The GodFather

1. Mario Puzo's The Godfather a 1972 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, staring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire . Before his popular Godfather trilogy, former UCLA film student Francis Ford Coppola directed Apocalypse now and the conversation . The Godfather was nominated for eleven academy awards,including Best supporting actor, Best director and sound editing,costume design The film won three out of the eleven awards (Best picture) (Best actor Marlon Brando) (Best adapted screenplay)  . The Godfather II was nominated for eleven academy awards and won six. The themes in The Godfather was family; a different kind of family as opposed to society examining the mafia. Family values included, the wedding, baptism, 50 scenes with food. The themes also included the Anti- hero, the bad guys are really the good guys. The audience root for the bad guys despite that they are criminals and murders. The film included 23 on screen deaths. The impact on thee film revised the gangster genre. The influence on every mob story movies and show made after The Godfather were Scorses: Good fellas, and the hit TV show The Soprano's. The box office for the Godfather when released in 1972 made $82 million in the US and , worldwide it  made $134 million a total of $244 million. It is one of the highest grossing films of all time.

2.  http://www.articlemyriad.com/role-food-film-godfather/

The article I chosen is the role of food in the film "The Godfather" . The very detailed article talks about how food plays a significant role in Mario Puzo's  The Godfather and in Francis Ford Coppola's film make of Puzo's  novel. The author talks about how the persistent references to food suggest a deeper symbolic meaning, of personal honor ethnic authenticity and family relationships. Throughout every different stage and plot in the film there is a reference to food. The food scenes make the audience have a warm side to the family, and make them see the good in the Corleone's. One food scene that plays a major role in The Godfather is when the last generation of the family (Michael Corleone) begins to have a separate identity that breaks from both the family and cultural tradition. This shows shows in the food scene when the table is almost bare and the women leave the table, emphasizing on the split that is about to occur in the family. The author states that the higher  the Corleone's claim into the social ladder instead of eating at fancy restaurants, the Corleone's stick to what they know, they would prefer a prepared ravioli by a family member to a lobster or caviar meal any day. There food keeps them intact to their ethnic roots, and it confirms that the family has achieved a certain degree of stability and success.

3. The article was a good read, it made me think more about one of the main themes in the film family. With The Godfather film having 50 different food scenes, it did show how important food and family was to the Corleone family, and how food wasn't just for pleasure or enjoyment, it was more then that. Food represented family. As the article states food was a "symbol of personal honor, ethnic authenticity, and family relationships, as well as accomplishment and security". As an Italian cultural who takes pride in food and family, It really did show how down to earth and family orientated the Corleone's really were, and how there lifestyle never took them out of there element, which was serving the family business and doing anything to protect there family.

4.  The Godfather was a remarkable movie, Director Francis Ford Coppola did an amazing job casting the characters, and directing the film, the scene placement was also done wonderfully . The plot of the movie was very intriguing and great to watch. Being my second time watching the film , I believe I developed  a better understanding of the movie.

It Happened One Night

1. 1934's It happened one night. Directed by Frank Capra staring Clark Gable as Peter and Claudette Colbert as Ellie. The film won an academy award for Best director ,and Academy awards for Best actor in a leading role (Clark Gable) and Best actress in a leading role (Claudette Colbert), Best Writing Adaptation (Robert Riskin) and Best Picture Columbia . Frank Capra born May 18th 1907 in Italy, he was the son of illiterate Sicilian peasants who came to America when he was 6. Capra was one of Hollywood's pre-eminent directors in the 1930's and 40's, One of the first whose name appeared on marquees and above the title in film credits. He was the first to win three directorial Oscars  for "It Happened One Night" (1934), "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936) and "You Can't Take It With You" (1938). Capra movies were idealistic, sentimental and patriotic. His major films showed his art of improvisation as well as showing sympathy and humor during the 1930's.

