The Graduate screening report

The graduate screening report

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

In class we spoke about the decline of box office sales and the stagnant era of pictures being put out without challenging the audiences. The change of the production code in the late sixties allowed more adult content to expressed visually on screen. Movies like the graduate and Bonnie and Clyde reshaped what Hollywood films could show an audience from the sexual content to the violence and bloodshed which helped bring people back into the theaters.

2.     Find a related article and summarize the content

In the article rethinking the Graduate’s place as the defining film of the 60s, and Ben Braddock’s accidental rebellion the author writes about how the film is less radical than other cultural rebelling films like easy rider but it was just rebellious enough for a pre counterculture age. The graduate and Guess whos coming to dinner were films that helped to shift perceptions of different issues with moviegoers.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/04/5674942/rethinking-graduates-place-defining-film-60s-and-ben-braddocks-accid

3.     Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article applies to the film we saw in class because it talks about how Mike Nichols film helped tap into the feelings of discontent and unease the younger generation was experiencing and show that to the masses. The graduate was the start of a new era in modern Hollywood of expressing more adult and graphic content. Films in the late 1960s and early 1970s expanded upon these new freedoms from the old oppressive Hayes codes and found ways to captivate audiences again.

4.     Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

In the film The Graduate Ben Braddock represents the average twenty something that is unsure of his future and tired of being pushed into down a life path by his elders. He decides to set out on an affair with his Mrs. Robinson, which helps him to loosen up and start to be an independent person unwilling to follow in the path his father has set for him. The film uses very visible editing to create sexual situations that for the viewer. One of these is when Ben jumps into the pool and the film cuts to him hoping in bed on top of Mrs. Robinson. Another one is when Mrs. Robinson first seduces Ben and the film intercuts shots of Ben’s reactions to the naked Mrs. Robinson with quick flashes of her naked body.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (  x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (  x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: _______________Matthew Larue__________  Date: ________11/23/14_________

The Big Sleep Screening Report

The Big Sleep screening report

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

In class we spoke about the rise of film noir, which had existed since the early thirties, but Humphrey Bogart popularized the private investigator aspect of film noir in his 1941 film The Maltese Falcon. His work in the big sleep and Casablanca helped to solidify him as a major Hollywood actor and breakout of the B movies he had worked in up until that time.

2.     Find a related article and summarize the content

In the article mysteries of the big sleep from the Los Angeles Times the author talks about the different cut of the film, which is the director, Howard Hawkes original cut. The studio bosses recut the film to make it more of a Hollywood film, which Bacall getting more lines and screen time, in the final cut. Hawkes directors cut was more faithful to the novel but it was dull and a ho-hum film noir.

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/04/entertainment/ca-60391

3.     Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article applies to the film screened in class because it talks about the director Howard Hawkes having a separate cut of his film in which the Warner Brothers studio wrangled a final cut away from him for fear of the film not being commercially successful. This reminds me of RKO’s giving complete creative control to Orson Welles and then having to try and silence his finished product and after that they revoked final cut from him for his future projects so they could be shaped into more commercial films for audiences. The studio system would be hesitant to give directors complete creative control again.

4.     Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

In the film the Big Sleep the audience gets to watch Humphrey Bogart’s Philip Marlowe investigate two separate but interconnected mysteries. The film is less concerned with the outcome of the murder mystery but with the twist and turns that lead Marlow throughout the case. I really like how we are as in the dark the entire case as the main character always wondering what twist and turn will come up next trying to make sense of all the pieces to the puzzle. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (  x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (  x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: _______________Matthew Larue__________  Date: ________11/18/14_________

Casablanca screening report

Casablanca screening report

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

In the text under the chapter Hollywood goes to war the book talks about how the big five motion picture companies worked with the government to promote the cause for war as well as layer anti nazi propaganda within them. The main reason the film companies agreed to this wasn’t because of their patriotism but because President Roosevelt was willing to suspend the antitrust actions against the industry during the course of the war.

2.     Find a related article and summarize the content

In the article the lessons of Casablanca still apply, as time goes by from CNN the author talks about how relevant the film was to the geopolitics of its time premiering right around the time the United States liberated Casablanca along with the rest of North African. The character that Humphrey Bogart embodies in the film represents America as it comes to understand the threat that fascism poses to the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/07/opinion/mills-casablanca/

3.     Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article makes the case for Rick being the representation of Americas coming to terms with the threat of fascism and the author is right. American propaganda helped steer the American citizens opinion on war and films such as Casablanca with repeated references of concentration camps and the murderous nature of the Nazi’s helped stir up positive war sentiment.

4.     Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

Casablanca is now renown as a Hollywood classic loved as much as Citizen Kane if not more for its topical nature to America circa 1942. Although citizen kane may be more respected for its breakthroughs in film techniques the content and plot of Casablanca surpasses Kane greatly. The film and its main character are meant to influence America during wartime by showing a man who had once fought for the good side (aka America) who comes to help a former love (Europe) escape the oppressive advancement of fascism. This parallel perfectly encapsulates the dichotomy between the allies and the axis powers in Europe and helped to sway American public to support the war effort and enlist to fight an evil that was threatening our friend and allies overseas.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (  x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (  x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: _______________Matthew Larue__________  Date: ________11/5/14_________

Citizen Kane screening report

Citizen kane screening report

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

In class we spoke about the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking, which included the likes of Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith goes to Washington. One of the reasons that classics such as Citizen Kane

Flourished is because in an era of tight scheduled highly regimented filmmaking studios could bankroll films that might not necessarily be big hits for them to make their money back.

2.     Find a related article and summarize the content

In the article The Mark of Kane by Nigel Andrews the author talks about the monumental legacy that the film has left on filmmakers and film history. He talks about how it isn’t just one aspect of the film that is responsible for the long lasting critical response but many different aspects, which lead to a revolutionary overall vision from an artist with unfettered creative control.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/ft/2011/05/the_mark_of_kane.html

3.     Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article dives into our conversations from class about the importance and legacy of this film. It came out in a pivotal era in Hollywood filmmaking and still managed to overshadow other classics in its era for being a breakthrough in both technical and visual aspects. It influenced generations of filmmakers and helped to shape ideas about creative shot composition, audio production as well as the role of the director as an auteur.

4.     Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

Citizen Kane has been renown for over half a century for being the finest film ever made and the reasons for this are many. The inventive use of the wide angle lens gives the film a distinct look, the wide angle allows extra space in the frame and you can actually feel movement as the camera moves around Xanadu. Deep focus is also used to fit as much information as possible into a shot, allowing everything to be in focus gave them the ability to paint a more unique picture of the relationship between Charles Foster Cane and the people in his life.

Another aspect of the film that was unique was the non linear storytelling which went against the traditional linear story that had mostly been told in film up until that time. Kane is seen to us through the eyes of many of his close friends and family as flashbacks. We as the audience are viewing the film through the eyes of the news reporter who is out to discover the mysteries of Kane but only end up at the end with more questions than answers about the man and his life. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (  x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (  x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: _______________Matthew Larue__________  Date: ________10/29/14_________