When American director took ideas and inspired by from French film makers. French New wave filmmakers explored new approaches to editing, visual style, and narrative, as well as the engagement with the social and political upheavals of the era. The movement was characterised by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favour of experimentation and a spirit of iconoclasm. Rejection of mainstream or old Hollywood film conventions. Working with low budgets as they are working with the end of WW2
Specific stylistic and structure Elements: – The auteur style – The auteur theory holds that the director is the “author” of their movies, with a personal signature visible from film to film. – Low Budget – natural lighting used, and natural set design using the most of the surroundings near by. There was many tight budgeting in the 1950s – 1960s when filmmaking so on location sets meant that the filmmakers are spending less money. – visual style – The cinematic stylings of the French New Wave brought a fresh look to the cinema with improvised dialogue, rapid changes of scene, and shots that broke the common 180 degrees axis of camera movement. In many films of the French – New Wave, the camera was used not to mesmerize the audience with elaborate narrative and illusory images, but rather to play with audience expectations. They used hand held camera which makes it feel like its a documentary style. – Experimentation – The French New wave is characterised by its innovative techniques, bold experimentation, and rejection of traditional cinema conventions. Directors employed unconventional editing techniques such as jump cuts and discontinuous narratives, creating a sense of spontaneity and subjectivity in their films.
Directors and Films from the French New wave that influenced Arthur Penn as he was making Bonnie and Clyde ? – Jump cuts used inspired by the French New wave directors like Jean-LucGdard and Francois Truffaut show Penn’s film school background. Use of the bluegrass song foggy Mountain Breakdown by Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt keeps the tone light during crime scenes lending a comedic tone to some moments. Bonnie and Clyde used a lot of music which was a lot of Banjo music
Three moment from Bonnie and Clyde that depict the French New Wave? – The opening credits, depicting period photographs accompanied by the sound of the camera clicks suggestive of gun shots. – The films boldly original framing, employing windows, glass and mirrors as recurring visual motifs.
I really enjoyed this film, i think the cinematography is unique to previous stuff i have seen before. I think the love story combined to the gangster aspect was setting a path for a new sub-genre of two partners in crime being lovers. A scene that sticks out to me is the opening scene of the film, I think the way Penn camera moved and follows Bonnie’s actions is seamless and a unique shot.
What is meant by “New Hollywood” New Hollywood, also known as the American New Wave, refers to the innovative movement in American film history during the late 1960s to early 1980s where young filmmakers gained creative control, emphasizing narrative style, and realism.
The Hollywood studio system started declining when TVs became more prominent and popular in American households. The habit of going to the cinema once a week was being broken because of at home entertainment. The film Cleopatra was a big flop, 20th century fox lost a lot of profit because of this film, which weakened young people’s confidence in the current studios. Young people found entertainment in French NewWave cinema, which was on topic for their generation and more experimental.
1. The Graduate (director) mike Nichols, melodrama, romance 1967
2. Midnight Cowboy (director) John Schlesinger, drama 1969
3. The Wild Bunch (director) Sam Peckinpah, western adventure 1969
4. Easy Rider: (director) Dennis Hopper, road adventure 1969
He establishment had lost its audience and not addressed them, leading to films like the graduate and easy rider being made.
Disgraced politician RICHARD NIXON. Watergate revolved around members of a group associated with Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign breaking into and planting listening devices in the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 1972,
Vietnam war, proxy war America tried to stop the spread of communism through the Vietcong. Protests all over America rose which led to violence around the country.
In the ghettos black Americans started protesting because of racial discrimination.
RFK and MLK get shot weeks apart in the late 1960s
What is meant by the cinematic term French New Wave– The term French New Wave comes from the French film movement which was incredibly self-aware and rejected the traditional styles of classical filmmaking, leading to an experimental era of film, which notably influenced American filmmaking styles for years to come. 50s-60s. Working with a low budget because of post ww2 France.
•What specific stylistic and structural elements are present in French New Wave Films?