http://jacksonville.typepad.com/patum_peperium/2009/04/it-happened-.html

2) The article opens up with the author stating that It happened one night would have been nothing without the casting of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and how it was impossible to imagine anyone else in those roles, although Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert weren’t the first choices for the movie . Director Capra's first choice for the male lead role was Robert Montgomery who was refused to be loaned out to Columbia by Louis B. Mayer . Clark Gable was then chosen for the lead male role, but according to the article Clark Gable was chosen to teach him a lesson by Louis B. Mayer since his career had been fadeing, and Gable was asking for extravagant money demands . Columbia only paid him $10,000. Clark Gable’s character Peter was originally suppose to be a college educated chemist who goes through a number of odd jobs and frequent unemployment but after several actresses turned down the  role of Ellie ,Capra changed Peters character role, after Myles Connolly a former newspaper reporter suggested to Capra to have peters character be a hard but idealistic reporter determined to win his job back .
       For the leading female role when MGM Actress Myrna Loy rejected the leading female role along with Miriam Hopkins and Margaret Sullavan. Claudette Colbert soon was in the talks for the leading female role. Colbert turned up her nose at Columbia's offer due to prier engagements, and the fact that she had no liking towards the script , as well as her being used to Paramount’s glamorous setting's and costumes . After Colbert’s dislikes were heard she was then offered $50,000 for the film whose total production cost was $325,000. Colbert contract also called for additional payments if the film went into overtime. In the end Colbert took the part because she mostly wanted to work with Clark Gable . It was said that Gable complained about Colbert making more in overtime then he made for the picture.
      The author stated that it was all worth it because Clark and Colbert made such a good team in the movie. The author continues by stating that the audience who viewed the film in 1934 liked that leading man Clark Gable, because he humbling, educated and in the end was finally able to win the spoiled brat heiress . Since the movie was made around the depression the audience thought more importantly that it represented a level of class barriers in the depression ;especially how Clarks character peter was able to stretch a dollar which struck a level of sympathy with the Depression audience. Capra and Riskin also portrayed Elle’s rich girl character more sympathetically as well, but he did see Colbert’s character as the epitome of all the rich and classy stuck up women who ever denied him. Capra also thought Colbert had a great figure and for the wall’s of Jericho scene Capra though Colbert was perfect for that scene. Colbert was even hesitant about flashing her leg in the hitch hiking scene ,Capra had to ease her into that. Although there was a lot of joking around from Gable during the Wall’s of Jericho scene one in particularly that had to do with a prop potato

3) The article definitely gave me insight on the film, especially on how the leading characters were chosen, I felt that the long process of finally choosing the leading characters was all worth it in the end. Even though Capra didn’t want Gable as the leading man at first, I felt that Capra’s opinion changed at the end when he received an academy award for Best Director . From reading the article I also felt that Colbert’s character in the movie as a spoiled heiress was exactly how she was acting in real life when it came to taken the leading female role. Especially in her contract having her being paid extra if the film went into overtime, and Columbia paying her $50,000 from the $325,000 budget just for her to play the leading lady. As well as Gables character originally being written as a college educated chemist who goes through a number of odd jobs,and frequent unemployment I found that to be quit interesting. I as well didn’t know that the film was filmed during the time of the great depression ,and Gable’s character was appreciated by the depression audience; since he new how to stretch a dollar out, and how he won the rich girl at the end. Gable’s character didn’t even want the $10,000 reward in the end for returning Ellie to her father. He just gave Ellie’s father a $39.60 bill for the bus ticket from Miami to New York that him and Ellie took ,which was very humbling of Gable’s character showing that he wasn’t in it for the big reward or the story but in the end he was in it for Ellie’s love . In the end the article was informative and will written, and gave me a better view of the movie and the thoughts of Director Capra.

