Why watch old films? February 26, 2010

Many have questioned me recently on the want or even desire to sit for long hour and watch old films? So I thought I would lay the topic out on the table and my thoughts. Here we go:

History/Culture Lessons

I firmly believe that even though it is a film and almost always a fictional story, that is purely fictional or a fictional  story based on true events, that it offers the chance to leran about what was going on in that period of history or to learn about a different culture. The films I have watched so far on the AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies lists are perfect examples of this concept. Citizen Kane and Casablanca are perfect for gaining a historical perspective into what refugees of World War II were facing or what the big business of journalism during the time of the famous “yellow journalism.” Cultural perspective, well the Godfather can teach you a lot like: “Leave the gun and take the cannolis.”

Respect

I truly respect what films of the past have accomplished in visual technique, even though films of today can do so much more with sound, picture quality, and visual animation. There is something about the style of older films that sometimes for me is so much more powerful and memorable than what I see today on the big screen. Take for instance how clever production crew was on the set of Singin’ in the Rain, when the time came for the title number, they simply added milk to the rain water so it would clearly be seen visually. Or what about the amazing film techniques used in Citizen Kane, where the camera shots pull out to reveal an entire scene.

Enchantment

Finally, I am going to admit I am honestly enchanted by old films and have been since I was a very young child. I remember in elementary school our music teacher introduced to the world of musicals and every few months or so we would take a break from music lessons and just sit and watch. I would go home and beg my mom to rent them from the video store over and over again. I sometimes watched them more than cartoons, unlike most kids at that age. I still today love musicals but, more than ever I enjoy older films. Until this blog I had never seen Casablanca, but I love that film now and that is the style of film that draws me in. The way they make female characters look in black and white films is enchanting to me, the way they make them sparkle. What else am I enchanted with? Meet Me In St. Louis, South Pacific, Bringing Up Baby, Philadelphia Story, and Hello Dolly. Movies will continue to be powerful and awe-inspiring, though there is something about looking into films of the past that will forever have a profound impact on the future.

Logo For Class February 22, 2010

We were assigned to create a Web 2.0 logo for iPod for class. For Educational Purposes only.

#5 Singin’ in the Rain (1952) February 8, 2010

“What’s the first thing an actor learns? “The show must go on!’ Come rain, come shine, come snow, come sleet, the show MUST go on!”

Coming in at #5, my favorite movie Singin’ in the Rain directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Donald O’Connor won a Golden Globe for his role in this film. To many people this film is considered the classic American Musical. I fell in love with this film as a kid after seeing it in music class and I have honestly felt enchanted with the musical genre since.

The Basics: The film starts out with all the Hollywood movies stars arriving to see the latest film premiere for the Hollywood couple Don Lockwood, played by Gene Kelly and Lena Lamont. After the premiere Lockwood tries to duck from his fans and ends up in a car with a girl named Kathy Seldon, played by Debbie Reynolds who claims to be a real actress because she performs theatre instead of film. The stars all head to an after party where they get their first introduction to what would be the new craze in Hollywood, talking pictures. Later, they have girls performing from a local restuarant and it turns out that Kathy Seldon is one of them. Lockwood teases her and Seldon tries to throw cake in his face but he ducks and it ends up in Lena’s face. Next, Lena and Don start working on their next film which is like their other classic romance films, though after the premiere of another studio’s talking picture they decide they must change the film to go that route as well. They reshoot the film to be a talking picture and preview it for a crowd, though after the film strip and the track get out of sync, Lockwood and Lamont are made a laughing stalk of Hollywood. They decide to give the film the kick it needs to turn it into a musical where the actors must sing and dance. The problem is that Lena has a high-pitched unpleasant voice and can’t sing at all. So they decide the solution will be to have Kathy Seldon sing and speak for Lena, without her knowledge. At the premiere of the film, Lena is asked to sing and they have Kathy stand behind a curtain only later to be revealed as Lena’s voice. Don then makes sure the audience knows that it was her that sang beautifully in the film and he is also in love with her.

