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Casablanca

Casablanca

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Casablanca First Response:

Casablanca (Curtiz,1943) CRITICAL SCORE: 7/10, I would rate Casablanca this because I thought the story line was clearly thought out and the way the character portrayed themselves to the audience created an emotional view. I enjoyed the black and white film as it created a contrast between other films i have seen. The love story was also easy to connect with.   Memorable Scene: I think the most memorable scene was when Ilsa Lund was seen intruding into Rick’s room, this happened near to the beginning. The reason I think this is the most memorable scene is because this to me is where you see her love really come out. The was they talk to each other, but both know they can’t be together. 

Key Actors:

Humphrey bogart:

From America. Bogart was seen in gangster movies, “tough without a gun”. Warner Brothers built him up to be seen as a romantic leading man. Bogart was on a contract with warner brother, he was a rising star but he has never played leading men before. Producer knew he wanted Bogart since day 1 of writing and didn’t want anyone else. Bogart was seen to be the most vulnerable character in the film as he has lost his love, differentiates this character to all the rest he has played. previous films he has been in include the Maltese Falcon.

Ingrid Bregman:

From Sweden. Didn’t originally want a foreign actress. she wasn’t just beautiful and a good actress but she has an exotic view about her. she was 26 when she was cast. had experience in Sweden (where she’s from) Casablanca happened early within her carer. One other American film she was starred in was one that was ordinally filmed in swedish.

Michael Curtiz: Was the director. Has filmed 173 films for Warner brothers. Ronald Reagan was thought to be Rick but Curtiz knew he wanted Bogart. He has knowledge about her it is to be a refugee. majority of the extras are actually immigrants themselves/refugee, have experienced real life events themselves. Huge amount of empathy was used to create big crowd scenes. He is from Hungary.

Paul Henried: Originally from Trieste, Italy, but moved to America in 1940 (when he was 32 years old). previous films he had been in was Now, Voyager and Dead Ringer. Paul Henreid, perhaps most famous for his roles in Casablanca and Now, Voyager became a star at Warner Brothers during World War II, as the exotic lead with the European accent.

Claude Rains: Originally from Clapham town, London. He was to America in 1912 (when he was 23 years old). Previous films he has been in were The Invisible Man and Phantom Of the Opera.

Conrad Veidt: Originally from Berlin, Germany, but moved to America in 1941 (when he was 48 years old). Previous films he had been in were The Man Who Laughs and The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari.

Sydney Greenstreet: Originally from England, he became an American citizen in 1925 (when he was 36 years old). Previous films he has been in is Passage to Marseille and The Maltese Falcon. Passage to Marseille. Greenstreet actually becoming screen team with Peter Lorre and ended up being in nine movies together.

Peter Lorre: Originally from, Ružomberok Town in Slovakia and moved to America in 1940 (when he was 36 years old). Precious films he has been in include M and Passage to Marseille which aslo featured Greenstreet. Lorre actually became a screen team with Greenstreet and were in nine movies together.

S.Z Sakall: Originally from Budapest, Hungary and moved to America in 1940 (when he was 57 years old). previous films he has been in include Lullaby Of Broadway and Christmas in Connecticut.

Madelaine Lebeau: Originally from Antony, France and moved to America around the 1930s-40s. Previous films she has been in include The Country I Come From and The Parisian.

Dooley Wilson: Originally from Tyler, Texas United States and stayed in America. Previous films he has been in include Cabin In The Sky and Stormy weather. His real name is Arthur and Dooley was just a nickname.

Joy Page: Originally from Los Angeles, California, United States and she stayed in America. previous films she has been in include Bullfighter and the lady and Kismet.

John Qualen: Originally from Vancouver, Canada. Previous films he has been in include Angel Over Broadway and Our daily Bread.

They didn’t know what the ending was going to be till the day of filming.

Hal Wallis was the producer of Casablanca (come up with story ideas and hire writers or choose and secure rights to scripts). He made changes like casting Ingrid Bergman as he knew the American audience could sympathise more with it.

Mise-en-scene:

Costume: Every character in the film has their own colour pallet, pale colours represented hero’s. Bergman’s hat became iconic. The costumes are simple especially Ilsa to create innocence and youth.

This picture of Ilsa shows her white costume, this really signifies to the audience her innocence and purity.

Location: Casablanca was not filmed in morocco, it was filmed in the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, with the exception of one sequence at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles which was the end scene (airport).

This the the one scene that filmed in Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, this happens right at the end of the film. Only scene shot that wasn’t in a back lot.