　

4)   It happened one night was a classic black and white film. The chemistry between Ellie and Peter was wonderful. I thought that Capra did a good job at casting these leading Characters. Even though he didn’t want Gable at first, and getting Colbert cost the Company some extra money in the end it was all worth it. Director Capra showed the trails and tribulations of a run away rich girl, who ends up meeting a decent man who is nice enough to take care of her throughout there wild journey, and even when Gable’s character find’s out that Colbert’s Character was a run away, and there was a $10,000 reward if she was returned to her father . Gable’s character still didn’t send her on the next bus running to Miami .He stuck by Ellie’s side and even ended up saving her from a man who wanted to sell her out for the $10,000 reward .

The Graduate

1.    Mike Nichols (1967) film The Graduate written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham. Box office for this film was $40million. The film was nominated for seven academy awards, winning one for Best Director, it lost a lot of awards to its competitor in the heat of the night. The Graduate was one of the first true youth rebellion movies; the movie consist of values of society and what to do after Graduation.
    Director Mike Nichols is one of only twelve people to have won all the major American entertainment awards including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award in 2001, he was awarded the national medal of arts. He received the lifetime achievement award from the American film institute in 2010. Other films Mike Nichols directed include Catch 22,Silk wood, Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf, Working girl, Closer angels in America.
    The Graduate consisted a lot of interesting, obvious camera shots and cutting. The cuts and Camera movement are often obvious to the viewer. The innovative use of sound and Dialogue, starting in one scene and ending in another. Long lens compresses space especially in the running scene at the end. Dramatic changes in time through framing of objects (Mrs. Robinsons legs). Tight framing is symbolic of uptight Benjamin.  the camera loosens as Ben becomes more worldly, his clothes change he starts to smoke and drink and becomes more vocally fluid/confident forceful/ rebellious.
    Dustin Hoffman nominated for Best Actor, The Graduate his first starring role. No actor has ever won more than two Best Actor AA’s Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor in Kramer Vs. Kramer and Rain Man. Dustin Hoffman was nominated for Best Actor in The Graduate, Lenny, Tootsie, and Wag the dog.
    Anne Bancort (Mrs. Robinson) Received an Oscar in (The Miracle Worker) and is a Tony Winner. Katharine Ross (Elaine) also played in Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Stepford Wives. Simon and Garfunkel music was used throughout The Graduate the sound leads the story (pool scenes drive in, car speed) 

  http://www.unc.edu/~nmurphy/Graduate.html

2.     The article is introduced as being a classic film set in Los Angels through the 1960’s and displayed through the eyes of Benjamin Braddock played by Dustin Hoofman. The author states that the director seems to show only shots of Benjamin, facial reaction in key points of the film.  Because of the camera angel, and key shot elements that were taken of Benjamin throughout The Graduate; it displays how everyone is connected by Ben’s character, and how there is truly no order in his world; that seems filled with madness and chaos.
    The author continues the article by stating that you think everyone lives perfect lifestyles and has everything that anyone could want in life, but the reality is everyone in The graduate is an outsider in their own world. How Ben’s first captured in the beginning of the film with a blank facial expression; as he’s making his way through the LAX airport.  How even his blank expression continues when he has his intimate moments with Mrs. Robinson; which showed the non connection and emotion that he lacked from both society and Mrs. Robinson. The author continues by talking about Mrs. Robinson and how she’s considered an outsider. In the 1950’s traditional families played a major role in society, where in the 1960’s open sexuality became a norm and big families and stay at home mom’s weren’t as popular as they were. The author believed  the  director’s took a funny approach towards the issue within the film through Mrs. Robinson’s character; who in the first scene  of the movie is seducing Ben. Although the author believes that Mrs. Robinson seems to lack the emotion that Elaine posses, and you can see that threw the angels that the director decides to take with close-ups on Mrs. Robinson's face and actions, rather than on her physical appearance. In the case of  Elaine and Ben how they seem to be confused about the decision they made regarding the wedding, and question whether they are truly in love. This shows how characters with The Graduate seem to act more out of passion and curiosity instead of love because they grew up in a society where love and morality were non- existent. The author ends the article with his opinion about the movie, and how he feels that the film was not about someone leaving college and entering the real world, but Ben actually leaving the real world and entering this distant world where people are trying to become  The Graduate of life, love and  misunderstandings.

