Chapter 10 Blog Question #2

Film Noir feature many different narrative techniques. The first of which are what is temporal movements of remembered and real time. One of first films to execute this technique is the film Double Identity. The film begins with the main character arriving at his work place in the middle of the night to deliver a confession of killing a man for money and the love of a woman. These words trigger a voice flash back this narrated by the main characters confession voice. Slowly the film brings the real time and memory time together. One of the most well known films that use this technique is Saving Private Ryan. Many of the begging battle scene switch back and for between the aged soldier and the soldier engaging in battle in real time. Temporal movement of remembered and real time have been used by films young and old.

The next of the most recognizable narrative elements of film noir is flashbacks. Flashbacks allow the film viewer to look back at the previous events of a prevalent characters life. Often looking back at the events of a character life can give the viewer deep insights into the type of person a character really is. A modern day film that uses the idea of flashbacks is the comedy Click staring Adam Sandler. The main character is a grumpy architect designer that has had a less than perfect past. The flash backs take a look back into Sandler’s less than perfect childhood and bad choices he made in his life. These flash backs allow Sandler to look at the reason why he has become the person he is. He takes what he has learned from the mistakes in his past and applies them to his life as a father and a husband. Flashbacks serve a very important role in the development of Film Noir

The last narrative technique used by film noir is used voice over. Voice over occurs when another voice over takes that of another in a conversation. You can most notably find voice over’s in any type of animation films, such as Madagascar, The Little Mermaid, or The Jungle. The voice over’s allow animated characters to talk and interact on a movie screen like real characters. The voices or allow for drawings on a piece of paper to become life like images.

Works Cited

Mills, M. (2007). Narrative Innovations In Film Noir. Retrieved September 28, 2007, from Modern Times: http://www.moderntimes.com/style/

Chapter 9 Blog Question #1

As world events gradually transformed America into a wartime state of mind, Hollywood operated as a instrument of antifascist directors and the Roosevelt administration for the educating of a isolationist and peace loving population into hesitant warriors. This conversion that takes affect in Sergeant York servers as a metaphor for the film industry’s project during the immediately prior Americas entry into World War II.

York’s education happens in two interrelated stages. First he is struck by lightning while he is protesting outside a local church in his home state of Tennessee. After he is struck York undergoes a miraculous religious conversion and is enlightened to the truth of what his pastor once told him, that an individual, much like a tree, is unable to stand alone. York becomes quite torn between his newfound religious faith which preaches to him that he should not kill, and his duty as an American Soldier in the upcoming war in Europe. York reconciles his responsibilities to both of these requirements on his loyalty through a rationalization that is inspired by two lines for the bible. Those lines being “He will render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s. He’ll obey his duty to the state and observe, as far as possible, his religious faith.” (Belton 212).

York’s religious and education transformation served as a major metaphor for the anti-war soldier prior to the start of World War II. Americans were, like York, not sure about entering the fighting of World War II. After the lasting effects of World War I, Americans went back to their previous isolationist stance. Though goings on in Europe in the 1930’s drove certain segments of American society (most notably Franklin Delano Roosevelt) to call for American troop intervention, many others, like York, needed to be exposed to their larger responsibility to the world’s community.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 213-214.

Chapter 8 Blog Question #1

American romantic comedies have become a film genre that is loved by people everywhere. People look to comedic films as a release for the day to day grind of life. These type of Comedies make light of many of the common things people see and deal with on a day to day. They often say things people only wish they could say about the world around them. Romantic Comedy films will forever be a main stay in movie theatres across the globe.

One of the main messages and stories that romantic comedic films deal with is a person entrance and integration into society. Through the theme of comic integration, these films make evident our societies capability to take new members of the society and integrate them into the day to day happenings of our world. Films with this message typically involve a marriage or other type of ceremonial celebration of the formation of a new community out of the old. One of the most common films that illustrate this idea is It Happened One Night directed by Frank Capra. This film focuses on a marriage between two people who really love each other and a marriage that heals the divisions in society. The marriage in the film represents a unity of two different social classes. Such other modern day films with this message include, Pretty Women and While Your Sleeping. Romantic comedies help illustrate the struggle of being integrated into society.

Whether a individual is an immigrant or a citizen of a country he/she must be able to integrate into various social systems. This particular idea illustrates another of comedies central themes, reforming the social system of the work place. One the biggest film example is the film Overboard. In this film an obnoxious millionaire falls overboard, loses her memory ability, and is claimed by a lower class carpenter as his wife. After the fall overboard the millionaire develops a great appreciation for the working class life. American comedies help make light of the daily grind of the working world.

The next idea that film genre of romantic comedy illustrates is the idea of social integration, most notably the integration of immigrants. Immigrants coming to this country face a tough road in trying to become one with the day to aspects of American society. They often fine strength through their intimate relationships with others. One of the most popular modern films that brings to light this idea is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In this family a Greek-American heroine defies her family wishes to marry a Greek American and instead marries a Caucasian non-Greek man.

