The Godfather

Gustavo Perez

Film 2600

Dr. Londino

12/14/2011

1.       In class the discussion that was based on the film The Godfather was that it was one of the best American films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film shows how the Italian-Mob oriented families from the years 1945-1955. In the film you see the importance of family traditions such as weddings and other events, in which they carry abundances of food. Also they tend to show how significant honor and loyalty is for the Italian families. The film also gives you a better look of how Mob families would run their businesses. Till this day the film is highly considered as a top 10 film of all times. The film also influenced many directors in making movies with the similarities of Mob related families and how they operate. One influenced would be Martin Scorsese’s and the film Goodfellas. The show Goodfellas would also be another film that was influenced by the great film The Godfather. The film also shows a lot of tragedy, sex, and violence which was not too popular with how most films were directed in the time the movie was released.

2.       This article basically talks about the importance of The Godfather and how it revolutionized the thought of many films after it and the impact that it created in Hollywood. Also it shows on how successful the film was in the time that it came out grossing $134 million in the box office. The film was also nominated for Ten Academy Awards nomination winning 3 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlo Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay.  http://www.filmsite.org/godf.html

3.       The article summarizes the main parts of the film itself. The only difference is that in order to embrace on how good the film actually is, is by watching the movie and visualizing the effects, camera angling, and the significant parts played by each character and how they influence each seen and other characters around them. The article also highlights the most important and influential parts of the movies such as quotes and scenes which soon enough transpired into other Hollywood films, mainly the ones that we see today.

4.       Personally, The Godfather was definitely a top ten film in which I would recommend to every Film student and anybody pursuing a career with media and film, because the film just shows many aspects of an Italian-Mob based family in the late 40’s early 50’s and it depicts actual violence and realistic scenes that would most likely occur. The filming and lighting to the film is also exceptional. The lighting determines the mood and the setting of the characters and gives you a feeling of what is going to come next. As stated before the film shows a different aspect in general and it is definitely a must watch. Come to think of it, it made me appreciate American Film making much more than what it did before.

Casablanca

Gus Perez

Film History

Journal

Casablanca

1.     From what was discussed in the class and in the screening, Casablanca is arguably considered one of the greatest films of its time and possibly all times. The film takes place in Casablanca, Morocco during the era of World War II. The main characters of the film are Humphrey Bogart who plays Rick, Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa, and Paul Henreid as Victor. Rick is the owner of a café in Casablanca, Morroco and finds himself meeting his past love Ilsa who is then married to Victor. The film mostly focuses on how Casablanca was during the war and also the love story of Rick and Ilsa previously when they lived in Paris together. Throughout the movie they show the relationship between Rick and Ilsa from the past and how they would have a great time spending with each other and how they got split up. Ilsa then meets and marries Victor leaving them to end up in Casablanca where Rick rejoins Ilsa, making Ilsa indecisive in which she does not know whether she loves Rick or Victor. Right before the movie ends Rick tells her to go with Victor after she is deciding whether to stay or go, eventually leaving with Victor and Rick staying in Casablanca

2.     The classic and much-loved romantic melodrama Casablanca always found on top-ten lists of films, is a masterful tale of two men vying for the same woman's love in a love triangle. The story of political and romantic espionage is set against the backdrop of the wartime conflict between democracy and totalitarianism. http://www.filmsite.org/casa.html

3.     The article relates to the film because it generally talks about the film in all aspects from setting of the film in which it was in Morocco during World War II and also the love connection between the main Characters Rick and Ilsa and their true love. Also, the films shows a lot of Patriotism from the character Rick in which he does anything in his power to make sure that Ilsa and her husband make it out alive Casablanca, despite him having said in the beginning of the film that he would not stick his neck out for anybody.

4.     I enjoyed Casablanca because the story and plot of the film was exceptional especially for the time that it came out. Showing great deal of love, patriotism, and different tones from the characters and the film in general. Although the United States was going through tough times with the World War and Great Depression the film still managed to be successful with critics and viewers as well.

The Graduate

Gus Perez

Film History

Journal

The Graduate

1.     The discussion for “The Graduate” was simply that Benjamin Braddock, a recently college graduate comes home and soon enough finds himself in an affair with Mrs. Robinson, a close friend of the family and his fathers business partner. It is only after that, Benjamin rejoins with the Robinsons daughter, Elaine after she is on break from her college. At first Ben shows no emotion towards Elaine, until he takes the time to talk and catch up with her making him realize that he has a profound love for her and deciding he does not want to have an affair with Mrs. Robinson anymore after coming to conclusion that he has nothing in common with her and her being too old. Mrs. Robinson then threatens Ben that if he continues to see Elaine she will expose their affair to her daughter. Ben chooses to confess the secret to Elaine him self before Mrs. Robinson does, causing Elaine to be heartbroken and not wanting to talk to Benjamin anymore.