The Techniques: One of my favorite things they did in the film is where Gene Kelly is dancing to the title song, “Singin’ in the Rain” and the street is filled with water while it visible rains. It’s interesting to note that they actually added milk to the rain water so that it would be easier to see on camera. Many people also think that this specific scene was shot in one take, when in fact it took at least 2-3 days to complete the filming of this scene.

The Favorites: Two of my favorite scenes are in the beginning of the film, the first being the very beginning when all of the movie stars are arriving to see the latest film coming out by Lockwood and Lamont. I always loved seeing the great costumes on each of the stars and how it was a great representation of their personality and the time period. My second favorite scene is at the film premiere party where Debbie Reynolds character, Kathy Seldon is dancing and is seen by Gene Kelly’s character. He makes some cold remarks to her about her not being a real actor and she goes to toss a cake in his face, he ducks and the cake hits Lena. Finally, my third favorite part is the end when they have Lena sing in front of a live audience and the men backstage pull back the curtain to reveal that Kathy Seldon is actually the beautiful voice that the audience thought was Lena’s.

#4 Raging Bull (1980) February 5, 2010

“I got these small hands. I got a little girl’s hands.”

Coming in 4th place on the AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies is the 1980 hit Raging Bull. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriaty, and Joe Pesci. Now I have to say while this film is considered a classic and was nominated for 8 academy awards in 1980…it was not my favorite. That said for others it could be an excellent choice and deserves the same treatment as the other films have gotten thus far.

The Basics: The film’s main character Jake LaMotta, who is played by Robert De Niro, who is a middleweight boxer whose rage, jealously, and appetite destroy his time in the ring and his relationship with his wife and children. Joe Pesci, plays LaMotta’s brother and manager that tries to help him overcome the rough spots in his life. I think this is where I felt a little bored and grossed out at points, though there were some high action scenes in the ring during some of the fights.The ending of the film is where LaMotta tells journalists that he is officially retired, but after staying out all night and fighting with his wife Vicki, she tells him she wants a divorce. Jake is sent to jail and has a flashback to the scene where he says, “I coulda been a contender.” The films ends with LaMotta quoting the symbolic bible verse, “All I know is this: Once I was blind, and now I can see.”

The Techniques: First thing, I noted about this film is that it has very clear vivid picture on the screen, though it is still filmed in black and white. The second technique is that they actually placed a camera in the ring that would act as giving a point of view of the opponent around the ring, which they created to look like a replica of Madison Square Gardens. The third point, isn’t really a filming technique but more of an interesting fact during filming. The production of the film actually shut down for several weeks so Robert De Niro could go on an eating benge to bulk up for the heavy set LaMotta.

Most memorable scenes: I think the first scene that was most memorable to me was when LaMotta is in the ring his championship belt against Laurent Dauthuille. This scene the background is mostly dark and the light is surrounding the boxers, who I might add are really going at each other. I honestly had to turn away and did not really care to see the blood and sweat dripping from their faces as LaMotta’s eyes swelled shut. The second most memorable scene for me was the end when LaMotta is in jail and turns to look in the mirror saying, “All I know is this: Once I was blind, and now I can see.” This is very symbolic and gives the film a redemptive quality or at least the character De Niro plays.

Next up one of my favorites…Singin’ in the Rain

#3 Casablanca (1942) January 28, 2010

“Here’s looking at you kid.”

Coming in at #3 on the AFI 100 Years 100 Movies List is Casablanca directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. This like The Godfather was a new film for me and I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. By far a classic romantic film. It also won 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The Basics: Casablanca is set during World War II in Casablanca, Moracco. Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, is an American living and operating a nightclub in Casablanca, which at the time was being patrolled by Nazis controlled France. Rick is very neutral on the war-time issues, though has a very mixed crowd of people coming to his club. Many of the people in Casablanca at the time were people who were refugees from other countries taken over by the Nazis and were waiting on transit papers to make their way to safe regions of the world such as America. On the evening where the film begins, Llsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) arrives at the nightclub with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a fugitive Resistance leader who is wanted by the Nazis. The couple is trying to get transit papers to leave for America and the Nazis leaders are trying to make sure that does not happen. Rick is surprised to realize that he knows Llsa Lund from his time back in France and as the film later shows they had fallen in love while her husband was in a concentration camp. Something Rick never knew about and they had plans to leave what was becoming occupied France together. The film now leaves Rick with a choice between his love for Llsa and helping her and her husband escape to safety in America.

