Stagecoach

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In the late 30s and early 40s some of the best films of all time were made. This time period would be remembered as the greatest time period in film history, and one of the most important films made in this time is Stagecoach, directed by one of the most iconic film makers, John Ford. Stagecoach is known for revitalizing the western genre, which at the time was thought to be boring. The film is about a group of people from all walks of life are traveling from Tonto to Lordsburg. The stagecoach was a metaphor for society, and each passenger represented a different role in society. The passengers included a banker, a sheriff, a salesman, a gambler, a prostitute, a doctor, a wife, a stage driver, and an outlaw.   

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.decentfilms.com/reviews/stagecoach

“Still, there is subtlety and nuance in the way Stagecoach develops its characters and their story-arcs. It may respect the dissolute gambler Hatfield to a point for his vestigial courtliness and sense of honor, but it pointedly contrasts Hatfield’s high-handed disdain for the individual of the lowest social standing, Dallas… Later, Hatfield makes a sickening decision at a critical moment that, however well intended, permanently alters our perception of the character.”

In Steven D. Greydanus’ review of stagecoach, he brings up the character of the gambler named, Hatfield. In the movie, Hatfield is portrayed as a southern gentleman. He shows his nature when he acts honorable toward the wife. However, he doesn't treat the prostitute, Dallas and the “critical moment” Steven refers to, is regarding a scene where the stagecoach gets attacked by Indians, Hatfield sticks a revolver to the wife’s head and with the last bullet, he planned to kill her in order to save her from what could of happened to her if she was captured. However just before he pulls the trigger, the stage coach is saved by the army.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

After reading this article, I agree and disagree with Steven’s statement that our perception of Hatfield had been altered. I agree that I had mixed feeling about Hatfield when he didn't treat Dallas with the same respect as with the wife. However I feel that Hatfield’s decision to shoot the wife did not make me think less of him, instead it did the opposite. Hatfield did it out of mercy. At first it does not seem like it, but this decision that Hatfield made, only made his character more of a gentleman.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Stagecoach is the movie that brought western movies back to “A” status; it also legitimized the career of one of America’s most beloved stars, John Wayne. The characters in the movie were all memorable; the performances by the actors were top notch as well. Characters like the alcoholic doctor, the prostitute with the heart of gold, and the revenge-driven outlaw, make Stagecoach the American classic that it is.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Robert Moroz_____________________________  Date: 10/23/2013____________________________

It Happened One Night

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

By the 1930s the film industry began to change, and the biggest change was that films now featured sound. However, there was another change in film; however this change did not add anything to film instead censored what was allowed in movies. By the early 1930 the Catholic Legion of Decency wrote the Production Code, which stated a list of forbidden material for films such as sex, drugs, consumption of alcohol and offensive words. As a result of the production code, women’s roles in movies changed as well, women’s roles were now strong, smart, workers as opposed to before the code when women’s roles were more sexually liberated. This gave way for screw ball comedy, which was largely featured a war of the sexes. One of the greatest screw ball comedies is It Happened One Night, directed by Frank Capra in 1934. The film follows Ellie Andrews, (Claudette Colbert) a spoiled runaway who while on a bus to New York, encounters Peter Warne, (Clark Gable) a reporter who offers to help Ellie out in return for a story on her.



2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8094021/It-Happened-One-Night-review.html

“It’s scarcely believable that Capra’s film is nearly eighty years old. Colbert is headstrong, delightful, irresistible. Gable is edgier, less mannered than he would later become…”



In his article, Sukhdev Sandhu praises the performances by Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and how they made It Happened One Night, along with the witty dialogue, such an enjoyable film even by today’s standards. He goes on to write how romantic comedies today don’t hold up as well as It Happened One Night.


3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

I fully agree with this article. Clarke Gable performance in the film was top notch, especially toward the end when he acts colder toward Ellie because he is saddened that he will never see her again. Claudette Colbert’s performance was also second to none, as she played the role of a spoiled heiress relying on Peter to get her out of situations. These portrayals along with the dialogue make this film a classic.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film



It Happened One Night is in my opinion, the embodiment of screw ball comedy. The dialogue between Peter and Ellie is truly a pleasure to watch. Classic scenes such as the wall of Jericho and the hitchhiking scene make this movie all the more memorable. Romantic comedies today have a thing to learn from Frank Capra and his film, in fact one could make a strong case that It Happened One Night, is the original romantic comedy.      

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Robert Moroz_____________________________  Date: 10/16/2013____________________________

The Gold Rush

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Gold Rush was made in 1924; it was both directed and stared Charlie Chaplin, one of the greatest stars of the silent movie era as well as a comedy icon. As in most of his movies, The Gold Rush stars the tramp, a lovable, comedic underdog who in The Gold Rush, travels to Alaska in search of  gold, however , he soon finds himself stranded in a cabin in the middle of a blizzard with his new partner, Big Jim McKay and the wanted criminal, Black Larsen. Later in the film, the tramp finds himself in a town where he falls for the beautiful Georgia. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://search.proquest.com/arts/docview/199409541/140D7E1649E7D166C7D/2?accountid=11809

“Chaplin's most famous dream sequence is in The Gold Rush (1925). Waiting for his new love and her friends to arrive at his cabin, Charlie begins fantasizing: He entertains the ladies with the dance of the oceana rolls, in which he uses inanimate objects (silverware and dinner rolls) in combination with his own face to form a character. This dream sequence identifies Charlie's inner desires and also establishes audience sympathy because it is evident that no one is coming to the party. The audience experiences a sense of guilt while laughing at the Tramp, because they know his dreams are futile.”

This article take a look at what Charlie Chaplin did to make the character, the tramp so appealing and likable, specifically, the dream sequences in his movies. These scenes were used to relate the tramp to everyone because they showed his ambitions and goals, and then when his dream does not come to be, the audience feels sorry for him. Charlie Chaplin used dream sequences as a tool for pathos, helping to make the tramp all the more real of a character.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

After reading this article I realized that the scene where Chaplin day dreams about his New Year’s Eve party was one of the more important parts of The Gold Rush. The scene displays the tramps hopes and dreams and makes the audience feels exited, only to have Georgia abandon him for another party. The next scene where the camera shows the party following a shot of Chaplin alone watching everyone does an excellent job of portraying the tramps loneliness. This scene would have been far less powerful had the audience not seen the tramps dream of spending new years with Georgia.  

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

The Gold Rush is a silent film, and by today’s standards, silent films are thought to be dull and unenjoyably, however The Gold Rush even today has a lot to offer. In The Gold Rush, Charlie Chaplin does an excellent job of making people laugh, this movie is full of classic scenes that anyone can laugh at, while also having a romantic side.  Charlie Chaplin’s ability to make an audience laugh while telling a story to make his character so appealing is fully in display in this movie. Chaplin said that the Gold Rush was his favorite film, and rightfully so, it is a testament to Charlie Chaplin’s contribution to the film industry.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: Robert Moroz_____________________________  Date: 10/1/2013____________________________