The Godfather

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening. Of the many themes which The Godfather touches upon, it is that of “family” which resonates the most. The film is based upon the novel by Mario Puzo (who co-wrote the screenplay) and many sub-plots were minimized or thrown away by director/co-writer Francis Ford Coppola, himself an Italian American and family man. He knew that the only way to make Puzo’s sprawling novel work on screen was to focus on the familial relationships within this crime story, whether it be father to son, brother to brother, or husband to wife. In this world blood is not only thicker than water, it is holy. Plot wise, The Godfather begins with the attempted assassination of Don Vito from a rival crime family unhappy with his refusal to enter the narcotics trade. With the Don temporarily out of the picture, it is up to his sons to run the Corleone clan. There is hot tempered Sonny (James Caan), meek mild Fredo (John Cazale), adopted son of Irish ancestry Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), and the fiercely independent Michael (Al Pacino). 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. 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? The remarkable thing about Mario Puzo’s novel was the way it seemed to be told from the inside out; he didn’t give us a world of international intrigue, but a private club as constricted as the seventh grade. Everybody knew everybody else and had a pretty shrewd hunch what they were up to. The movie (based on a script labored over for some time by Puzo and then finally given form, I suspect, by director Francis Ford Coppola) gets the same feel. We tend to identify with Don Corleone’s family not because we dig gang wars, but because we have been with them from the beginning, watching them wait for battle while sitting at the kitchen table and eating out of paper cartons. 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 Godfather” himself is not even the central character in the drama. That position goes to the youngest, brightest son, Michael, who understands the nature of his father’s position while revising his old-fashioned ways. The Godfather’s role in the family enterprise is described by his name; he stands outside the next generation which will carry on and, hopefully, angle the family into legitimate enterprises. The success of “The Godfather” as a novel was largely due to a series of unforgettable scenes. Puzo is a good storyteller, but no great shakes as a writer. The movie gives almost everything in the novel except the gynecological repair job. It doesn't miss a single killing; it opens with the wedding of Don Corleone’s daughter. Coppola has found a style and a visual look for all this material so “The Godfather” becomes something of a rarity: a really good movie squeezed from a bestseller. The decision to shoot everything in period decor (the middle and late 1940s) was crucial; if they’d tried to save money as they originally planned, by bringing everything up-to-date, the movie simply wouldn't have worked. But it’s uncannily successful as a period piece, filled with sleek, bulging limousines and postwar fedoras. Coppola and his cinematographer, Gordon Willis, also do some interesting things with the color photography. Grades: Journal assignments are given individual points. Each journal assignment is worth 10 points. 9-10 points reflect excellent content, excellent article source, excellent thorough summary, excellent thoughtful analysis and creative, interesting content. 7-8 Points reflect good work in all areas above 5-6 Points reflect that you adequately met all the requirements 1-4 Missing or poorly presented content 0 No journal posted or posted beyond due date Pages: You can create separate pages on your blog or simply do them as continuous posting. Note: You do not have to resubmit your blog after you initially create one. If you post your journal content, I will see it. Just make sure it is posted on time. Plagiarism Statement: Attach this to the end of every journal assignment. 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: _______Carla Baylor___________ Date: _____5/7/13_______