3.     The article was an opinionated piece on the film, reading it broadened my aspect on the film. The author explains in the article the camera views that were used in the film, and Ben’s stern facial expressions that he had throughout the film due to the lack of emotion that he had, because of the non loving society that he lived in . The authors view on Mrs. Robinson had me think a little more about Mrs. Robinson especially how she’s portrayed , she’s not what you would expect a 1960’s housewife to be she’s the complete opposite, she’s adventures and does what she pleases. You could tell she knows what she wants within the first five minutes of the film. It didn’t dawn on me that no one in the film has an emotional connection, and the last minute decision that Elaine makes to run off with Ben. During the bus scene it shows how the characters act more out of passion and curiosity instead of out of love. Ben and Elaine don’t really know what love is because of the society they grew up in. Ben’s parents show no type of affection for each other throughout the film, and Elaine’s parents are on the verge of divorce. In the end the article helped me better understand the true meaning of The Graduate.

4.     The Graduate was an interesting film, Director Mike Nichols and Writers Buck Henry and  Calder Willingham vision for the film was done well . Dustin’s Hoffman’s portrayal of Ben was done just right. Even though he doesn’t show as much emotions as he should. I found his blank facial expressions and monotone voice to be quit humorous from time to time. For a whole summer and half a year to pass, Ben sure went through a lot, probably more then he ever has with his four years of college combined . I’m not to big on Ben marrying Elaine. It was a rushed decision, and I feel he only did it so he could prove to his parents that he really is trying to make something out of himself. Ben in my opinion should of got a job and waited for another opportunity to meet a young lady who’s mom he didn’t sleep with. For Elaine to even take Ben after what he did was absurd and plan out disgusting, and it shows that Elaine doesn’t value herself. The ending could of elongated more, I felt them riding into the sunset wasn’t the best ending. Myself as the viewer wanted to know what happens next, and if Elaine and Ben even continue to be with each other.

Casablanca

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
       Casablanca a 1942 Warner Bros Film directed by Micheal Curtiz Staring Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa. Based on an unproduced play titled Everybody comes to Ricks by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. Casablanca is set in the early 40's desert region. Casablanca is the exit point to Lisbon and freedom. The first scene is set with two German couriers carrying two unconditional visa's the German Couriers are murdered, and Ugarte gives the two Visas to Bogart to hide for him. Victor Laszlo head of the European Resistance and his wife Ilsa come to Casablanca to try to obtain the visa's that Bogart has. Little does Ilsa's husband know ,while he was in a concentration camp and presumed dead, Ilsa and Rick had an affair in Paris. This makes getting the Visa's from Rick difficult for Ilsa and Victor, because of the Romance that Ilsa and Rick had. Casablanca was awarded for Best B/W Cinematography, Score/Editing, and Humphrey Bogart won the award for Best Actor also Micheal Curtiz was awarded Best Director.


2) Find a related article and summarize the content. (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the Internet. Cite the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.
http://www.proquest.com/en-US/promos/feature33_pq.shtml

 

 

        The article opens up with the statement take an American freedom fighter Rick Blaine. The leader of the Czech underground Victor Laszlo and his wife Ilsa Laszlo, who had a previous romance to Blaine, and Rick being the only one that has the papers to Victor and Ilsa's freedom,and you have the recipe for one of the most successful films of the 20th century. Casablanca's original release date was scheduled for Spring 1943, but an unfortunate event on Nov 1942 where Allied forces invaded North Africa and captured Casablanca. This caused a rushed premiere arranged at the Hollywood Theater in New York City on Nov 26. A sequel to the film was in the works, but never happened; once the film was named a classic, writing a sequel became a problem. They were several prequels made plus radio plays and books.
    The letters of transit that Bogart obtains in the movie. In reality there is no such thing as letters of transit, especially ones that have free trail access anywhere, particularly out of Nazi- occupied countries. One of the famous lines Here's looking at you kid was clearly mistaken. Bergman was actually several inches taller than Bogart. To create the illusion of Bogart being taller then Bergman, Director Micheal Curtiz had Bogart stand on boxes, and in some shots Bogart had to sit on pillows. Bergman also had to slouch down in some shots to appear shorter.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

