The men were on a search to find their fortunes. Although thousands were being tested for endurance, some turned back discouraged, while others kept on the path to the gold. A Lone Tramp played by Charlie Champlin was introduced to the film while making a trail on a snow covered path being followed by a bear. Another main character is Big Jim Mckay who is played by Mack Swain. Big Jim was the one who made a lucky strike fortune of gold. While lost on his trail the tramp finds himself facing a snow storm and seeks shelter. Big Jim's tent is clown away because of the storm and he makes his way towards the same cabin as the tramp that was owned by Black Larsen, a violent wanted man. The tramp enters the cabin, in attempt to warm himself and Larsen appears and kicks him out. The next scene shows the audience how talented Charlie Chaplin was; the wind makes is seem as if Charlie was running but not moving in motion, as if he was running on a treadmill. The wind blows him in and out of the cabin and while the tramp is clown out Big Jim is blown in. Both men seek comfort and warmth in Black Larsen's cabin.

Black Larsen is very upset and pulls out a shot gun in which he and him are both trying to kill each other. Due to Big Jim's strength, he gets the gun out of Big Jim's hands and he lets the tramp and Jim stay with him in the cabin. After days of being held up in the cabin, the men run out of food. Jim begins to receive hunger hallucinations and looks at the Tramp and sees a chicken. The three men men play a three card draw in a lottery in which the low man has to go out into the wilderness and find food. Larsen is sent out to get food and in his attempt he encounters two officers who are in search of him; he kills both law officers. Inside the cabin, as they wait for food, The Tramp and Big Jim desperately celebrate Thanksgiving dinner by boiling The Tramp's boot.

The two men finally part ways, Big Jim to his secret mine and the tramp to where ever his fate leads him. Big Jim finds Black Larsen who stole his mining claim. Black Larsen knocks Big Jim to the ground leaving him unconscious. Chaplin introduces some new characters to the film, one in which is Georgia who lives in a little boomtown that The tramp stumbles in. Jack Cameron is also introduced to film, he plays a rude ladies man that antagonizes The Tramp throughout the movie. In the Monte Carlo Dance Hall, Georgia argues with Jack when he grabs and rips her photograph. The tramp is down in the dumps and over hears Georgia complaining about not meeting anybody worth while. After first sight, the tramp falls in love and picks up a photograph of her and keeps it.

Big Jim re enters the film and finds the tramp and orders him to lead him back to the cabin to find his gold-mine. After a struggle with the cabin, the two men find the gold and become elegant millionaires. On a boat returning fro Alaska, a press photographer wants to publish a story of the two men who went from rags to riches. The not so tramp like man looks at the photo he had of Georgia and thinks everything is perfect accept for the fact that he doesn't have love. Somehow on the boat ride from Alaska, Georgia appears and the now rich man orders the photographer to take a picture with his fiance. As they hold each other they kiss and the movie ends with love.