2.     The Graduate is one of the key, groundbreaking films of the late 1960s, that helped to set in motion to a new era of filmmaking. The influential film is a biting satire/comedy about a recent nebbish, East Coast college graduate who finds himself alienated and adrift in the shifting, social and sexual mores of the 1960s, and questioning the values of society. The themes of the film also mirrored the changes occurring in Hollywood, as new vanguards of younger directors were coming to the forefront. http://www.filmsite.org/grad.html

3.     The article relates to the screening because it simply talks about the growing generations of the youths in the late sixties, that was filled with youths rebelling against war, society was more exposing of sex and how a college graduate from the east coast tries to fit himself back at home in the west coast and tries to establish himself and soon falls in love with the daughter of the women whom he was having an affair with.

4.     I personally enjoyed the film “The Graduate” simply because Benjamin went through all the struggles to get Elaine back and winning her heart despite having told her that he had an affair with her mother before falling in love with her. The film also showed an image of what life was like for a college graduate at the time and how parents expect the most out of you and how society at the time was especially in a time when our country was involved in war.

Citizen Kane

Gus Perez

11/7/11

Film 2600

Dr. Londino

1.     In regards to Citizen Kane and the discussion based on the film in class, I can say the film shows you the story of Charles Foster Kane, which throughout the whole film a group of reporters are trying to unravel the mystery of Charles last words before he died which were “Rose Bud”. The reporters then go around asking people that Mr. Kane was close to if they knew the significance of the word and each person depicts their own stories of how they encountered Mr. Kane and how drastic he changed within time. At the end of the film the word “Rose Bud” was metaphoric for something that meant something in his life, which the reporters ultimately never got the chance to solve. In the beginning of the film you see how Charles was brought up in a poor environment with his parents until he is then taken out of his home to live with Walter Thatcher who becomes Kane’s legal guardian which then causes Charles to become a business man himself and start his own newspaper company. Charles basically goes from rags to riches in the film as you see him in the movie his character gradually transforms into a stubborn, prideful, and ambitious character filled with power and money until he loses everything that he has from his wife, to best friend, to ultimately his life.

2.     http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/45/kane.php

3.     This article relates to the screening very much because they talk about credibility the movie received as far as the style, impact, meaning and success. The film mad a major impact on the film industry after its release especially after Orson Wells practically did it all in producing, writing, directing and even starring in the film himself. The article also talks about how the film was originally going to be called “The American” which was soon changed to “Citizen Kane”. Also mentioned in the article is the down fall and flaws that Charles had in the film which was the cause of his downfall and how he went from being a happily married man to an unhappy person with frustration and anger. As you also see in the movie every time some one is saying a story about Charles you see the changes that he makes towards the end of each story and you see how quickly his character changes from becoming a charming guy to a miserable man that most people don’t like nor appreciate.

4.     After watching Citizen Kane, I can truly say that this film has become on of my favorite films of all time. The cinematography, storyboard, and concept of the film were all phenomenal. Especially because the film was filmed at the early ages of Hollywood, this film took everything a film at the time was doing to a whole new aspect, which is why the movie has a big fan base, and positive reviews and critics. I can agree that this is possibly one of the greatest films of all time, at least top 10  

Grapes Of Wrath

Gus Perez

Film 2600

Dr. Londino

11/7/11

Grapes of Wrath

1.     The Grapes of Wrath who won the Pulitzer Prize of 1940 was published in 1939 after John Steinbeck observed “Okies” (Oklahoma immigrants) migrate to California white he lived there. From then John would observe them, visit them in their camps and researched them all. John recorded all the days when the dust would blow and days would go without rain. This all caused the earth to become dry hence the Dust Bowl. With this information Steinbeck would notice the behavior of the people and how this affected them from working, to migrating, to surviving with your families. This all intrigued Steinbeck and inspired him into screening of the Grapes of Wrath film. This relates to the film because the farmers in movie lost their farms and family history, this caused to farmers to migrate to California hoping that they would find better fields and places to start their new lives and jobs.

2.     http://www.shmoop.com/grapes-of-wrath/symbolism-imagery.html

3.     The article can relate to the screening because it essentially talks about everything that was discussed in class and it breaks down all the symbolism, imagery, and allegory that were shown in the film. The article also talks about how America was prejudice in the early 1900’s and how it was relevant in the movie, also farming takes a big role in this film especially after all families depend on agriculture for life, cultivation, and growth. This becomes a factor in the film after the dust bowl hits Oklahoma and “Okies” have to migrate to California and search for new life and new places to start their agriculture. The road in Grapes of Wrath also plays a significant part because when Tom Joad returns home he becomes amused at the road as he wonders how long he will take to get home, also it symbolizes on how that road will be the road to redemption and will also allow him to make up for his mistakes.