Set: Carl Jules Weyl was the set designer for Casablanca, he didn’t want the set to be ‘natural’, wanted it to be theatrical. As it wasn’t filmed in actual morocco the set had to be over the top with exoticness, however people have noticed that it wasn’t a correct view of how Casablanca really is.

This shot is taken in Ricks Café, It shows the heightened view of the Moroccan style (exotic) with the plants and the stylised lamp shades to match the culture.

Props: Minimalistic props were used, in Ricks Café there were chairs, tables and Moroccan lampshades to keep reminding to the audience where it’s set.

Editing:

Owen Marks, the editing shows there is a constant entry (always someone knew entering cameras view). Cuts suggest to the audience who the character truly is, e.g. Rick helping out the husband and wife who need money.

This sequence is taken place in Ricks Café when he is helping the wife and husband win the game to get money. Owen Marks has used many cuts during this scene to capture everyone’s emotions and reactions.

Sound:

Max Steiner composed the music. All music was noble and patriotic, every time the Germans enter heavy music is used in the background to represent there character. The song ‘time goes by’ wasn’t written for Casablanca, throughout the film this song is used a classical motif and is a backing track/overture in many scenes.

Ascetics:

Tropical features are used to create an exotic feel to the set. they wanted it to feel theatrical.

Lighting: during movie lots of elements for light and shadow are used. during scenes between Rick and Ilsa the lighting goes darker to create a different atmosphere and also symbolise love.

Themes and Issues:

isolationism: National policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries.

what was America’s view on ww2?

At the start of ww2 in 1939 96% of Americans do not want to fight and stay neutral (they see it as a phony war). Roosevelt declared that while the United States would remain neutral in law, he could “not ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well. ”The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, ended the debate over American intervention in both the Pacific and European theatres of World War II.

Rick relates to this as he is not willing to fight at the beginning of the film, he is in Casablanca to make money (he owns Rick’s café and is making money off the refugees). However at the end of the film he shoots a German general. He is a cynic at the start of the film (a person who’s only interested in themselves) a stern business man, but at the end he is also patriotic (showing love for your country and being proud of it), a sentimental.

Representation:

In this film the Germans can be seen as threatening as there is heavy drumming sounds as they enter in every scene, this shows they are dangerous. Women in this film are seen to have less power, always have to be by their husbands sides, can be seen as fragile and dependent. People of colour aren’t associated in this movie apart from Dooley Wilson. It is obvious men take higher authority in this film as they are the most dominant/popular characters.

This is a German plane landing who can be seen to the audience as a negative representation. There is deep ringing music over the top that can also suggest this.

Script:

Script lands at Warner Brothers studios the day after pearl harbour happened. also Casablanca was one of 50 films being made At Warner Brothers, due to these circumstances this film could have flopped. Allies land in Casablanca just after the film is released.

Political and Social contexts:

Allies- Great Britain, USA, USSR (Russia

Axis- Germany, Italy, Japan

France:

At the start of WW2 they started off as the Free French (allies). French soldiers (airman’s and generals) fighting for the allies.

-Free France: (Vichy France) are working for the Germans

at the start of the war Vichy France is in control of Casablanca.

Casablanca which is in Morocco is part of the French empire.

Dates:

1939-ww2 starts

America joins the war after pearl harbour bombing (by japan) on December 7th 1941.

1941-usa joins war

Operation Torch– Invasion of North Africa by the allies (essentially the Americans and the British), transporting 35,000 U.S. Army troops and 250 tanks in complete secrecy 4,000 miles through U-boat–infested waters and landing them, at night, on a hostile shore. This happened November 8, 1942.

Opening World Premier Of Casablanca: Released in New York November 26, 1942. In the cinema they have movie reels (short news) before the film you’d go to watch. Americans learn about the war from newspaper radio and film. Movie theatres at the time Casablanca was coming out would have to show it getting invaded. January 23rd, 1943.

Casablanca Conference– The Casablanca Conference was a meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the city of Casablanca, Morocco that took place from January 14–24, 1943. They used this conference to plan the next stages of the war against the Axis.

“capturing the zeitgeist”– The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

Serendipity: luck

Extra info:

Warner Brothers studio, they have a house still that have the gritty stories and are known as the gangster studios.

In Casablanca 34 different nationalities are in the film.

Studio film, contacted actors.

Bergman wasn’t first choice of Ilsa Wallis had control of casting because he is the producer.

Film is like a piece of propaganda should side with Rick and it is all about Americans in ww2.

Hollywood

Classical Hollywood

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The Birth Of Hollywood-1900-1930:

1.Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?

