80’s film

I read the book this week and recognized many of the films. Back to the Future, Goodfellas, Fargo, and Twin Peaks were some of the ones I recognized. This decade was a prosperous one for cinema, one that served to become an emblem of American culture. It is noteworthy though, how the 80’s was also a time of fear. People were afraid of their health status, as the outbreak of AIDS had occurred in the 80’s. The AIDS epidemic was gathering attention from attention from the public after actor Rock Hudson was diagnosed with the disease. An actor being diagnosed with AIDS brought to light the humanity of celebrities, as well as providing a sharp reminder that mankind is vulnerable no matter the status or level of fame. 

The 80’s was also a decade a time that appealed highly to fantasy. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg were two of the most iconic directors of the 80’s, as they were known for the legendary works of Star Wars and Jaws. Hollywood would see a sudden increase in profit after the release of these movies. The genre of fantasy was most prominent during this decade, and it served to cultivate the most profit for Hollywood during this time. Modern-day works such as The Avengers are just one of the works that have capitalized from the fantasy genre. The younger generation was captivated by portrayals of the good against evil archetype with movies such as Deer Hunter and Coming Home, which also faced the aspect of realistic danger and conflict. They focused on the effects of the Vietnam War. The 80’s was a decade that provided fantasy entertainment as well as a dose of realistic confrontation. 

The movie Deer Hunter was directed by Michael Cimino, and it centers on a group of three men from Pennsylvania who experience the atrocities of the Vietnam War firsthand. This film received critical acclaim and won five Oscars in 1978. People were taken aback and shocked by the levels of violence and torture that was shown in the film. It was unprecedented and impacting how this movie managed to capture the horrors of the war and show the effects it had on people. This was an anti-war film that went against the norms of the time. People wanted peace back then and war was pretty much the only way to secure peace. This was a film that elucidated the exact brutality of the gritty nature of war. People wanted to try and ignore the AIDS epidemic as well as the effects of Vietnam, that is until a popular actor was afflicted by the disease. 

When Rock Hudson died from AIDS in 1985, it caused a major panic in Hollywood as his death gained much coverage. Directors such as Adrian Lyne then created films that delivered the message to fear unprotected sex so that one does not contract AIDS like beloved Hudson. The film Fatal Attractions also gained fame for the switching of gender roles. The film had the lead male display more meek and sensitive qualities, while the female lead would show more masculine qualities. The film was also groundbreaking in the sense that it went against the social norms in the ways that they depicted masculinity and femininity.

When starting this week, we looked at the French New Way. This was an idea provoked by the thought of making films as art and not tools for monetization. A big issue is that people go into something because of how much money there is to be made, and not because the pursuit in question is their passion. During this era of Hollywood, many independent film makers and smaller studios came to the scene in order to create works of cinematic masterpieces. This was an opportunity for those who had visions of cinema to come to the front and display their talent. 

We transitioned into the American wave of the 1970’s. We see some of the greats here, such as Woody Allen and George Lucas. This is when iconic works such as Star Wars, E.T., and the Exorcist came to being. The Exorcist is seen as the modern-day original supernatural horror film. We would not have modern works such as The Conjuring or Paranormal activity without films like these to incite creativity in later directors. The 70’s was in a sense the pioneer decade that set the tone for the movie scene that we all later come to love. 

This week we watched Poseidon Adventure. We saw the talents of Gene Hackman up close. I was frustrated by Nonnie, who started problems with the group and caused them delays. I am not really a fan of this thriller-esque genre, as I do not like the constant state of anticipation. I wondered what would happen to the group various times and found myself emotionally invested in this film. I think about the power of this genre, and how it can sweep people into an emotional rollercoaster. I would suppose that is the beauty of this genre. 