Deemphasized plot & dialogue was often improvised
Jump cuts rather than continuity editing
Location shooting
Handheld cameras- Gives a documentary style
Long takes
Direct sound & available light (live recordings, often didn’t adjust light)
•Which directors and films from the French New Wave influenced Arthur Penn as he was making Bonnie and Clyde? Why do you think this was the case?François Truffaut inspired Arthur Penn, particularly with his film Jules Et Jim which was a 1962 French new wave film- this film challenged the gender ideals of men and women which could also be seen in Bonnie and Clyde 1967 while also utilising voiceovers, snappy editing and fast pacing to show the newer European era of cinema.
•Identify at least 3 scenes from Bonnie and Clyde where stylistic links are created with French New Wave cinema and say why this was the case. In the opening scene of Bonnie and Clyde we can see an extreme close-up shot of Bonnie which breaks the traditional style of the classic establishing shot. The multiple jump cuts of Bonnie in the first scene creatively showcase the influence of snappy fast paced editing that French directors started to use in this era. The use of jump cuts speed up the pace of the film which was enjoyable for younger generations of America and Europe.
Another notable scene in Bonnie and Clyde which showcased the French new wave influence was the famous death scene. Penn ends this film with a cut to black to show that his characters were dead and gone. There was no tidying up the end of the story or hopeful resolutions which was a direct steer away from the traditional classical Hollywood style. There was an abundance of violence in this scene, it was bloody and chaotic. Penn’s use of violence shows the move away from the Hayes code which limited violence and crude acts. This showcase of violence was an allegory for the Vietnam war which acts were dutifully hidden from the Americans at home. The ending of Bonnie and Clyde ushered ideas that criminals might be loveable, adding to the idea that violence could be art.
Lastly, when bonnie meets her family, and then cuts to her running through the field this scene is another notable example of the break away from the classical Hollywood style which always made the effort to frame the characters. The handheld shaky camera shows the influence of a documentary style of filmmaking which made its way over from France during this era. A filter is used in this scene which creatives a dream-like atmosphere which connotes a life that Bonnie could have lived if her life was not corrupted by crime. This also subverts from the technical rules followed by directors in classical Hollywood who did not experiment with filters and colour (post 1927).
1.How did New Hollywood directors like Penn approach film narratives? Penn abandoned the traditional “prude” style of filmmaking commonly used by directors in the classical era who were under the Hayes code. Penn used brutal violence, sexual innuendos, and casual humour in Bonnie and Clyde specifically to show the change from traditional Hollywood to the new Hollywood.
2.What is discontinuity editing? discontinuity editing is an editing style that is the opposite of classical editing. In a discontinuous sequence, the filmmaker will deliberately use an arrangement of shots that seem out of place or confusing relative to a traditional narrative. There’s no smooth or logical flow to the shots as they are edited together. This can seem disorienting or ambiguous, but it is used to demand participation on the part of the audience to engage in the intention of the plot
A great example of discontinuity editing is the famous (and favourite of mine) ritual/killing of colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. The disorientating cuts between Willard and the ritual show the morality and differences between the American soldiers compared to the Cambodian tribe, ultimately showing the death, killing, and violence takes shape in every culture, but is perceived differently as to reason of cause. To further explain this… Willard has been sent on a mission by the American government to kill Kurtz for his actions with the Cambodian tribe. Willard began his journey travelling up the Cambodian river from Vietnam, he starts with American ideals of patriotism which is paired with continuity editing. Slowly as he gets closer to Kurtz leading him to the ritual scene, discontinuity editing takes over showing Willard’s loss of morality as he begins to take the place of Kurtz, falling into ideals of animalistic killing shown through the water buffalo killing (which was a very real water Buffalo being killed)
3.Why is this time in film production sometimes referred to as “The Rise of the Auteurs” in Hollywood? in “Old Hollywood” many actors, producers and studios were credited as the main workers on a film and given the spotlight. Once the French new wave era started many thought that the directors or the “Auteurs” should be credited as the storytellers of the film. The directors started to be seen as the creative driving force.