The Graduate

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening. "The Graduate," the funniest American comedy of the year, is inspired by the free spirit which the young British directors have brought into their movies. It is funny, not because of sight gags and punch lines and other tired rubbish, but because it has a point of view. This is outrageous material, but it works in "The Graduate" because it is handled in a straightforward manner. Dustin Hoffman is so painfully awkward and ethical that we are forced to admit we would act pretty much as he does, even in his most extreme moments. Anne Bancroft, in a tricky role, is magnificently sexy and self-possessed enough to make the seduction convincing. Nichols matched the story's satire of suffocating middle-class shallowness with an anti-Hollywood style influenced by the then-voguish French New Wave. Using odd angles, jittery editing, and evocative widescreen photography, Nichols welded a hip New Wave style and a generation-gap theme to a fairly traditional screwball comedy script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham from Charles Webb's novel. Adding to the European art film sensibility, the movie offers an unsettling ending with no firm closure. 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. 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? It was the highest-grossing motion picture of 1968. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards. The American Film Institute ranked it at number seven in its list of the greatest films of the century. It features one of the most recognizable soundtracks in movie history, by one of pop music's best-loved duos. It helped launch the careers of actor Dustin Hoffman, screenwriter Buck Henry and director Mike Nichols and has been credited with the assassination of the romantic comedy. 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. Based on a 1963 novel by Charles Webb and updated with only a single passing reference to the burgeoning Vietnam War protests, "The Graduate" captured a sense of the drift, alienation, anomie and defiant idealism of the '60s that more pointedly current works often missed. Benjamin Braddock, in a career-making performance by Dustin Hoffman, is the movie's disaffected lightning rod, idling away the summer after college graduation in his parents' Beverly Hills swimming pool and the adulterous arms of Anne Bancroft's Mrs. Robinson. His idle kicks into frenetic high gear when he falls in love with the Robinsons' daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). Grades: Journal assignments are given individual points. Each journal assignment is worth 10 points. 9-10 points reflect excellent content, excellent article source, excellent thorough summary, excellent thoughtful analysis and creative, interesting content. 7-8 Points reflect good work in all areas above 5-6 Points reflect that you adequately met all the requirements 1-4 Missing or poorly presented content 0 No journal posted or posted beyond due date Pages: You can create separate pages on your blog or simply do them as continuous posting. Note: You do not have to resubmit your blog after you initially create one. If you post your journal content, I will see it. Just make sure it is posted on time. Plagiarism Statement: Attach this to the end of every journal assignment. 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: _______Carla Baylor___________ Date: _____5/7/13_______

Citizen Kane

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening. When watching 'Citizen Cane' you have to pay attention to small details, such as Rose Bud. Rosebud is the emblem of the security, hope and innocence of childhood, which a man can spend his life seeking to regain. True, it explains nothing, but it is remarkably satisfactory as a demonstration that nothing can be explained. The movie is filled with a hist of visual moments: the towers of Xanadu; candidate Kane addressing a political rally; the doorway of his mistress dissolving into a front-page photo in a rival newspaper; the camera swooping down through a skylight toward the pathetic Susan in a nightclub; the many Kanes reflected through parallel mirrors; the boy playing in the snow in the background as his parents determine his future; the great shot as the camera rises straight up from Susan's opera debut to a stagehand holding his nose, and the subsequent shot of Kane, his face hidden in shadow, defiantly applauding in the silent hall. 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. Along with the personal story is the history of a period. “Citizen Kane” covers the rise of the penny press (here Joseph Pulitzer is the model), the Hearst-supported Spanish-American War, the birth of radio, the power of political machines, the rise of fascism, the growth of celebrity journalism. A newsreel subtitle reads: “1895 to 1941. All of these years he covered, many of these he was.” The screenplay by Mankiewicz and Welles (which got an Oscar, the only one Welles ever won) is densely constructed and covers an amazing amount of ground, including a sequence showing Kane inventing the popular press; a record of his marriage, from early bliss to the famous montage of increasingly chilly breakfasts; the story of his courtship of Susan Alexander and her disastrous opera career, and his decline into the remote master of Xanadu (“I think if you look carefully in the west wing, Susan, you'll find about a dozen vacationists still in residence”). 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? 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. Grades: Journal assignments are given individual points. Each journal assignment is worth 10 points. 9-10 points reflect excellent content, excellent article source, excellent thorough summary, excellent thoughtful analysis and creative, interesting content. 7-8 Points reflect good work in all areas above 5-6 Points reflect that you adequately met all the requirements 1-4 Missing or poorly presented content 0 No journal posted or posted beyond due date Pages: You can create separate pages on your blog or simply do them as continuous posting. Note: You do not have to resubmit your blog after you initially create one. If you post your journal content, I will see it. Just make sure it is posted on time. Plagiarism Statement: Attach this to the end of every journal assignment. 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: _______Carla Baylor___________ Date: _____5/7/13_______