     The article gave me a lot of surprising hidden insight about the film. It was very interesting to read the tidbits that the author wrote about the film. Especially the insight about the famous line Here's looking at you kid. Finding out that Bogart was actually shorter than Bergman was quit funny to me, and how Director Micheal Curtiz used sly techniques to create the illusion of Bogart being taller was quit clever. My opinion about the film didn’t change after reading the article; it actually educated me more about the film increasing my interest for the film even more.



4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director

    The classic black and white film was very remarkable. Director Micheal Curtiz did an astonishing job with the film. The setting, the themes, the plots the actors; everything about the film was wonderful. I found the theme of lost love to be my favorite . I found myself even shedding a tear or two when watching Bogart tell the story of his lost love Ilsa. It definitely deserved the award for Best B/W Cinematography.

Citizen Kane

 

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

Citizen Kane an Orson Welles film released in 1941. Stared Orson Welles as he goes through the stages as a young man, middle aged man, and an old man. Welles had complete control of the movie, something that was unusually for someone who never directed a movie before. The film was a commerical failure due to the film being based on the life of newspaper Mogul William Randolph Hearst. Hearst wasn't pleased that the movies was portrayed about him, and due to that approach, he didn't have any of his newspapers publish ad's or reviews about the film. All that didn't stop the film from receiving nine Oscar nominations including Best original screen play, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director. The film ended up taking home the award for best screenplay. After Citizens Kane Welles never got a chance to make another film with that kind of control.

 

 

2) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.helium.com/items/309996-visual-symbolism-in-orson-welless-citizen-kane

http://www.helium.com/items/309996-visual-symbolism-in-orson-welless-citizen-kane

 

The article I chosen was a movie analysis on the visual symbolism in Orson Welles Citizen Kane. The article starts off with the introduction about how the author feels about the movie, and how Citizen Kane was a "new era of cinema" that used its visual effects to impact the story . The author continues by stating that the use of lighting was an important theme throughout Citizen Kane. In the beginning of the film Kane's Boyhood is bright, and as he gets older the lighting decreases, showing the audience the downward spiral and corruption that follows Kane's Life. Director Welles also used deep focus photography instead of always having to edit the scenes the pictures were a lot easier. The detailed backgrounds and foregrounds that were used on leading character Kane emphasized isolation and distance from the activities of others around him. The author then explains how composition was a crucial part to storytelling in Citizen Kane. The characters would be placed at opposite ends of the screen to convey distance. Large objects were placed between characters at odds, Signs and fences stressed the feeling of alienation. The author references the scene during Kane's political campaign and the big banner of Kane's face, how it reacts on Kane's importance, while belittling the real man. The author ends the article by stating that Citizen Kane is a study in theatrical film making. Today's audience may find Citizen Kane to be old fashion, but it is important to see the impact of visual symbolism in the film .

 

 

 

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

The article gave me a good analysis on the visual aspect of the movie, and how it played an very important aspect in the movie. The lighting of the film was a very important theme throughout Citizen Kane. Each stage of Kane's life was portrayed in a different set of lighting the brighter lighting used for his childhood and dimmer lighting was used as he grew older. As well as Welles using deep focus photography to pursue scenes without the intensity of editing. This was something new and interesting to learn about the film. Welles directing skills were portrayed in the article marvelously. How he placed the characters in some scenes on opposite ends of the screen to convey distance and estrangement, and placed large objects between characters at odds. Everything about the article made me realize how important the visual aspects of the film were ,and without them,the film wouldn't be what it was.