4.What is the lasting impact of the New Hollywood style on modern films? We can see the lasting impact of the French new Wave era in films today, With projects like Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (2024) which used experimental editing with aspect ratio. Or we could go back to 1994 to see Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction which creatively used discontinuity editing to piece together multiple storylines into one. Martin Scorsese also used many French New Wave influences in his films like Casino which used snappy jump cuts to showcase the rise of Ace Goldstein’s casino.
I liked this film. I like how the film starts with bonnie and we get to see the majority of the film from her perspective, bonnie is not treated as a trophy to be won, and she also joins Clyde in committing crimes which was a new outlook on how women were perceived in cinema. The opening of the film puts the main female character at the centre, as well as showing her as partially naked. conveying the female lead as naked and having her as the first thing the audience sees would have been a revolutionary move in cinema at this time, regarding the hayes code and societies view on women. This film gets a 9.5/10
Humphrey Bogart was an American actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart as the greatest male star of classic American cinema. Humphrey Bogart’s breakthrough came with his 1941 film High Sierra, although he rose to stardom after acting in John Huston’s Maltese Falcon, which is considered to be one of the great noir films. Bogart was on contract to warner bros who were known for their gritty gangster films, which Bogart was commonly cast in. -made his name as a character who is tough without a gun.
RICK BLAIN
Ingrid Bergman rose to stardom after acting in Casablanca which was her second English speaking role. With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history.
ILSA LUND.
Paul Henreid was an Austrian-American actor, director, producer, and writer. He is best remembered for several film roles during the Second World War, including Capt. Karl Marsan in Night Train to Munich, Victor Laszlo in Casablanca and Jerry Durance in Now, Voyager. Mr. Henreid’s first big American success was in another such role, that of the bombastic German consul in the Guild Theater production of “Flight to the West.” The play opened in New York on Dec.30, 1940, and helped get him his first Hollywood contract, with RKO Radio Pictures in 1941.
Claude Rains was known for many roles in Hollywood films, among them the title role in The Invisible Man, a corrupt senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and, perhaps his most notable performance, as Captain Renault in Casablanca.
Hans Walter Conrad Veidt was born on 22 January 1893 in his parents’ home at Tieckstraß. A new career path for Veidt opened up in 1911 during a school Christmas play in which he delivered a long prologue before the curtain rose. The play was badly received, and the audience was heard to mutter, “Too bad the others didn’t do as well as Veidt.” Veidt began to study all of the actors he could and wanted to pursue a career in acting, much to the disappointment of his father, who called actors ‘gypsies’ and ‘outcasts’.
Greenstreet’s stage debut was as a murderer in a 1902 production of a Sherlock Holmes story at the Marina Theatre, Ramsgate, Kent.[citation needed] He toured Britain with Ben Greet‘s Shakespearean company, and in 1905 made his New York City debut in Everyman. He appeared in such plays as a revival of As You Like It (1914). He appeared in numerous plays in Britain and America, working through most of the 1930s with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne at the Theatre Guild. His stage roles ranged from musical comedy to Shakespeare, and years of such versatile acting on two continents led to many offers to appear in films. He refused until he was 61.
He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before moving to Germany, where he worked first on the stage, then in film, in Berlin during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Lorre, who was Jewish, left Germany after Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power Lorre caused an international sensation in the Weimar Republic–era film M (1931) where he portrayed a serial killer who preys on little girls. His second English-language film was Alfred Hitchcock‘s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), made in the United Kingdom.
ISOLATIONISM- a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries. Isolationists believed that World War II was ultimately a dispute between foreign nations and that the United States had no good reason to get involved
When WW2 first erupted America quickly decided to stay neutral and not get involved in any affairs regarding the war. Rick Blain is the personification of Americas Isolationism in WW2, he starts the film off by being heavily removed from any situations regarding the Nazis or Allies, until, someone he cares for, Ilsa Lund turns up, as kind of his own pearl harbour that pushes him to fight against the Nazis around him. In the early days of the war, 96% of Americans expressed that they did not want America getting involved and thought of it as a “phony” war. Rick Blain starts off the film very cynical and hard-headed, but as the film comes to an end after reuniting with Ilsa his patriotism rears is head.