The Techniques: I thought it was interesting to find out that the cinematographer for this film was Arthur Edeson, who had previously shot the film The Maltese Falcon. In doing research about the filming technique of Casablanca it’s interesting to see how much symbolism there actual is in the film. The first technique you can recognize is Llsa (played by Ingrid Bergman) was shot mainly on her preferred left side and often with a softening gauze filter and with catch lights to make her eyes sparkle. The idea was to make her look sad and nostalgic and it reminds me of the classic way famous actresses were filmed in black and white films. The second technique is the way the lighting often creating dark shadow bars across people’s faces to give the idea of imprisonment.

The Favorites: My top pick for favorite scene in this film is when the nightclub is full of all different types of people and Sam the piano player gets the crowd to sing and respond to his song by singing, “Knock on wood.” I think with all the background setup about World War II in the beginning, this scene gives a sense of community and that no matter the hard times people are still finding a way to enjoy themselves, they are hopeful in a time where hope is hard to come by.

My second favorite scene is the ending of the film when Bogart’s character Rick is saying some of his last words to Bergman’s character Llsa including once more of his famous line to her, “Here’s looking at you kid.” There is a classic romantic feel to this scene, that for many makes the idea of love seem believable.

#2 The GodFather (1972) January 25, 2010

“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” “It’s business not personal.”

Coming in second place is the famous classic: The Godfather. Now, I admit this was my first time watching the film in its entirety (175 min.) Though, I enjoyed it and finally have a sense of understanding of all the references that are made reguarding this film.

The Basics: The Godfather tells the story of the American Corleone crime family living in New York around 1940’s. The story begins with Don, the Godfather and Tom Hagen, his consigliere,(a consigliere is an adviser or counselor to a mafia boss, with the additional responsibility of representing the don in important meetings both within the don’s crime family and with other crime families) hearing requests for favors during the Godfather’s daughter’s wedding reception. It is well known that the Godfather cannot turn down a request on the day of his daughter’s wedding, making him a very busy man. The film then moves through the life of the Corleone family makes deals to help a movie star get into a film and the possibility of entering the drug business. The family takes some dramatic turns when the Godfather is shot several times and his sons must take over the family business. Michael decides to take some matters into his own hands so much so, he must flee to Italy to be in hiding. Meanwhile Sonny, another son of the Godfather, takes charge of the family business and is known as implusive in how he handles things.

The Techniques: One of the best techniques of the long slow zoom that starts the film off where the undertaker has come to request a favor from The Godfather on the day of his daughter’s wedding. The shot starts off with the camera zoomed in and focused on the undertaker. It then slowly pulls out to show the back of the Godfather’s head. Another scene that I have read about is where Moe Green is shot in the eye. This was filmed by having the actor’s glasses fixed with two tubes, one with the blood and one with a BB, that when the gun was shot the air shot the BB through the glasses releasing the blood.

The Most Memorable (changed for this film because favorite seems awkward when people or animals are being killed…just saying): The first memorable scene for me happens about thirty minutes into the film, when Tom Hagen, the consigliere, is sent to speak with a Hollywood director to give Johnny an acting job in a war film. The director refuses and wakes up to find the cutoff head of his prized pure breed horse in his bed filled with blood. This scene sets the stage for understanding that when the Godfather “makes you an offer you can’t refuse,” it will be one that you can’t refuse!