Moreover, the 70’s was a time period that allowed for much creative freedom. Never was there a time where directors were given more freedom to direct in whichever styles they wanted. They had creative autonomy and the liberty to manifest their visions on the big screen. The 70’s was a good decade for art in general because people felt more liberated and elevated, causing them to have unique pursuits and consume art more. Target audiences changed during this decade, as Hollywood began making movies for rebellious young people. Leadership also changed during this period, as MGM, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, and UA all went through mergers, something which had been considered unprecedented. 

I have also been thinking of the film called “The Godfather” which was released in 1972. The movie was something of almost cult-like adoration due to the violence, drug abuse, and the overall grit that constituted the atmosphere of this iconic film. The Exorcist caused some people to pass out from its unprecedented levels of fear. Jaws was released in 197 5, and it can be argued that it is the most influential film of the 70’s. It is without saying that the 70’s was a magnificent decade for film.

The 1960’s films

This week we focused on the history of film and motion picture. We saw a group present “Singing in the rain” which I think superbly contributed film’s transition from silence into sound. The 60’s was an iconic time for television because it marked the transition from silent viewing to sound. Studio seemed to collapse during this time as well, as big motion picture studios did not want to catch on to the times and were hesitant to incorporate sound into their motion films. These studios banked on happy-themed movies that were somewhat lackadaisical and people didn’t care about them anymore. The innovation of color ushered in the new era of thriving cinema. The induction of color was what sparked the blockbuster of cinema. 

Movies were allowed to finally show blood and there was backlash. Before, people would get shot in movies and there would be no wound, or bullet hole. When the late 60’s arrived it prompted producers to increase the amount of blood, sex, and violence that was displayed to audiences. The reviews for these films were polarized in nature, with half of people loving these films and the other hating them. This is a genre that truly encapsulated the divisive nature of the 60’s decade. The introduction of color into film made the blockbuster era thrive even more because of it’s wide appeal. 

This week we saw the movie Bonnie and Clyde. This movie was highly pertinent to the time period because it was a pioneer in many areas. It introduced depth into film and plot subplot that paved the way for dynamic film plot. It brought about radical social change, as it made films in ways that portrayed the darker sides of society. Movies became cynical and showed the selfish 

and corrupt side of humanity. Violence on television also became more prominent and graphic, as well as more realistic in nature. Sex became more explicitly portrayed in film so that they could appeal to the subcultures that were forming during the time, such as teens. Those of the teenage crowd were exploited because of their rebellious nature. Teens were rebelling against their parents and started to not agree with their ideals. This was the breeding grounds for exploitation films, which were movies that targeted trending social phenomena and items of cultural relevance. 

Some of those who are movie enthusiasts would say that the blockbuster era of Hollywood where self-reinvention was deemed iconic. The release of these films was at a crucial time, one where people where feeling tumultuous and jaded from Vietnam and government influence. Conformity was also starting to be questioned, as people were becoming more skeptical about society as a whole. The system of Hollywood was collapsing due to the deaths of industry moguls. I have learned about the depth of the music industry, as well as the tribulations that big-time producers went through in order to deliver quality entertainment to the mass public and increase popularity.

Exploitation films

This week, we turned our focus towards exploitation films. These are kinds of films that attempts at financial success by exploiting the current trends, sex, violence, drugs, or anything else deemed polemical by the society of the time. We saw a documentary on the two men whom started the trend of exploitation films. Samuel Arkoff and James Nicholson were two men with dreams of getting into the film industry with American International Pictures. This was a film company that focused on appealing to teens, as they were attracted to horror and beach movies. They also had films for the African American demographic, a subgenre known as blaxploitation films. The companies of the time were only interested in teens and their affairs, such as romance.  

The teenage population was a very crucial target in the fifties, as film companies were interested in the movies that appealed to their teenage sensitivities, such as beach movies and romanticized contexts in movies. These movies gave teenagers an escape, as their parents did not want to watch these kinds of movies and it left these movies as a large teenage movie viewing. Teens could now get away from their parents, who failed to understand them. American International Picture films had an advantageous demographic in the fact that they exploited the generational conflict between parents and their kids and portrayed it in movies to succeed financially.  