Romantic comedies however, have become controversial as well. In the early years some romantic comedies were blatantly racist. Most the recognizably racists films was the picture Seven Chances. In this film the main character (Buster Keaton) desperately searches for a woman that will marry him. He runs into several prospects but quickly changes his mind about the women when it turns out one is black and the other is Jewish. Romantic comedies have been a genre of film that has not escaped controversy.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema and American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 171-181

Chapter 5 Blog Question #3

Type casting has been used by actors for many generations. Typecasting refers to actors playing similar type of roles from film to film. Typecasting is has become very beneficial to actors across the globe. Type casting can allow actors to become comfortable and use to a specific character type thus making them better actors, and leading to better movies and more profits for the actor. Often the public begins to associate a specific actor with a type of role and thus increases the popularity of an actor. There are many different actors who have used typecasting to their benefit. Such actors as Charles Chaplin, Roger Moore, William Shatner, have all used typecasting to their advantage. No actor however has been more successful with typecasting then Sylvester Stallone. Stallone is best known for the Rocky movie series. The Rocky series features Stallone as a tough no nonsense boxer fighting is way to the world heavyweight title. This particular series gave Stallone a tough and “bad boy” public persona. He took this particular public persona and parlayed it into other “tough guy” roles. Most notably Stallone is known for his Rambo movies. Rambo is a film that centers around the life a psychotic ex-soldier. Stallone used his rough and tough roles to produce films that have grossed millions of dollars worldwide. Type casting can be very beneficial to the career of an actor.

Their can also however be a done side to typecasting. The public can mistakenly view a stars film persona as that of his own personal persona. One of the most widely known actors that has fallen victim to typecasting is Marilyn Monroe. Often Monroe was cast as a dumb blonde and gold digger in film such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. These films caused the public to negatively stereotype Monroe as intellectually deficient and money hungry. Actors however have overcome the stereotypes that comes with typecasting, most notably Sean Connery. Connery is best known for his tough sleek appearance in the film James Bond. Connery however wanted to resist this idea and did so by being cast in very different roles compared to that of James Bond. Such roles included a rebellious prisoner in the film The Hill an incorruptible cop in the film The Untouchables. Typecasting can sometimes put a negative stereotype on the personality of an actor.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 98-99.

Chapter 4 Blog Question #4

One of the biggest studios of early American cinema was MGM. MGM studious offered a studio with a star list of actors unlike any other. In fact their studio motto was,”more stars then there are in heaven” (Belton 77). Such stars included, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and Louise Rainer, and Myrna Loy. MGM had a style of polish gloss and sophistication. Some of the most notable films made by MGM were A Night at the Opera (1935), A Day at the Races (1937), Babes in Arms (1939) and Strike up the Band (1940). MGM had its golden years in mid 1930’s and early 1940’s. The common film directors of MGM studious included, Andy Hardy, Marie Dressler, and Todd Brownings. MGM was a studio of class and sophistication that remains a big player in today’s film market.

Paramount studios were and still remain a major player in the film developing industry. Paramount offered a sexual-faire with tongue-in-cheek wit. Some of Paramount’s leading actors were Clara Bow, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, and Carole Lombard. Notable films like, The Love Parade (1929), Monte Carlo (1930), and The Scarlet Express (1934), all came from Paramount Studios. Some of the directors that were apart of Paramount Studios included, Ernst Lubitsch, Marlene Dietrich, and Josef von Sternberg. Paramount studios had its golden years in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Paramount is a studio that remains a major of the film industry of today.

In contrast to MGM the studio Warner Brothers earned its reputation as, “a working man’s studio” (Belton 79). The films of early Warner Brothers had a hasty and rough appearance which conveyed the gritty realistic narrative style of the studio. Warner Brothers featured leading actors like, James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and Humphrey Bogart. The studio specialized in gangster films such as, Little Caesar (1930), The Roaring Twenties (1939), and the Petrified Forest. Such directors as Mervyn Leroy, Raoul Walsh, and Archie Mayo were all intricate parts of Warner Brother’s studios. The 1930’s were the golden years of Warner Brother’s studios. Warner Brother’s studios still remains one of the largest film studios today.

20th Century Fox is one of the main studios of yesterday and today. 20th Century Fox focused most of its film on a rural audience. The studio is also known as the first Christian studio because of its willingness to expose anti-Semitic views. 20th Century Fox boasted such stars as, Shirley Temple, Will Rogers, and Stepin Fetchit. Popular films like, The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Tobacco Road (1941), Snake Pit (1948), were all products of 20th Century Fox. Directors like, Erskine Caldwell, Darryl Zanuck, Anatole Litvak all helped 20th Century Fox produce many of its popular films. 20th Century fox featured its golden years in the 1940’s. One of the most popular studios of today and yesterday continues to be 20th Century Fox.

RKO was one of the most recognizable early film studios. RKO personality was that of variety. RKO featured action, musicals, and comedies. The most notable films of RKO include Citizen Kane (1941), The Lost Patrol (1934), and I Walked for a Zombie (1943). Some of the film directors that helped RKO become successful were, Orson Wells, David Selznick, and George Schafer. RKO featured its most profitable golden years in the mid 1930’s and 1940’s. RKO was one of the most well known early film studios.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 77-82.