The second memorable scene for me was when Michael goes to meet with the Police Captain McCluskey and Sollozzo to smooth things over for both of the families.  The Corleone family have carefully placed a gun in the bathroom, knowing Michael cannot conceal the weapon on his body because he will be frisked. During the dinner meeting Michael asks to be excused to the bathroom, where he goes to get the gun. He then returns to the table to sit until a noisy train passes by and then shoots Sollozzo once in the head and McCluskey three times in the head until he collaspes flipping the table, both are dead.

The final memorable scene for me is the at the end of the film when Michael has returned from Italy to take over the family business and to become a godfather to his sister’s new baby. One of the families own partners, Tessio, asks to call a meeting with another crime family, which is a signal of his shift in allegiance to the Barzini family, the meeting is set for the day of the christening and is also intended to be an execution of Michael. The scene shows Michael at the christening being asked by the priest if he renounces the Devil and flips in between scenes of Corleone assassins murder the dons that are the heads of other New York crime families, including Moe Greene being shot in the eye (see The Techniques above for details), Tessio, and eventually after the christening Michael confront his brother-in-law Carlo for his suspected involvement in the killing of Michael’s brother, he is also killed.

Next up: Casablanca…

Numero Uno: Citizen Kane (1941) January 18, 2010

“I don’t think there’s one word that can describe a mans life.”

Starting at the Top of AFI’s 100 Years 100 Movies List I begin with Citizen Kane (1941). I first saw this film in a high school film history course, where most people rolled their eyes at the thought of having to watch a black and white movie. Watching Citizen Kane for the second time I felt really in touch with the power and technique that makes this film jump to the top of the list. At what age did you first see this American classic and what did you think of it?

The Basics: Citizen Kane is a film about the life and legacy of Charles Foster Kane (played by Orsen Welles), which is a character based on the newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and Orsen Welles own life. “The great yellow journalist himself lived to be history.” The film begins with a title of “News on the March,” where the life of Kane is narrated and then cuts to a group of directors and producers who are criticizing the depth of the film they have just produced. They decide to start digging for more depth into the life of Kane, by visiting those that knew Kane the best.

The Techniques: Two filming techniques stick out the most in Citizen Kane. The first being the use of deep focus, which is found throughout most of the film. Deep focus in this film is used to put the foreground, background, and everything in between in sharp focus. Another great filming technique used throughout the film is the low angle shot. The low angle shot is where the point of view is facing upwards, making the viewer able to see many of the ceilings throughout the film. It also allows characters to have a more powerful and prominent stance.

The Favorites: One of my favorite scenes is the readings of Kane’s manuscripts of memories as a child, which then dissolves into Kane playing in the snow and then as the camera pulls back it shows Kane’s mother and father meeting with Mr. Thatcher. This scene is a great example of the deep focus. Many films have scenes where the shot pulls back to reveal more of the scene but blurs the background or the foregorund to put importance on the other. In Citizen Kane, everything is focused on every detail. This is also the scene shown as back story that introduces a running theme in his life and why is life was forever changed.

A second favorite scene is the part right after the Night at the Opera, when Kane and his wife Susan are arguing over her bad review that was made by kane’s friend Leeland. I love the film technique in this scene with the lighting and the low angle shots. Kane is standing after answering the door and Susan screams she doesn’t want to sing anymore. Kane walks over to her in anger and as he gets closer his shadow blocks the light on her body and he says she will continue singing. Just more symbolism of the power and control Kane wants over he.

My final favorite is how the director is able to show how time progresses throughout the film. The director does this by showing newspaper headlines coming out about Kane, which he after all was the news. The scenes are then faded in and out with the newspaper to show quickly movement in time. What is your favorite part of Citizen Kane?

Until next time: The Godfather I’ll be watching…

Hello world! January 17, 2010

Welcome to my blog! The focus of this blog is simple: I will be watching films from the American Film Insitute’s 100 Years 100 Movies List. Each week one film and one post. Not necessarily spoilers but commentary on the film itself, techniques and in general my favorite parts.

I have always loved movies and especially old movies because I feel that they held a magic that even today with all of the possibilities of special effects movies still can’t touch it. Enjoy comment and of course get watching!