 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Citizen Kane was filled with Mystery, drama, and tragedy. As I was viewing the film, I felt as though I was an detective trying to solve a case. Especially the hidden meaning to the word Rosebud. For a first time movie director Orson Welles did a stupendous job on directing the film. I would of never guessed that it was Welles first movie directing debut.

Gone with the wind

1) 

               During class I learned that before the making of Gone with the wind black actors and actress never had any starring roles in a drama film. The only roles that they were depicted in were comedies and musicals and they were portrayed in menial roles or as happy genial help or as marginalized talent such as being a singer or dancer ,an example of a black actor staring in a musical is the classic Shirley temple movies having Bojangles Robinson dance along side Shirley temple.  Hollywood white actors would also use black face to depict black actors.

                Gone with the wind a 1936 novel written by Margaret Mitchell, it took her 10 years to write this novel and Selznick purchased the rights to her novel to create Gone with the wind for $50,000. Once the rights to her novel were purchased Mitchell refused to comment or advice on the film. This was Michell's only novel published during her life. Sadly she died in 1949 by a speeding car. The leading stars of the movie were heartthrob Clark Gable and English leading lady Vivian Leigh, also staring Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Olivia De Havilland and Leslie Howard. Gone with the wind Won numerous Academy Awards the groundbreaking award was Best Supporting Actress Hattie McDaniel . Unfortunately Clark Gable did not win Best actor it was awarded to Robert Donet in Goodbye Mr. Chips  . Other honors included Ranking 4^th in American Film Institutes Top 100 Best American Films of all time, and selected to be preserved by National Film Registry, Highest grossing film of all time until 1966, but adjusted for inflation,  it is still the highest box office earnings. Up until 1939 it was the longest film at 3hrs 44minutes, and one of the first films shot in Technicolor.

2) 

http://classicfilm.about.com/od/epicswarmovies/fr/GoneWithWind.htm

             

       This article gave everything that was needed to be a good film review it didn’t drag on and explained the views on the film without lacking any information, such as the personalities of the characters the southern styled setting ,the disputes of the characters , the conflicts and the strong will that both Scarlett and mammy displayed. Information on the article that I did find interesting was Vivian Leigh didn’t land the role as Scarlett until after filming had begun. She wasn’t sighed on until the day of the famous burning of Atlanta was filmed. A stunt woman played scarlet in the fire scenes it was unaware to the public. It was the most expensive film ever made at $4million and it held that record for many years. 

3) 

      From reading the article my opinion of the film didn’t change at all , it actually was more of a crash course on the movie and it was straight to the point and included the import aspects of the movie and its characters  ,and how the author felt about the film. For example Scarlet was first depicted as a pampered southern bell with a strong personality; who only had eyes for soon to be married man Ashley. Unfortunately Ashley only had eyes for his cousin Melanie.  Scarlet soon locks eyes with the hardedge mescaline and stubborn Rhett Butler. Who fancy’s Scarlett, all this is taken place the night that civil war is declared. The author depicts the scenery and the attitudes of the south as it was back then.

4) 

      I would have never thought that I would watch Gone with the wind, and after watching it, my views of the civil war have definitely changed.  The film gives the views of how the southern people felt about the war. I always had sides with the north and thought southern people to be crude and nasty from reading history books on the civil war. I never had compassion towards anyone in the south until I watched Gone with the wind. Like the north they went through a lot of struggle and hardship and lost loved one’s, and had there homes destroyed as well. Scarlett went threw a lot in the movie with losing her parents and having her plantation nearly destroyed, as well as losing her daughter and her husband towards the end of the movie. Gone with the wind has all the true elements of an epic film and it grabbed my attention from beginning to end, it is without a doubt a classic film that is worth watching, because it has irony, great character placement and is a true tale of being once loved and having it all slip away from you due to selfish ways.