Casablanca

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening. Casablanca is a great romance, a stirring wartime adventure, a suspenseful action movie, and in the end, a terrific buddy movie. It’s listed again and again on the top ten lists of critics and fans alike. Its snappy lines are repeated by movie buffs the world over. A big-budget film for its day, Casablanca was shot almost entirely on sound stages and the studio lot. Based on the unprocessed play Everybody Comes to Rick’s, the screenwriters essentially made the story up as they went along, and no one knew exactly how it would end – which may have added to the film’s very real suspense and freshness. In fact, the famous last line of the film wasn't even recorded until three weeks after shooting ended. 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. 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? While Citizen Kane is generally regarded as the greatest film of all time, Casablanca is actually the better film, maybe even the number one film of all time, or at least tied for first with The Godfather. The main reason Casablanca is the better film is the pure entertainment value, which ultimately comes down to story and character. In contrast, Citizen Kane is highly touted for its groundbreaking cinematography and unique shots that revolutionized the film industry. In this sense, Citizen Kane can be considered the most influential film of all time, but its story or script cannot compare to those of Casablanca. Citizen Kane centers around Charles Foster Kane, whose egotism and eventual corruption alienates him from the audience's affections. In contrast, Casablanca follows Rick Blaine, a very favorable protagonist who is smart, calm, suave, and generous, even if he tries to deny it. This type of character makes the audience care about the story more--we want Rick to get Ilsa more than we care about Kane's problems with Susan. Citizen Kane is influential for its cinematography and filming, but Casablanca is equally influential for its screenplay and dialogue. Casablanca, based on a play, does not have very much action. It is much more about the relationships and interactions between the characters, which is tied together by unbelievable, creative and clever dialogue. The script is full of famous one-liners that stay with the audience forever and resonate in following films and television. For example, when I think of Rick and Ilsa, I think, "Here's lookin' at you kid". In addition, the script mixes in comedy and humor, often subtle, to the serious World War II era situations and serious love story. This mix comes together remarkably well, and with so much tension and issues going on, Casablanca's story is much more interesting than that of Citizen Kane. For example, there is the love story between Rick and Ilsa, the flashbacks to Paris and their love affair, the tension with Victor Laszlo, the antagonism from Major Strasser, the conflict and quips with Captain Renault, and the overall World War II tensions and attempts to escape to America through Casablanca. All of these factors come together to create a remarkably entertaining story that is definitely superior to the life story of one man. 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. Grades: Journal assignments are given individual points. Each journal assignment is worth 10 points. 9-10 points reflect excellent content, excellent article source, excellent thorough summary, excellent thoughtful analysis and creative, interesting content. 7-8 Points reflect good work in all areas above 5-6 Points reflect that you adequately met all the requirements 1-4 Missing or poorly presented content 0 No journal posted or posted beyond due date Pages: You can create separate pages on your blog or simply do them as continuous posting. Note: You do not have to resubmit your blog after you initially create one. If you post your journal content, I will see it. Just make sure it is posted on time. Plagiarism Statement: Attach this to the end of every journal assignment. 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: _______Carla Baylor___________ Date: _____5/7/13_______

It Happened One Night

'It Happened One Night' is a 1934 American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy. A grandiose socialite in Claudette Colbert, tries to get from under her father's thumb, and falls in love with a reporter. The plot was based on the August 1933 short story Night Bus by Samuel Hopkins Adams. It Happened One Night was one of the last romantic comedies created before the MPAA began enforcing the 1930 production code in 1934. In spite of its title the movie takes place over several nights. This movie set the pace for the "screwball" comedy, the witty and romantic clash of temperaments between a man and a woman mismatched in both personality and social position, a type of movie often associated with Katherine Hepburn in such classics as Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), and other classics. 'It Happened One Night' did not invent the romantic comedy, but it added new layers to it. It's more than a touch dated, and women today may bristle at the attitudes of the men in the movie, but this is just a great old classic romance with two terrific stars, entertaining and satisfying. CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 1) (*) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 2) (*) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 3) (*) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 4) (*) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 5) (*) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 6) (*) 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) (*) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 8) (*) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. Carla Baylor.