REPRESENTATIONS IN CASABLANCA- MIS-EN-SCENE
1. Lighting
Casablanca makes use of high-contrast lighting, which is characteristic of the film noir genre. Dimly lit interiors and shadows that create an air of mystery and tension. This lighting emphasizes the moral ambiguity of the characters, particularly Rick, whose personality is reflected in the shadowy spaces around him.
2. Set Design and Location
The setting of Rick’s Café Americain is central to the mise-en-scene. The cafe itself, with its stylish but slightly worn-down décor, represents a neutral space in the conflict between the Axis and the Allies. It’s a microcosm of the larger world outside.
The backdrop of war-torn Casablanca, with its French colonial influence, reflects the theme of escape and the complexity of wartime decisions, particularly in how the city is portrayed as a place of both opportunity and corruption.
3. Costumes
Characters are dressed according to their roles and personalities, often in a way that subtly communicates their inner struggles or alignment. Rick’s tailored suits highlight his status and sophistication, while Ilsa’s elegant wardrobe conveys her grace but also her inner turmoil.
5. Props
Key props like the letters of transit and the piano play significant symbolic roles in the film’s themes. The letters represent the hope for escape, freedom, and a way out of Casablanca’s perilous political situation. The piano, particularly in the famous scene where Sam (Dooley Wilson) plays “As Time Goes By,” becomes a symbol of the past, love, and nostalgia, echoing Rick and Ilsa’s romance.
EDITING
The letters of transit is an important example of editing in Casablanca. This pivotal moment occurs near the end of the film, when Rick makes the sacrificial decision to ensure that Ilsa and Victor leave Casablanca, even though it means losing Ilsa forever. The editing here is crucial in building the emotional weight of the scene.
Cross-cutting between characters: The scene is carefully edited with cross-cutting between Rick, Ilsa, and Victor. As Rick makes his decision, the editor uses quick, tight shots of each character’s face, showing their emotional reactions—Rick’s stoic resignation, Ilsa’s tears, and Victor’s determination. The cross-cutting between them increases the emotional tension, as the audience feels the internal conflict each character is experiencing.
SOUND
1. Dialogue
Dialogue: The dialogue in Casablanca is sharp, witty, and often filled with subtext. Rick’s dialogue, in particular, is filled with cynicism, reflective of his character’s emotional journey. His famous lines, like “Here’s looking at you, kid” or “We’ll always have Paris,” have become iconic for their mix of romanticism and bittersweetness.
2. Underscoring
Max Steiner’s Score: The film’s musical score, composed by Max Steiner, uses underscoring to emphasize the emotional tone of key moments. One of the most notable ways this is done is through the recurring use of “As Time Goes By”, a song that becomes an integral part of the narrative and a thematic anchor for the film. The melody plays during key moments, such as when Sam plays it on the piano, reminding Rick and Ilsa of their past love and setting the nostalgic and tragic tone.
Use of Music to Convey Emotion: The film also uses music to heighten tension and drama. For example, the score swells during dramatic moments of decision or sacrifice, adding weight to the characters’ choices and reinforcing the emotional stakes. The music’s swelling intensity complements the on-screen action and deepens the audience’s emotional engagement with the narrative.
3. Sound Motif
“As Time Goes By” as a Sound Motif: The song “As Time Goes By” is more than just a piece of music in Casablanca—it functions as a sound motif that recurs throughout the film, representing Rick and Ilsa’s past love and the passage of time. The motif appears in different variations, from Sam playing it on the piano to the orchestral arrangements in key moments. The song’s repeated use ties together the themes of nostalgia, love, and lost time, creating a powerful emotional connection for the audience. It reminds the audience of the characters’ shared history and the poignant inevitability of their separation.