They moved to Hollywood for a more consistent climate for year round film shooting/ they could take advantage of the year-round sunshine and diverse landscapes for filming.

2.Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the Silent Era of Hollywood? (at least TWO of each)

Charlie Chaplin was one of the biggest stars of the silent era and D.W Griffith director, producer and screenwriter. He is regarded as one of cinema’s most influential filmmakers for his work in the silent era.

D.W Griffith-Director

Charlie Chaplin-Actor

3.In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the Premier League (football)?

Hollywood studio systems could be related to factories or production line or even the Premier League because everything had to work in specific way/system. they had writers, actors, directors, all working in long-term contacts.

4.When and what was the first “talking picture”?

October 6th, 1927, The Jazz Singer was the first talking picture. It is a Warner Brothers’ film that starred Al Jolson.

5.Why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers working in the film industry?

Due to the unsuitability of their voice and/or acting abilities with the new medium.

6.What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time?

1914-1918: World War One. Great Depression, Wall Street Crash, 1929

The Golden Age Of Hollywood:

 What were the Big 5 studios & what type of movies was each studio famous for?

RKO, Paramount, Fox Film Corporation, Warner Brothers, MGM

Why and when did the original studio system collapse?

the major studios’ control over production, distribution, and exhibition constituted a monopoly and ordered the studios to divest their theatre chains.

What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time?

The Great Depression

Explain what vertical integration and block-booking was?

is a business strategy that a company uses by owning many parts of there own business

What genres were popular and why did people go to the movies in this period?

Westerns, musicals, screwball comedies, and film noir. The increased financial prosperity of the 1920s gave many Americans more disposable income to spend on entertaining themselves.

Classical Hollywood Style:

what is it meant by he invisible style of storytelling?

the classical Hollywood filmmaking technique that aims to conceal artistic choices and present a natural story to audiences. invisible storytelling also suggests that the audience shouldn’t notice when the cuts are happening.

what is continuity editing?

A system of cutting used to maintain continuous and clear narrative action by following a set of rules.

Exam

EXAM FEEDBACK

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level 5 phrases:

This “reframing” of  the central character” has a potentially cathartic effect on the spectator.

“The deliberate and stylised use of”

Diegetic: anything that originates from the world of a film. e.g. sound, characters (dialogue).

Cathartic Effect: Refers to the emotional experience audiences feel after watching a movie. (releasing emotions)

Reframing: A change in camera angle without a cut and can include changing the focus of the scene. making the audience see the character in a different way (different mindset) can be negative or positive.

Synonyms for Connote: Imply, suggest, indicate, signify.

PEEL paragraph: POINT, EVIDENCE, EXPLAIN, LINK

Throughout Joker, cinematography is used effectively to create a sense of chaos within the film’s diegetic world. This is particularly evident in the scene towards the end of the film where Arthur is shown in a  low- angle, close-up looking out of the police car window and reacting with glee at the riots taking place around him.. Here, the camera is used to position  the spectator as not only connecting with Arthur, but now looking up to him. This suggests to the spectator that the tables have turned and Arthur, who was earlier depicted as pathetic and sad, is now depicted as powerful and heroic This “reframing” of  the central character” has a potentially cathartic effect on the spectator who has, up until this point, been encouraged to sympathise with Arthur’s point of view as a victim of circumstance. The deliberate and stylised use of this slow-motion reaction shot, enables the spectator to get a sense of poetic justice being served: Arthur is now on his way to prison.

Trainspotting

TRAINSPOTTING REVIEW

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Trainspotting (Boyle, 1996) CRITICAL SCORE: 6/10 My first initial thought of the movie was that the acting and story line were very good and interesting. However, personally I thought it was too graphic (the needles).  Memorable Scene: The most memorable scene for me would be when Renton was hallucinating and seen the baby crawling on the ceiling. I thought it was strange yet clever the different ways the director made them be under the influence of drugs. I also thought the editing was unique and that’s why it was memorable.  


Trainspotting Micro Elements:

Sound:

This is taken at the beginning of the film as it introduces the different characters. Music is played that is upbeat and quick which sets the mood/tone of how the film will be like. There is also narration over the top saying the characters names which clearly shows to the audience who is who.

Mise-en-scene:

In this scene there is very minimal mise-en-scene in the scene. The basic furniture around him, with dull colours helps the audience focus on Renton. Also the high angle camera view helps show he is the main focus as the audience is looking down on him.

Editing:

In this scene Renton is under the influence of heroine and is under a trans. When the baby is crawling on the ceiling there is obvious editing as they have to edit the baby the other way round to which it was originally filmed.

