6/10
I have given Bonnie and Clyde a low score because it was hard to follow along I felt like. I felt like the film looked amazing and the scenes where beautiful of the American country. Although I felt it was a slow moving film that was hard to take off.
An obvious memorable scene is the end of the movie where Bonnie and Clyde got set up and shot multiple times to call an ending to the film and the story. I feel like the film ended to soon and it was not a climactic ending.
1.Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?
-The mountains, plains and low land prices made Hollywood a good place to establish film studios.
Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the Silent Era of Hollywood?
-Charlie Chaplin
Produced his own films did the sound and sets for them. Charlie did his own stunts as well. Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest and widely loved silent movie stars. From ‘Easy Street’ to ‘Modern Times’. He also made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. He was best known for his character, the naive and lovable Little Tramp.
-Clara Bow
Actor- Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to ‘talkies’ in 1929.
-Douglas Fairbanks
Action hero and he did all his own stunts. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckling roles in silent films. One of the biggest stars of the silent era, Fairbanks was referred to as ‘The King of Hollywood’.
In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the Premier League?
-The studio system operated like a factory, with stars, directors, writers, and crew all working under long-term contracts.
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.
What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time?
In America at the time the country’s wealth doubled from 1920-1929. Although in the 1930s the great depression hit and America suffered its largest struggles it had seen as a nation. World War 1 was also happening. It started in 1914 up until 1918.
Golden Age of Hollywood 1930- 1947
The five big Hollywood studios where – Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers Studios, MGM, 20th Century Fox and RKO.
9/10
Amazing film. I highly recommend it to watch. The romance mixed in with war is very gripping. A scene I remember is when it was a flash back from Casablanca to Paris. The editing towards this section is smooth and understandable.
Humphrey Bogart – Rick Blaine
Rick Blaine was a famous American actor who starred in Casablanca. He was cast to play Rick because he had played a villain in previous movies and Ricks character is villain like until the end of the movie where he helps his lover flee the country.
Ingrid Bergman – Ilsa Lund
Ilsa was casted when the writers thought about having a lead female character who was not from America because they wanted to showcase many people all over Europe wanted to escape Europe and go to America.
Paul Henreid – Victor Laszlo
Paul Henreid was an Austrian-American actor, director and writer. He is most remembered for several film roles during the Second World War. Like ‘Now Voyager’
Peter Lorre – Ugarte
Lorre was Hungarian but born in America. He was a picture actor who was normally portrayed as a sinister but soft voiced villain in thrillers. From 1941-1946 he worked at Warner Bros.
Claude Rains – Captain Louis Renualt
Claude Rains was a British actor who was best known for his different voice style and a range of different roles ranging from villains to distinguished gentlemen. Roles that he was recognised for are The Invisible Man which was made in 1933.
Sydney Greenstreet – Signor Ferrari
He was an English actor.
S.Z. Sakall – Carl
Dooley Wilson- Sam
Mise En Scene
The set design in Casablanca is a blend of style and storytelling that transports the audiences to an exotic and tense atmosphere because of World War II. At the heart of the film is Ricks Cafe American, a posh space featuring grand architecture, arched doorways, flowery patterns, warm and dim lighting that creates a romantic yet mysterious aroma. The streets of Casablanca, recreated on soundstages and backlots, capture the vibrant hustle of the city with market stalls, winding alleys, and shadowy lighting that makes the film more immersive because of the amazing sets that had been made.
The costumes in Casablanca are very elegant and reflect the personalities and roles of the characters. Sharp suits and uniforms convey authority, while soft dresses highlight grace and calmness. Evening wear contrasts with the simpler clothes of refugees, emphasizing the film’s themes of class, love, and tension between the Nazi officials and Locals.
Editing in Casablanca
What I noticed with the editing in Casablanca is that there are a lot of close up shots of the faces of the characters and MCU shots of the surrounding area to get a feel of the set designs. There was a couple long shots of when Victor Laslo leaves his hotel room and the camera is still up in the hotel room window to see him walk off. The effect on the spectator from these shots makes the spectator seem as if they are in the film with the characters. At some points in the film it almost feels like a play because of the swift character changes in each scene.
Sound
Diagetic
One of the most iconic examples is the music performed at Rick’s Café Americain is when Sam is playing the piano and singing ‘As Time Goes By.’ This song evokes the romance between the main characters but also serves as a recurring motif that evokes nostalgia and heartbreak. The ambient noise of the bustling café, including clinking glasses, murmured conversations, and laughter, creates an immersive and lively atmosphere. Other uses of diegetic sound include the patriotic singing scene where the locals of Rick’s Café sing a patriotic French song called ‘La Marseillaise’ to drown out the German soldiers song. This was a very important scene in the movie symbolizing resistance to the unwelcome Germans.