REPRESENTATIONS OF CHARACTERS.
WOMEN; In Casablanca, Ilsa Lund is the only prominent female character we meet. Ilsa is being competed over by Victor Laszlo and Rick Blain. Her character represents how women are viewed as trophies and never given enough agency to lead themselves, even in the face of persecution all the men in Ilsas life believe that she needs a man to take care of her.
MEN; The plot and the historic timeline that it follows reflects stereotypically masculine concerns: war, duty to country, and freedom. Every decision-maker depicter, regardless of his political affiliation, is a man. All viewers, both male and female, are forced to see the world of Casablanca through the eyes of a man – the lens of a masculinized camera.
AUTHORITY FIGURES; Captain Renault is represented by his corruption, although being the chief of police in Vichy French territory he still has his indulgences and helps refugees escape in exchange for sex. Eventually Renault decides to put his faith in rick and they form a friendship, this is symbolic of an alliance between the United States and France, emphasizing cooperation against the common enemy of fascism.
AMERICANS; when Ilsa walks back into Rick’s life, the American character (in a time of war) crystallizes: when circumstances demand heroism, Americans get tough on the outside and moral within, capable of sacrifice and romance and rugged individualism, shaping democracy, sticking their neck out. Rick’s Café, in itself, exalts the power of American diversity and the guarded optimism located in America in the forties.
Humphrey Bogart, he was a star of classic Hollywood cinema. He began acting in Broadway Shows and supporting roles where he portrayed gangsters. Until he played the role of Rick in Casablanca, where I personally believe that he fitted the role well and matched the character within his acting and expressions. He had been building up his career at this point with warner bros who had been developing him as a main man. This was his first role where he played a part in a love story. This was his first role as a leading man before this he was in the Maltese falcon.
Ingrid Bergman-
Ingrid Bergman is a Swedish actress, she was 26 when she starred in Casablanca early in her career. Before this she has experience in Swedish movies and stage. Warner brothers decided to cast her to represent Europe and attract Americans with her accent.
Paul Henreid-
Henreid was an Austrian- American actor, director, producer. He appeared in British films before moving to America where he starred serval films such as Night Train to Munich (1940) Casablanca (1942) and Now, Voyager (1942). His elegant sophistication and middle-European accent made him ideal for romantic leading roles.
Claude Rains-
Rains was a British movie star who was best known for his distinguished voice, style and a range of different roles, ranging from villains to sympathetic gentlemen. Roles that he is recognised for are The Invisible Man (1933) and Casablanca.
Conrad Vedit-
Vedit was a German born actor, who left Germany due to his strong anti-Nazi stance. He moved to the Uk but later left to the US, where he started in Hollywood. He starred in films such as Nazi Agent and Casablanca. His experience of having to leave his country due to war made is delivery in Casablanca so powerful.
Sydney Greenstreet-
Greenstreet was a American and British actor. He had a range from musicals to detective movies. He started working for Warner Bros in 1941 where he starred in The Maltese Falcon (1942) and Casablanca where he played Signor Ferrari.
Peter Lorre-
Lorre was a Hungarian -born American motion – picture actor who projected a sinister as a soft- voiced villain in thrillers. From (1941-1946) he worked at Warner Bros. and starred in Casablanca where he played Ugarte
S.Z Sakall-
Sakall found success as a comedian in early German talkies, but as Hitler rose to power he returned to Hungary. But later when he came
Dooley Wilson-
Wilson was a drummer and singer who led his own band in the 1920s, working in London and Paris. He was suited for the role due to his experience in music.
Joy Page-
Page was a American actress, Casablanca was her only movie with Warner Bros. She went on to act at different studios but Casablanca reminds her most known film.
Michael Curtiz (Director)
Michael Curtiz, was a Hungarian American film director, he is recognised as the most prolific directors in history, he worked into the Hollywood studio system. He was a well known Director when Warner Bros. invited him to Hollywood in 1926.
Mise En Scene–
Elements of light and shadow when they are in love, for example when they are in Paris the lighting goes dark.