Chapter 3 Blog Question #2

The typical Hollywood lighting setup is known as three point lighting. The majority of three point lighting setup contains dozens of actual lights, not just three, but their arrangement is made so that there are three basic light sources. These three sources are known key light, fill light and back light. The key light element is referred as the main directional light source. Key light is used to accentuate the main goings on of a movie scene. Fill light is acknowledged as the weaker light sources that fill in the shadows made by the important characters in a film. The back lights are less important lights that are utilized to light the area between the back of the set and the characters allowing them to become distinguished from the background of the scene. Three point lighting has been used in hundreds Hollywood films.

Another of the common lighting styles in Hollywood is high-key lighting. High key lighting happens when there is a large amount of fill light, which washes out the shadows emitted by key light. This creates a more or less brightly lit scene in which light is evenly dispersed throughout the scene. This particular style is most common in comedies and musicals. One of the most recognizable uses of high-key lighting is conversation between Rick and Lisa in the world famous film Casablanca. High-key lighting is a technique found in movies everywhere.

The opposite of high-key lighting is what is known as low-key lighting. In a low key lighting system, the ratio of fill to key light is very low. In a high-key lighting system shadows cast by the key light are not entirely filled in, thus creating a shadowy effect and uneven allocation of light. This particular style is associated with somber genres as, mysteries, thrillers, and horror films. Like the counterpart, high-key lighting, low-key lighting was a major focus in the film Casablanca. The low-key lighting in Casablanca was used to emphasize the main characters as he tries to drown his thoughts of a love lost. Low key lighting is seen all throughout Hollywood films.

The final type of common lighting in films is star lighting. Star lighting highlights the foremost characters in a particular. This type of lighting is used direct the attention of the viewing audience to the actors or actresses that are of primary importance. The system also allows the film directors to highlight the charismatic presence of certain actors within the scene. It can also be used to push other figures in the scenes into the literal or figurative background. Star lighting works to transform the facial features of major performers into foundations of light. Since the light on the actor’s faces has no visible origin in the scene, it appears to come from within the actor. Star lighting is used to emphasize actors in films world-wide.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Chapter 2 Blog Question #1

Classic Hollywood cinema style set the standard for the films of today. This style which was present back in the early 1900’s, but is still present in theaters all over the United States. The classic Hollywood style has helped directors young and old gross many millions of dollars. The classic Hollywood style is a style that is not seen and is hard to detect. Classic Hollywood films avoid excess, subjectivity, and emotionalism. Many of today’s common film elements started with the classic Hollywood cinema style. Three common film elements of today, problem solving, time and space, equilibrium and disruption all started with the classic Hollywood style.

Although cinema is plot driven,” characters stand at the center of the action and interact with the events” (Belton 25). Over the duration of a film, the main characters struggle to achieve their goals or solve their problems. The characters often have to overcome those who wish to stand in their way, prevail in unfavorable conditions, and rise above their own limitations. Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo is a prime example of what is known as the problem solving element of a narrative. This film features the main character Scottie Ferguson (played by James Stewart) trying to clear up the problem of him being involved in an elaborate murder scheme. One of the most recognizable modern day films that features the problem solving element is the film The Terminator directed by James Cameron. In this films case the cyborg robot (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent to earth to stop a child from being born for who is destined to lead a rebellion against the government. The problem solving element of film has been used by film makers young and old.

Films of Today and yesterday often feature a story that is introduced in an orderly fashion and then suddenly something disrupts this calm state, or ,”equilibrium” as it is known to directors and filmmakers everywhere. After the original state of the film is disrupted subsequent events in the film try to reclaim the previous calm of the beginning of the narrative. These attempts however are inept until the end of the film in which the previous state of calm is finally achieved. One of the most notable films with this technique is Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear Window. The disruption in this film is caused by a lovers’ quarrel between the two main characters L.B. Jefferies (played by James Stewart) and Lisa (played by Grace Kelly). After the lovers’ quarrel the film is centered on getting peace back in the two’s relationship. Equilibrium and Disruption is a technique that dates back many years and films ago.

The next element of the classic Hollywood style is time and space. As John Belton explain in a story and film,” a certain task has to be met or a certain task has to be met within a certain time frame” (26). One of the earliest film with this particular classic element is the movie Seven Chances directed by Sam Keaton. In this films case the main characters has the opportunity to inherit seven million dollars if he can get married by seven o’clock on his 27th birthday. A modern example of this particular idea includes the films, Apollo 13, and Brewster’s Millions. The element of time and space is one of the most popular techniques developed by the classic Hollywood style.

Classic Hollywood film style set the benchmark for the movies of modern day. This style which was started back in the early nineteenth century is still seen in theaters all over the world. The classic Hollywood style has assisted film makers in make astronomical amounts of money unknown to early film directors. The elements, problem solving, time and space, equilibrium and disruption are all products of the classic Hollywood filmmaking style.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema and American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. 24-30.