Cinematography:

In this scene the cinematography creates a chaotic shot. As this is an eye-level shot it makes us feel like we are sitting across the table from Renton and Spud. Also the eye-level shot helps us the people in the background and where they are (a bar).

Consider the ways in which the following groups are represented in the film : 

Young People: young people are the dominant age in the film. Renton and his friends are all young adults aged 20-25. I think they are viewed negatively as they are seen taking drugs and having bad behaviour.

•older people (parents/authority figures): In this film the older generation are the parents of the main men. They show they have authority over the younger generation as they are sensible and clearly show more respect and concern over their sons taking drugs.

•working class people: In this film working class people are highly stereotyped into merging with low class people. As most main characters are part of the working class this means that they are seen taking drugs and having no self respect and no morals.

•Scottish people: In the film the main characters are Scottish. However, not a lot of attention is drawn to this and doesn’t remain a key feature of the film. This just makes them seem like regular people and you are seeing their storey.

•Addicts: In this film there main supplier of heroine is ‘Mother Superior’ who is heavily addicted to heroine. They can be viewed as bad people because when under the influence of drugs they turn into different people that hallucinate and become naïve. In the film you can see them see things that aren’t actually there giving the audience a negative insight to drugs.

•Men: Men are the dominant gender in this film. All main characters are men.  

•Women: There are not a lot of main women in this film apart from the girlfriends of Renton and his friends. You see a women getting injected with heroine and she screaming and getting told it’s ‘better then sex’. This can give the impression to the audience that women are dependent on men and are scared of taking risks.

Representation

Representation

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All aspects of film form including narrative contribute to the representations of cultures and societies (gender, ethnicity and age) including the ideological nature of those representations.

Ideology: set of ideas, beliefs of someone holds (group of individuals having them same ideas).

PERFORMANCE:

age ethnicity, costume, facial expression, body language.

Stereotype: A fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing.

Countertype: A representation that actively seeks to subvert and challenge negative stereotypes usually of a person, group or place. e.g black president in America rather then white.

 

Terminator 1: Sarah Connor is seen a stereotyped American waitress. she’s in pink which is viewed as a very ‘feminine colour’. she is around 20, in a scene she is seen being late for work this can provide us with information letting us know she is a hopeless 20 year old who’s always in a rush.

Terminator 2: Sarah Connor is seen as a countertype now. She is seen to have a muscular build which is the opposite to the first film where you seen her in a feminine pink dress. she is also seen wearing black which is seen as a ‘masculine colour’. in this photo she is seen holding a gun and she seems very comfortable around it, indicating to viewers she’s been training and is preparing for war/battle.

Why do you think the director change her character in the second film?

It wasn’t the director who chose her character to be more of a countertype it was Sarah herself. She said she wants the charter to be crazy. She still fights how she did in the first film.

TRAINSPOTTING REPRESENTATION

1.WHO IS DOING THE REPRESENTATION? (DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT)

The director is doing the representation. They are creating what will be viewed by audience/viewer.

2.WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED ? (Identify specific social groups)

The working class, all character are to be seen in the lower or working class status.

3.WHAT SOCIAL GROUPS ARE OMITTED FROM THE REPRESENTATIONS?

Social groups that are getting omitted is children. Apart from the baby that is the only child you see. People aged 20-25 are the Minority age.

4.WHAT MESSAGES ABOUT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS ARE BEING CONVEYED?

The messages that are being conveyed is that this particular group of people are bad. It indicates to us that they are taking drugs everyday, have a lose of humanity.

5.WHICH CHARACTERS OR SOCIAL GROUPS HAVE POWER WITHIN THE REPRESENTATIONS?

The social group with the most power is the 20-25 year olds as that is how old majority of the characters are. One child is seen and you rarely see anyone older then around 50-60.

6.DO THE CHARACTERS ADHERE TO OR CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES?

These group of people adhere to the stereotypes of working/lower class people. It shows that these people throw their life’s and away and over take the use of drugs.

7.ARE THE CHARACTERS TYPICAL OF FILMS IN THAT GENRE?

As the genre is black comedy I would say it relates to it. The characters being open to drugs but also being comic really relates to the genre.

8.WHAT DO REPRESENTATIONS TELL AUDIENCES ABOUT SOCIETY AT THE TIME THE FILM WAS MADE AND/OR SET?

The representations tell the audience that this society at the time was over drug users. It shows us that in Edinburgh used to be a run down place which was a bit sketchy. It enables us to see that most people were in the working class.

