The Godfather

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

The Godfather was directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. The Godfather was known as his first hit. He also directed other Movies such as Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, and the Godfather Trilogy. The Godfather received eleven nominations and three wins, with one of its main characters being a famous well known actor Al Pacino. The major theme of the movie was family, along with anti-hero, violence, and murder. The movie focused on a family as a part of the mafia. The movie made one of the highest gross of all time with a total of$244 million world wide.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) 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.starpulse.com/Movies/Godfather,_The/Summary/

The website I found states how The Godfather is one the Best American films ever. It goes over the summery of the movie how Don Corleone, the father of the family and head of the mafia, gets shot by a gunman, which leads to war between the mobs of families. The father survives but the family goes after others for revenge.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The article and website gives the summery of the movie as well as how amazing it was to watch. The movie of the mafia family became a success receiving several academy awards as well as being acclaimed as the best American film.



4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I enjoyed this movie as well as a few others. Although there was a lot of gruesome scenes the suspense, action, and drama keep me at the edge of my seat not wanting to blink. the actors all did a very great job, and Al Pacino is one of my favorite actors as well. It was nice to sit back and enjoy a classic as great as The Godfather.

The Graduate

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


The Graduate was directed in 1967 by Mike Nichols. Mike Nicols is phenomenal entertainer who's won awards such as Emmies, Grammies, Oscars, National Medal of Arts, and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also recognized as being one of the biggest directors after The Graduate was made. The movie made about $40 million at the box office. As well as many of the other movies we've watched in class the movie won several Academy Awards as well. The Graduate was a film about a character by the name of Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) is not sure of what he wants to do after he graduates college. He then starts an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) but later falls in love with her daughter Elaine (Kathrine Ross).

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) 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.filmsite.org/grad.html

The website I found explains The Graduate as ground breaking which set a new era to film making. The main character questioned the morals of society and didn't conform to them, instead he took a risk at life by doing what he wanted to do. The theme of the film really set a change in the role of Hollywood displaying the new techniques new directors had to show off.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The website and the screenings both show the character breaking the norms of how society expects people to live. Mike Nicols was great at integrating his news ideas for shots to pave the way directors to take a different approach in Hollywood. Being that he took a risk in adding his new techniques to this film, it definitely paid off in the long run by winning so many awards.




4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Besides Gone with the Wind, this is another movie I enjoyed because I was able to relate to it. I am too a college student who's about to graduate and I'm a little confused as what I should do once I do graduate. The movie held my attention with the humor it contained and the different shots and camera scenes were pleasant to watch as well. This is a film that anyone within the film industry could pick up a few tips.

Casablanca

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

From the class screening I learned that Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942. AFI rated it as #3 as the top 100 films of all time. It won Academy awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Score/ Editing, and Best Supporting Actor. The movie was known as a romance which is based on the actor Bogart playing the role of  Rick who needs to go to Lisbon; in the process of trying to go off to Lisbon in need of a vista he runs into a long lost love, Ilsa played by actress Ingrid Bergman.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) 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.



I found an article on AMC's film site which gave the summery of the movie and more background information of the movie as well. It states that Casablanca known as a melodramatic romance where two men fall are in love with the same woman. Throughout the movie the movie also shows the conflict between democracy and totalitarianism. The article also mentions the atmosphere of the scene being rich, smoky, and anti- Nazi Propaganda helped made the movie incredible along with the musical score and suspense.

http://www.filmsite.org/casa.html
3) Relate the article to the screening

The article relates to the screening by summarizing the plot of the movie and the parts the characters play. In this love romance involves Rick who is the former lover of Ilsa, who has to decide if she wants to go away with Rick, her long lost love, or stay with her husband Victor.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I thought the movie started off with a slow start until Ilsa came into the picture. Once Ilsa came into scenes the movie became more interesting because the drama began to start. I thought the shots and camera scenes were typical. I was upset with the ending because Rick just left waiting for Ilsa to run away with him but she never showed.

 

Citizen Kane

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

Citizen Kane was written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles, it was also directed by Orson Welles who stared in his own movie in 1941. When it was first released it was know as a flop; however, later in 1998 The American Film Institute claimed it was the best film of all time. The movie won nine oscars such as best picture, actor, director, and cimematography are just a name of few. Welles was mostly known for his radio dramas, mainly for "The War of the Worlds." Citizen Kane is based on the life of William Hearst. Hearst was born wealthy and decides to go into the newspaper business. Later he falls for a model by the name of Marion Davies who starts modeling for Kane.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) 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.filmcritic.com/reviews/1941/citizen-kane/

The article I found on filmcritic.com. In this article a film critic by the name of James Brundage. In the article Brundage mentions how he's a film critic and how he took a different approach to the movie appreciating it for all the contributions it made for the film industry. The article also gives a summary of what the film is about and the roles of each character.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The article and the screening both mentions how Citizen Kane was considered to be the best film of all time. It won numberous academy awards back in it's later years. They both mention how Citizen Kane was played by Orson Welles himself based upon the life of  William Randolph Hearst who was a man who ran a newspaper business.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I personally didn't care for the movie because it didn't capture my interest and I thought it was pretty dry. There wasn't enough action, drama, or supence going on for me to hold my attention. However, the footage of camera angels and the shots they used in the movie were great.