Non-Diegetic
Non-diegetic sound in Casablanca helps set the mood and guide how the audience feels during important scenes. plays in the background to make moments feel more romantic, nostalgic, or dramatic. For example, the music gets louder and more emotional during tense or heroic parts of the story, helping show the importance of what is happening. It connects the audience to the characters and their struggles without needing more acting.
Recurring Motif – any recurring element
Historical and Political Contexts to Casablanca
Allies– Britain, USA, USSR
Axis– Germany, Japan, Italy
France– The Free French are still part of the Allies.
France was an Allie at the beginning of the war until it was invaded and surrendered by Germany. The country was then split between the German occupied zone. The other half was a free side know as Vichy France. Vichy France controlled Casablanca in Morocco.
America Joins the war in 1941 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in December 7, 1941. The Japanese did this to eliminate the American pacific fleet of naval ships. They killed 2300 Americans and sank 7 ships.
Operation Torch
The film captured the zeitgeist of American patriotism. Operation Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a limited scale. It was to take the attention off the USSR at the time to open up 2 fronts.
Zeitgeist – the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.
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. While Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin received an invitation, he was unable to attend because the Red Army was engaged in a major offensive against the German Army at the time. The most notable developments at the Conference were the finalization of Allied strategic plans against the Axis powers in 1943, and the promulgation of the policy of ‘unconditional surrender’.
Americans are finding out about the war with radio, newspaper and especially film. For Casablanca to come out at the time of the invasion of Casablanca was empowering for the Allied civilians at home.
Themes and Issues
Isolationism – What was Americas view on World War 2.
At first the Americans did not want to get themselves into another European war. After WW1 the USA joined late but lost hundreds of thousands of solders. The American people at the time we against joining another European war. At the start of WW2 96% of Americans wanted to stay out the war.
In context to the film Rick was the American bar owner and was not getting involved with any of the altercations until his bar was closed down then he was heavily involved in Victor Lazlos escape.
Aesthetics
he realism in Casablanca comes shows a authentic portrayal for the civilians complexities in World War II. Casablanca was a place for refugees escaping Nazi occupied Europe. Although the romance and drama are prioritised in the film. The film conveys love, loss, and sacrifice during a time of global conflict. The ending of the film where Ricks escape are set aside for the greater good, reinforces the film’s connection to the harsh realities of the world at the time.
Representations
Women and Men
In Casablanca Women I would argue that women are presented with the same status as men with the two being just as important as the other. For example when Ilsa and Lazlo came to Casablanca and the German general invited them two to a meeting even though it was Victor Lazlo they where worried about.
Authority Figures
People like Major Heinrich Strasser as the German general and Captain Louis Renualt chief of police are conveyed as the people who run Casablanca. Everything goes by them two and they are seen as confident and almost feared of. Especially Major Heinrich Strasser because he had invaded France where most the people in Casablanca was from. The Casablanca population where mainly French because they where escaping the German war machine that had invaded France. They where able to travel to Casablanca because i was part of the French empire and apart of Vichy France where there was no Germans. Just Vichy French authorities that worked with the Germans like Captain Louis Renualt.
People of Colour
In the film there is not many people of colour except Sam the pianist. There is not much to say about him. He works in Ricks bar playing the Piano. He came to Casablanca with Rick to also escape the Germans.
Verisimilitude– the quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of being real.
Social Realism– It is showing a realistic representation on what life was like at that moment in time. E.G- Making a WW2 film as accurate as possible. -Saving Private Ryan
Magic Realism– E.G- Harry Potter
Hyperreality– A film set in the future with amazing technology. E.G- The Matrix
Iconography– Iconography simply refers to the pattern of signs we associate with a particular genre. An obvious example would be the combination of futuristic costumes, props, and settings in science-fiction films.
Intertextual Referencing– it’s where a movie overlaps with another work of film. -Family Guy
Visual/ Sound motifs in film– Objects, colours, shapes, settings.
James Bond
Colour Grading– digital tools or photochemical processes are used to make videos or films look better or change the colour tone and mood.
Auteur Trademarks– A reference (character, an angle a theme) that is recurrent to the directors work. E.G- Tim Burton
Tone
Pathos, or the appeal to emotion, means to persuade an audience by purposely evoking certain emotions to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel.
Bathos, Anticlimactic ending. Expecting something but gets something else.
Suspense, a sequence leading up to a jump scare. Tension within the scene.
Comedy, professional entertainment consisting of jokes and sketches, intended to make an audience laugh.
Dramatic irony, occurs when the audience knows something that the characters don’t. E.G, When the Jaws music plays we know the shark is near.
Distancing Effect, Reminding the audience that you are watching a film. Breaking the 3rd wall in the film E.G, Narration, Deadpool when he speaks to the audience.