Moments of emotional intensity the lighting is always dim.
Hard light and shadows in Ricks.
Sets had a great impact drama and emotion’s, with shadows and and rails creating drama.
Every character has there own colour pallet, with the hero’s like Rick in soft colours.
The woman had elegant clothes which portrayed innocence and beauty.
A example of a Hollywood factory system
All the characters appear glamorous and costume’s are always perfect
The movie compared to the real Casablanca, the movie creates a fantasy version of Casablanca.
The movie became more topical and powerful due to WW2V
Every element of the film stands out
All extras left there country due to war, can play the role well due to experience empathises with the role
Ricks represents the best of Hollywood’s opportunity’s
Editing-
The editor is able to give hints of information of peoples feelings, for example that Rick is actually nice when he lets the young couple win the gambling.
The editing is natural and allows the audience to feel like the movie is realistic due to how natural the cuts feel.
The movie uses close ups to emphasis the tension in the moment, for example the shot of the letter when Rick is waiting at the train station.
Movement of the camera was impressive, dolly, broke away from the normal style, and movement of the actor where camera moves around them
This was made at the height at warner bros. studio with them mainly doing gangster films.
Sound-
Music elevates the scene, such as when the crowd at the bar is singing the French national anthem ‘la Marseillaise’
Max Steiner was the music composer
When the Germans enter scenes the music changes
The music acts as a motif with it playing with the letter on the train and as time goes by.
The movie has mainly diegetic music
Music creates energy in Ricks
The dialogue stands out, with a contrast in funny one liners and serious emotional speeches.
Ingrids accent stood out to the casting
Aesthetics–
the world that Casablanca is set in a fantasy of what Casablanca could be like.
Their is a use of a sound motif to create a sombre tone
The weather creates a tone, such as the storm over the runway
The visual
Hal. Wallis they oversee production, he chooses to buy the story. He negotiated a contract where he had the final say in the products, such as what actress for isla was going to be American or not. Wallis changed the story slightly to make it more synthetic for the Americans. The film is acting as propaganda for the Americans to view the Europeans
34 nationalities represented
isolationism- This is a national policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries
Representations–
Woman-
In my opinion Casablanca represents woman as either victim’s or a trophy for men to try and win. this may of been a feature of the time, But throughout the movie the plot of IIsas story is that will she choose Rick or Laszlo and they do not give her a defining character or plot by herself. Her fate at the end is decided by Rick she doesn’t get a choice.
Men–
In Casablanca men are represented as tough people who don’t look out for overs, this is represented by Rick who makes it apparent that he doesn’t care about anything but msyelf. However this façade slips throughout the movie showing that he deep down does. This can be seen for many over men in the movie who undergo a transformation. This could represent that the men in the movie just have a extieor attuite
Americans-
script arrived the day after pearl harbour, which was a unexpected attack 1941, the war as been on for 2 years and 3 months. Themes which could relate with the American’s people.
Political and Social Contexts-
Allies. Great Britain, USA, USSR (Russia)
Axis. Germany, Italy, Japan
France. At the start of WW2, into 1940 France is invaded and defeated.
The Free French who are still fighting for the Allies.
Vichy France is working for the Germans
Morocco, Is under the Vichy French power
War starts in 1939 America doesn’t join until 1941 due to pearl harbour.
Operation Torch. November 8 – November 16 1942
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 captured the zeitgeist.”
The defining spirt or mood of a particular period of history, showing the ideas and beliefs at the time.
Casablanca Conference. January 14 to 24, 1943
Roosevelt and Churchill met to discuss the axis powers “unconditional surrender.” To plan the next phase of WW2.
Casablanca world premier
The world premier was in New York City on 26th of November 1942 it was released in the states on the 23rd of January 1943.
Movie Reels-
News was played at the movies, for about 10 minutes. Americans are learning about the war from the newspaper, radio and film.
why did filmmakers and producers move to Hollywood- The mountains, plains and low land prices made Hollywood a good place to establish film studios, this year-round climate was the best atmosphere for shooting films.