Arkoff and Nicholson were pioneers in the production of exploitation films by American International Films. Mostly everyone was attracted by the controversial content because it was unlike this time to post provocative material. Teenage rebellion attracted young viewers who felt misunderstood by their parents. This was an audience whom American Picture International films. Nudity in films was also controversial during this time, as people were more conservative and did not believe the naked body to be something that should be published publicly. Millions of young Americans were attracted to drive-in theatres, seeing their appeal to the exploitation genre that had high demand for actors like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Asian films were also in high popularity, as they focused on sexual and romantic relationships. Better visuals and sound also provided visual innovation.  

Wild Strawberries was a Bergman film that I watched in which Victor Sjorstrom stars a cantankerous 78-year-old man who goes on a road trip to go and get administration as a physician. He goes with is pregnant daughter in law and drives off with her in the search of opportunity. Old memories come to the surface, displaying a vulnerability that was unprecedented in visual cinema. Regret and love come into play, making audiences reflect on their values and get in more in touch with their emotions. God comes into play as well, with exploitation films making viewers reflect on their values and mortality. The themes of remorse are also very highlighted during this era of film, as people make decisions they regret and therefore allows the exploitation film genre to show shine in the way it portrayed emotional display. 

Film noir and Casa blanca

For this week, I have assessed 1940’s/50’s American Cinema and the aftermath of WWII noir film. The plot of the movie revolves around a pessimistic club owner who tries to protect and ex-lover and her husband from Nazi persecution in Morocco. The owner’s club becomes a sanctuary despite the fact that he was under investigation from the authorities. This film is iconic because Hollywood had experienced their golden years from the years of 1930 to 1945. The introduction of sound to the world of cinema at the end of the 1920’s was crucial in the shaping of American culture and life during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Sound effects were fresh and they managed to scare people due to the nature of their innovation at the time. Several genre films were made that furthered the war efforts of the government. Cinema was used during this time period in order to promote powerful propaganda. Films in cinema were used as a tool of psychological warfare against enemies of the U.S. The films also served to bring social and political awareness of the conditions that existed in the U.S. The term “Film Noir” is used to describe Hollywood films that emphasize crime drama and cynical attitudes towards life. Film Noir also focused on the sexual motivations of life. Film Noir is also unique in the sense that it can have various plots and unfold dramatically. The romance portrayed in Casablanca is not excessive nor melodramatic, with the drama slow to culminate and the overall story not too passionate. The film is also powerful in the fact that it was released at a very important time, with the release being around the time of the country’s involvement in the Second World War. There is criminal activity being shown in its rawest form in Casablanca, as allowing Nazis to retreat and stay in one’s home was forbidden and punishable. Rick, the club owner who sheltered them, faces a moral dilemma when he internally debates whether or not he should allow them to stay out of the kindness of his heart, or give them up to the Nazi authorities because he feels scorned and rejected. It turns out that Rick sacrifices love and his own safety to combat a bigger issue and to rescue the woman he loves in order to 

preserve her happiness and livelihood. The film has a value that is sexual in the way that arouses people’s imaginations by highlighting the grit of human emotion. Film Noir allowed the raw, potent nature of emotion to be illustrated in a way that displayed the dark thoughts of the public. The fact that women assumed the roles of men during the war disoriented society at the time, and America was experiencing inner turmoil due to its traditional values being imbalanced. Film Noir was exemplary at displaying the moral dilemmas as well as being devoid of happy endings in order to show that life is unexpected and sometimes grim. I believe Film Noir is delightfully macabre and reflects on the harsh realities of life.