Postmodern Humour, when a comedy presents an undeceived view of life.
Reframing is the general change in a person’s mindset, whether it be a positive or negative change.
Throughout Joker, cinematography is used effectively to create a sense of chaos within the films diegetic world.
Here, the camera is used to position the spectator.
This suggest to the spectator that.
This reframing of the central character.
The structure of the paragraph shows a clear structure of point, evidence, explain and link to spectator.
-point-evidence-explain-link
Young People
In the film young people are presented as free young adults who can do what ever they want really. In This Is England, young people are shown as searching for identity and dealing with challenges in a tough world. The film captures how their friendships, choices, and experiences shape who they become.
Older People
In the film ‘Older People’ are presented in lots of different ways. With people like Seans mum, the shopkeeper and the school teachers as normal English working class. Although there is then Woodys group and then Combows group who have become in contact with the law and are trying to renew the English dynasty.
Foreign People
People like Milky and the shop keep are discriminated against by Combow’s group for being in their county. They are also presented to have loving family’s like milky says to Combow. I suspect that Combow was jealous of Milky in that situation and quickly turned on him and lost his head.
Sound
Shane Meadows uses classic British songs like ‘Come On Eileen’ and ‘Tainted Love’ to make the movie more in sync with English culture.
Mise En Scene
The film is set in a working-class estates with run down houses, overgrown shrub and graffiti everywhere. This gives off the impression of poverty and unemployment.
Shane Meadows uses clothing to represent identity and skin head culture. The skinhead clothing is Doc Martens, rolled-up jeans, braces and Fred Perry shirts. is historically accurate and signifies the group’s working-class roots.
Although as Sean becomes more of a skin head to feel included his clothing is the same the skinhead group. This shows he is searching belonging within the group.
Cinematography
In the film Shane Meadows makes the camera look like it is being held by a camera mans so that the point of view we are seeing makes us feel as if we are in the room with the characters. It gives off a shaky affect like the camera is an extra person in the story.
Critical score – 9.5/10
In my opinion ‘This is England’ is the best movie that we have watched on our course so far. I loved the setting the movie was based on in the mid 80s. I also liked how the sets where real places each time. Nothing was made or set up for the movie. I liked how accurate it felt as well. I know i was not alive in the 80s. Not even close. Although the movie felt as if the director Shane Meadows was really accurate of how lower class England looked in the 80s.
One of my favourite scenes was near the beginning as Sean was reading a comic and the shop keeper took it off him. I like the way Sean was dealing with it with not a care in the world. Wanting his cola cubes.
Over all this was a great film to watch and I highly recommend it to whoever has not seen it.
All aspects of film form including narrative contribute to the representations of cultures and societies (gender, ethnicity and age) including ideology nature of those representations.
An ideology is a set of beliefs.
Performance:
Age
Ethnicity
Costume
Facial Expression
Body Language
A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing.
Countertype: The opposite to a stereotype. The ideas of breaking away from a stereotype. Like when we think of an American president we think of a white man. You could think of a black man instead. Think of a different angle.
A stereotype within Terminator 1 is how Sarah Connor is seen to be a waitress with no passion within her life. She is stereotyped as a weak character within the first movie.
In Terminator 2 Sarah Connor is a countertype to herself within Terminator 1 as she is depicted to be fully in control of herself and went from a waitress to be comfortable around guns. She is countertypeed to her original self.
1.WHO IS DOING THE REPRESENTATION? The main Characters – Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, Tommy and Robert.
1.WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED ? The Scottish poor and minority who live within the worst parts of Scotland. Also people who are addicted to drugs and their life depends on the next hit.
2.WHAT SOCIAL GROUPS ARE OMITTED FROM THE REPRESENTATIONS? Low class people addicted to drugs and have no aspiration in life.
3.WHAT MESSAGES ABOUT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS ARE BEING CONVEYED? The message of the movie is almost an advert on why you should not do drugs and the consequences of these drugs.
4.WHICH CHARACTERS OR SOCIAL GROUPS HAVE POWER WITHIN THE REPRESENTATIONS? The “Mother Superio” who supplies the drugs has power because everyone on heroin comes to him.
Young People
In Trainspotting young people are presented as being trapped in a dull and hopeless society. Not once do you see a cheery young person. They are always depicted as trying to escape the area. Danny Boyle makes young people to be low as they are drinking, taking drugs and running from the law in this movie.
Older People
Older people are seen in the movie as either loving couples with out of control children or drug addicts who are seen to only be looking for trouble.
Addicts
The whole film is almost an advert on not to do drugs. It shows the most horrible scenes which are based on real events. The drugs dens are scummy and disgusting and the addicts are presented as not caring, only caring on the next hit of the drug.