Big stars from this era, (filmmakers and actors)- Billy Wilder (director) Humphrey Bogart (actor) John Wayne (actor)
In what ways were the early Hollywood system like a factory or production line– actors were practically owned by production companies with extremely strong contracts that they could not get out of.
When and what was the first talking picture? The jazz singer, 1927
why did the end of the silent era cause problems for performers working in the industry. A lot of silent film stars disappeared from the movie industry, because they didn’t possess the right kind of voice for spoken cinema. There were other reasons: failure to understand the mechanics of sound and also not taking the new medium seriously.
what events were happening in America during this time– Prohibition, economic disaster, dustbowl catastrophe, WW1
THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIO SYSTEM
•1) What were the Big 5 studios & what type of movies was each studio famous for? Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., Paramount, Fox, and RKO.
•2) Explain what vertical integration and block-booking was? Vertical integration means that production, distribution, and exhibition were handled “in-house.” although the proper definition of it being; the combination in one firm of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate firms
•3) Why and when did the original studio system collapse? The studio system was challenged under the antitrust laws in a 1948 Supreme Court ruling which sought to separate production from the distribution and exhibition and ended such practices
•4) What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time? (post WW2) A new world order began to emerge in 1948. The U.S. announced the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe, while a group of European nations formed an alliance that would evolve into NATO. The Berlin Blockade escalated tensions between the emerging superpowers, which eventually would come to result in the cold war, lasting until 1991
•5) What genres were popular and why did people go to the movies in this period? Westerns, musicals, screwball comedies, and film noir. Films at this time were crafted to be grand spectacles, and cinema was the only entertainment that the public had, many thought of it as an escape.
CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD STYLE
in Casablanca, invisible editing is used to silently back up the dominant use of story telling. Continuity editing is also a technique used by old Hollywood directors. This is an editing technique where shots are arranged in a certain way to suggest a progression of events. This style of editing was popular in old Hollywood as they relied heavily on dialogue and story telling to create a cinematic experience for the viewer, while small unnoticeable edits are used to add to the aesthetic of the film
Invisible story telling was an unnoticeable technique used by editors to immerse the audience within the story without making the edits and cuts obvious.
HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS.
ALLIES- America, Britian, USSR.
AXIX- japan, Germany, Italy.
France was occupied by the Germans early into WW2, this sparked outrage within some of the French, causing a group of rebels to form a new territory of France called Vichy France which seen little to no German occupation. Casablanca was in this Vichy French territory located in Morroco.
America joined the war in 1941, after the bombing of pearl harbour which took many American lives.
Operation Torch. -was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. 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.[6] Nov 8, 1942 – Nov 16, 1942- it “Captured the zeitgeist”- General release January 1943
in a pre-internet era of the 1940s people used radios and newspapers to get their news. also film reels, were projected before films.
On November 26, 1942– first screening of Casablanca, in New York City.
Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe a specific type of film in Hollywood: stylized crime dramas, particularly those that have a mood of pessimism, fatalism and cynical attitudes. The 1940s and 1950s are regarded as the “classic period” of American film noir.
Some examples are=
In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
And Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944)
There is also the “Neo Noir” type of film which contains the visual style and themes of classic film noir but with an added modern sensibility. They also contain graphic displays of violence and sexuality.
Film Noir is a style of film popular in the 1940s-1950s. Noir films are shot in black and white, and have a focus on shadows in the cinematography. The Noir genre focused on plots around hard boiled private detectives, femme fatales, murders and the mafia/gangs.
Night Of The Hunter (1955, Charles Laughton)
Neo Noir
Neo Noir is a modernised version of the Noir style of the 40s with more graphic depictions of violence. It modernises the pessimism and mean nature of the classic Noir style for contemporary audiences
Film Noir is stylized Hollywood crime dramas which are shot in block and white and place emphasis on shadows. Themes of these movies often include use flashbacks and intricate plots.