Gone with the Wind

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

In class I learned that Gone with the Wind is a movie based on a novel written by Margret Mitchell in 1936. The novel took her ten years to write and it was the only novel she wrote. Gone with the Wind took place during the Civil War, and southern girl, Scarlet, is in love with a married man, Ashley Wilkes, even after she gets married several times herself. Unable to get the man she desires, Ashley Wilkes, she settles down with Rhett Butler who tries to give her anything and everything she wants, but notice she's still in love with someone else. After the movie was made it won several Academy Awards such as best picture, best director, down to best supporting actress Hattie McDaniel who was the first African American to win an Oscar. The production of the movie grossed made an estimate of $3.9 million.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, 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.

I found an article on Filmsite Movie Review and it gave a background of the the movie. It explained how beloved and popular the was of all time and it was made from the best-selling novel of the Civil War and Reconstruction period in 1936. The producer David O. Selznick obtained the film rights to the novel for $50,000. Once the film was released over 1.5 million copies of the book was sold. The article also explained what the movie was about as well. The story was based on a love-hate romance story. Scarlett, the main character, struggles to find love throughout the harsh times of going through the Civil War and all of its aftermath. Well still remaining in love with a man she will never have, she marries her admirer Rhett Butler. Rhett later finds out that Scarlett will never let go of her love for another man and decides that its best to leave her.
http://www.filmsite.org/gone.html 


3) Relate the article to the screening

The article stated some of the same information the class learned from the screening. It explained how the movie was based off of a book, how much money it made in gross, the characters and the roles they played, what took place in the movie, and during what time. The screening and the article both described how successful the movie was due to how much money it made and all the awards it won for its production.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

 

Out of all the films we had to watch Gone with the Wind was one of my favorites. Although it was quite long, I enjoyed every last bit of it. Scarlett, the main character made the movie. I felt as if I laughed and wanted to cry on certain parts of the movie, I felt so many different emotions which means the movie captivated my interest the whole way through, and whenever a movie can move the audience like that I'd consider it a great movie.

StageCoach

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

Stagecoach is western directed by John Ford in 1939. Stagecoach was directed in one of the greatest period in American movie making along with other films such as Citizen Kane, Gone With The Wind, Wizard of Oz, Smith Goes to Washington, Wuthering Heights, and Grapes of Wrath. Westerns weren't in favor amongst most movie genres, Ford was also told that it may ruin his career; however, it became a success and critics stated, "Its success singlehandedly revitalized the moribund genre, showing that Westerns could be "intelligent, artful, great entertainment—and profitable”. Stagecoach was a film about a group of people taking a trip to Tonto to Lordsburgh. Within this long journey heading to Lordsburg the characters changed from how they were in the beginning.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, 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.

The article I found online summarized each character that went on the journey to Lordsburg and the role they played in the movie. The main characters are Dallas who's known as a hooker who has been out casted out of town by the higher class of women in the town. Lucy Mallory is the wife officer waiting for her in Lordsburg. Hatfield is the gambler who has a thing for Lucy. Dr. Boone who is an alcoholic. Mr. Peacock the salesman. Gatewood is a banker who stole money from his bank and is on the run. Buck is the driver. Sheriff sits besides Buck throughout the trip, while keeping an eye on Ringo, who is an outlaw.

http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Stagecoach/Summary/

3) Relate the article to the screening

The article I found online breaks down the role of each character. While it explains the role they played it also explains how diverse each character was throughout the journey and how they were amongst one another. It also states how this western became a template for other westerns to come. Not only was it a western but it also incorporated action, drama, and humor as well.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Although critics rated Stagecoach as one of the best movies of its time, I thought it was really boring and started off very slow. Maybe due to the fact that I personally don't prefer to watch westerns, but the action didn't really take place until the end. Towards the end there was a shoot out with the passengers and the Indians, and after that they made it to there destination. I wouldn't watch the movie again and nor will I recommend it.

The Gold Rush

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

Charlie Chaplin is one of the main characters in The Gold Rush which is a silent film made in 1925.

Charlie Chaplin also known as Charles Chaplin played the role as a tramp, the outsider, who went on a quest looking for gold but runs into characters The Black Larson, Big Jim McKay, and Georgia who he falls in love with. Throughout this film Chaplin, the tramp, tries to prove himself to earn respect and

acceptance from others.

2) Find a related article (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.

Charles Chaplin was born in April 1889 in London, England. His parents Charles Sr. and Hannah Chaplin, were both musical performers. Soon after Charles Sr. left his family to perform in New York City, Hannah's career went downhill. During the moment of Hannah's performance going down the drain, little five-year-old Chaplin was spotted on stage as he began to wow the crowd singing a popular song. Chaplin's mother, Hannah soon went insane and was sent to an insane asylum in 1903, throughout this time Chaplin spent most of his life in and out of orphanages and workhomes. In 1921 Chaplin moved to California, where he became Hollywood's icon through the silent film era. In Hollywood he became famous behind the camera and in front of the camera as well. On camera he portrayed a character known as the 'Tramp' who's known by his funny walk, cane, his Hitler shaped mustache, and usually the outcast from the rest of the crowd.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000122/bio

3) Relate the article to the screening.

The article correlates to the film by explaining Charlie Chaplin's upbringing. From the minute he was born into a family of performers he was destined for stardom. Chaplin's past explains why his character as the 'Tramp' is used in all his films. Growing up he was the underdog and less fortunate than most; however, at the end of most films he overcomes the 'Tramp' character coming out on top on camera and off camera.

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.

Although The Gold Rush is a silent film, through text and visuals your able to flow the movie from beginning to end. Throughout Chaplin's journey for gold you follow his journey as he conquers harsh winter weather in search of gold, hunger, and love. Despite the compelling situations he was in, Chaplin managed to make light of any situation by adding comedy.