This is England

‘This is England’ Representation

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•Young people: In this film the main protagonist is Shaun who is seen to be around 12 years old. He is the youngest main character in this film and all the others in the skin-head group are around 13-20. Within how Shaun is represented as a young person is negative and positive. It can be negative because his characteristics change and he becomes severely racists due to Combos actions however you see his character development as you see him having a sense of realisation that everything Combo said wasn’t true and his actions were bad.

•Older people (parents/authority figures/ politicians): There are two different types of older people viewed in this film, Shaun’s mum and Combo. Shaun’s mum is a loving mother grieving over her husband who had past away who wants nothing but the best for Shaun as he’s the only person she seems to have left. However then you have Combo the “original skin-head”, when he appears in the film everything changes. The mood shifts and the characteristics of some characters change. Combo is a very negative character who’s personality evolves around politics. He gains authority over Shaun however, he makes Shaun realise he is a bad person.

•Class (working class and other classes): Most people in this film are part of the working class no one is seen to be part of the high class status.

•English people: All characters are English and all are seen as equal however as Milky is still English but black Combo look down on him and discriminates him. I think there is a positive and negative view on English people as they can been see to be caring and gentle but Combo really changes up everyone’s characterises and makes the audiences view change to negative.

•Asian/Black people: Throughout the film I think black people where seen as equal to everyone else however, when Combo appears in the film everything seems to change. In the scene where Milky and Combo are having a conversation about Milky’s family you can see the jealousy and the anger on Combos face. Combo talks about the way unity was created when black people taught him the way of music. But I think throughout the film you could tell Milky always got looked down on by Combo.

•Men / masculinity: Most characters are men who are very opinionated. they all are part of the skin-head group. I think Combo is very stereotyped as he is your usual masculine male.

•Women: The main women in this film is Shaun’s mum and Lol. Shaun’s mum can be seen as a vulnerable character as she is still grieving over her husbands death. Lol is Woodys girlfriend and seem to have gotten manipulated by Combo. Both these women are head strong and don’t put up with the wrong answers. Overall I don’t think women are taken over control as they are very independent.

•Place (the Midlands where it is set): The setting (Midlands) is set where the true story happened. It is quite a run down area full off houses and flats with one or two corner shops.

This is England

‘This Is England’ Micro Elements Task

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Sound:

This happens right at the beginning of the movie where montage is taken place. It shows lots of different things happening at the time of the film (1980s). The music is upbeat reggae music by ‘Toots & The Maytals’ this song helps represent what decade it is in.

Editing:

Also at the beginning of the film there is very distinct editing as there is a montage. On average each individual clip lasts around 2-3 seconds or more depending what they are showing. In this montage they show significant things that happen in the era of the film (1980s) such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana getting married and also various different clips of the wars that had happened.

Mise-en-Scene:

In this scene is can visually see a lot of people crowded into one room. The arrangement of the character can show the amount of importance each have or if a individual character is talking so the main focus will be on them. In this cause Woody is talking in this shot, the mis-en-scene shows he’s most important.

Cinematography:

This extreme longshot captures Shaun at the beach. This shot signifies to the audience he is isolated on the beach and seems so alone. The audience could feel a sense of nurturing for Shaun as in the previous shots he is seen enjoying his own company, but the extreme long shot shows that the whole day he had been alone.

This is England

THIS IS ENGLAND REVIEW

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This Is England (Meadows, 2007) CRITICAL SCORE: 9/10 My first initial thought of the film was that the story line was interesting and easily captivated me but also how everything was realistic and believable.  Memorable Scene: I think the most memorable scene for me was when Milky and Combo were having a conversation about Milkey’s family and how he’s grown up. The way you can see the happiness on his face (Milkey’s) when he’s talking about them is so believable, it felt as if it was real. However, this scene really shows the psychotic side, the instant change as he says, “you have anything don’t you”, you could hear the jealousy and anger in his voice.  
Uncategorised

Monaco Article

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Monaco talks about the different artistic expressions such as visual arts, performing arts, literary arts and film. He describes that with visual arts these single moments are unchangeable. Performing arts, is a form of art that has a distinct narrative and are often performed live. Literary arts involve poetry, novels and essays, this array of literary arts show deep emotion through storytelling. All these artistic expressions fall under the roof of ‘film,’ they are all forms of art in their own way.

They way Monaco speaks about advancing technology can change the idea of film in whole different way. They way technology is now we can watch every film on demand (the film will always be available to watch whenever). This withdraws the excitement of watching film live. They only way we have access to live film is performing arts. He also allows us to know that film can indicate and help people’s emotional and political views on the world.