This week in class we watched a British classic, the movie “39 steps” by Gaumount British Distributors Studios. The film had a budget of about 50,000 pounds which is about 3.4 million pounds today, that about 4.4 million dollars. The story of the movie is loosely based of a book called “The Thirty-Nine Steps” by John Buchan. The movie is about a guy who was falsely accused of murder in Britain and needed to go on the run to Scotland to clear his name. In the process of clearing his name he was also revealing that their was a secret spy agency that was trying to steal top secret British information. I enjoyed the film way more than I thought. I was again expecting an old cheesy movie. But to my surprise this movie kept me full attention all the way through. This movie was so well put together by the director, Alfred Hitchcock. The movie main character had many some what romantic relationship with people through out the movie. It made him look like a really cool lady’s man. The movie had many funny moments throughout the movie that enjoyed especially when Hannay and Pamela were hand cuffed together.

Also earlier this week a couple of our classmates presented about the movie “The Best Years of Our Lives” . I never heard of or watched this movie before. They explained to us that the movie was produced and made by Samuel Goldwyn Productions. They told us that the movie was directed by William Wyler and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. From what I understand the movie is about three World War two veterans returning home from the war back to the families. They each came back to a different problems caused by the war. Al problem is that he came back home and all of his kids are all grown up. They barley recognize each other. So much time apart from his family has caused a weird and awkward relationship with his family. Fred comes back to his wife that he married just a month before he left to the war. The problem is his wife does not want to be with him anymore because of the job he has. While homer problem is that he came back from the war with both of his lower arms gone. He was engaged with a woman but was afraid to face her since he was disabled. Just from the amazing explanation and presentation from my classmates I can say that this movies sounds very sad but important. It shined light on the many issues that veterans faced when they came back home. In class we spoke that some people at the time thought it was wrong to use homer in the movie because he really was a handicapped world war two veteran but I do not. When I heard that some people thought it was a distraction to have him in the movie and that is completely absurd. Homer added character to the movie. It sounded like he really help make the movie more raw and real.

We began watching a film about Charlie Chaplin and his life. Charlie Chaplin was very well played by Robert Downey Jr. We got to see a scene of how Chaplin started his career here in the United States. Chaplin had recieved a telegraph with an offer to go work for a studio in California. Once he finally got to the California, he went to go meet with the director who offered him the job. One look at him and the director didn’t believe he was the real Charlie Chaplin and tried to just wave him off. Then Charlie started to perform his famous drunk act and quickly won over the director and everyone near by. They believed that he wasn’t the real Chaplin. After he performed his comedy drunk act, everyone cheered him on and that was proved that he was the real Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin is one of the most known character to be on the big screen in history. I hope we get to watch the rest of the film some time later in the semester.

The “Bride of Frankenstein” was surprisingly a very interesting film. That exactly why they say you should never judge a book by it cover. I thought that since it was such a old movie I would not be too interested. Boy, was I wrong. I did not expect that a movie made in 1935 would be as good as it was. I expected a film with much worse editing, effects and acting. The fact they put such a good film together with such subpar technology at the time is quite impressive in my eyes. We was told to lookout for comedic moments in the movie. Professor Schlegel told us to try and pay attention to the jokes being told in the film. Looking at the movie from that viewpoint allowed me to notice a bunch of jokes in the film the I feel I would have looked over. My favorite part of the film is when Frankenstein meet the old blind man. In those scenes it is shown that Frankenstein is not trying to hurt anyone. He only begins to act out when people are screaming or attacking him because he looks like a monster. I truly enjoyed when he finally made a “Friend”. Thanks to their friendship one of the funniest scene in the film happened in my opinion. I love the scene when Frankenstein says “Drink, goooood” and “Smoke, goooood”. Overall it was a great film really wish it was longer.

Before this class I did not know that Russia was involved so much in the development of editing. Obviously the Russians were more interested in using editing for propaganda purposes. With out any sound they have found a way through only images to tell story so well. They used a correlation of photos that alone don’t have much meaning but together can use it to tell as story. It honestly amazing to see how well a story can be told with no sound.