4.     Personally I enjoyed watching the film Grapes Of Wrath because it is an all time classic that everyone should watch and it also gives you many symbols that can relate to the viewer. Also you get to see the story of Tom Joad who comes from a low class family who is migrating from Oklahoma to California to start a new life, the only problem is that Joad is a fugitive who is being chased by police, making him to keep his whereabouts confidential. The whole cinematography of the film was impeccable in all aspects which is why its considered an all time great film. 

Stagecoach

Gus Perez

Stagecoach

Film 2600

1.                    After watching and discussing Stagecoach in class, we spoke on how the setting was in 1880 which had various roles from cowboys, outlaws, prostitute, bankers, sheriffs, and of course stagecoach. The screening of this film begins when a group of unfamiliar people starts to travel to Cheyenne in the same stagecoach, which correlates to the theme of the film, in which it consist of different classes of characters ranging from prejudice to redemption. The people in the stagecoach are, a girl who was thrown out of her town for being a prostitute, alcoholic doctor, confederate gambler, whiskey salesman, a thief of a banker, a pregnant woman who is destined to join her husband in the armed forces and a gunslinger. All these characters have different personalities and different stories to their background but once a Geronimo Indian clan ambushes them they decide that the best way to come out alive is to work together.

2.                    The article I choose to do was based on the background of Stagecoach. As mentioned in class it was a movie that was filmed by John Ford, which was his first sound western movie. Although Ford had a successful career filming movies Stagecoach stands out because it was the first film he placed the setting in Monument Valley of the Southwest. The film eventually was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Black and White Cinematography, etc… In this film John Ford also collaborated with John Wayne. http://www.filmsite.org/stagec.html

3.                     I can relate this article to the screening because just like in class they both discuss on how successful Stagecoach and John Fords career both went up after the film showed promise and it was taken into a whole new perspective when they decided to make the film a Western. Stagecoach revolutionized western films mainly because it made them go from being B films to becoming a serious adult genre, and in Stagecoach it had a great theme, it was in depth with the characters, sophisticated, and it also gained a lot of popularity from the crowds.

4.                    I Personally enjoyed watching this film, especially after not watching an Western films prior to this one, it definitely changed my whole perspective on Western films, and I’m glad we choose this film because as stated before this movie revolutionized the ideal Western movie to what they are now. If it were not for this film most Western films would not have the sophisticated way or direction that this movie had. So for this I have the most utterly respect for John Ford and all of his films.

His Girl Friday

1.       His Girl Friday is a 40’s screwball comedy directed by Howard Hanks. The film is mostly a fast paced, rapid dialogued film about Walter Burns who finds out his ex- wife Hildy Johnson is quitting her job at the morning post to get remarried and start a new life as a mother and wife. The addition of a female bought a new perspective to the film in which made it more of a comedy/romance movie. Originally the film was supposed to feature a male character instead of Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russel) who was the other protagonist along with Walter Burns (Cary Grant)

2.       The film His Girl Friday grew a lot of popularity in the early 40’s based on its rapid paced dialogue. Although the addition of audio was still being experimented in the early ages of filming, His Girl Friday took it to another level. The film also gained a lot of attention because of the cast and the plot of the story. In this movie you have the two main protagonist who were previously married but Walter Burns the ex husband does everything in his will to make sure that his wife Hildy doesn’t leave just yet, until they cover one last story. http://classicfilm.about.com/od/comedies/fr/His_Girl_Friday.htm

3.       This article basically gives the description of the film, except that you cant personally visualize the film. This is a movie in which you have to see yourself to know the dialogue between the characters and the emotions between them as well. This movie also has a lot of comical moments which is why its considered a screwball comedy, except with this film you know the tone of the characters, where as in other screwball comedies they are silent.

4.        I personally enjoyed watching this film and also had a lot of relations with the character of Walter. Walter is like many of us males, with TO MUCH pride. Yet he still manages ways to still get his ex-wife to not leave to Albany to start her new life. I feel like I could relate to that because as a male I would also go out of my way to make sure that the love of my life does not walk out of my life as easily and realized that what we had was better than what she has now. In this case that’s what Walter did, he went out of his way for her and at the end he came out the victor with Hildy leaving with him. I really think that for a film that was directed way before I was born that men would still have the same mind set as they do now.