Class Notes – General Flashcards
What is the moral panic?
Reaction to the media: unfamiliar rate of adoption… That affects other people – non-straight non-white non-middle class…
What is the pathetic fallacy?
Nature response to human conditions or emotions
red dust
As part of the moral panic that ensued with many of the films at the tail end of the 20s and into the 30s who were supposedly the most susceptible to this kind of influence? To this moral panic?
“The other “– women, nonwhite, non-middle class/upper class, non-educated, or poorly educated, the vulnerable
As such, the non-other must protect the vulnerable
The Golden age – what was this really a reflection of?
The world according to Joseph bring – Hollywood under the code/production of the code! Changed to reality/reflection of unopposed reality.
List details of the fil “ladies they talk about”
Warner Bros. 1933 – Howard bretherton
Nan Taylor - Barbara Stanwyck David Slade - Preston Foster Linda - Lilian Roth Mustard (black woman) Susie (dirty sneak)
What was the Paramount decision and when was it made?
In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that film studios were monopolizing too much; vertical control. Courts ruled that they had to let go of their theaters.
Took 10 years to unravel…
Name three reasons why the code fell off in the late 50s
Paramount decision… 1948
Television! – Films distributing back logs to broadcasters
Foreign films! Race year, more bizarre/aesthetically challenging
Describe the studio system in the 20s and 30s… Really, leading up to mid 50s.
Dream factory! Big five, little three! MGM, universal, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, paramount…
All inclusive/vertical control. Sophisticated systems for production. Studio’s specific contracts. “Notorious seven-year contract “highly mechanized/industrial
Who were the primary influences of the Paramount decision in 1948?
Theatre managers! Complained about this monopolizing system – unable to show the hottest films.
What are vice additives?
Imbued films with this content on purpose in order to satisfy the appeal and desires of audiences
Deliberately spice up films “more hot quote to attract audiences
Distinguish between the fallen woman films and bad girl films
Fallen woman – forced into situation to survive. Born out of necessity.
Bad girl – out of pleasure. Uses it to get what she wants… Often just to destroy
The code required there repentance/fall
List the main characters and players in Babyface
Lily – Barbara Stanwyck
Trentholm – George Brent
List of the main characters, players, and director of red dust
Victor Fleming,
Dennis Carson – Clark Gable,
Vantine - Jean Harlow
Barbara - Mary Astor
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of red dust
MGM 1932 - Victor Fleming,
Dennis Carson – Clark Gable,
Vantine - Jean Harlow
Barbara - Mary Astor
List of the year, production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of little Caesar
Warner Bros. 1931 - Mervyn Leroy (also dir. I am a fugitive from a chain gang; three on a match, gold diggers of 1933; the wizard of oz (uncredited))
Little Caesar (Riko Bandello) - Edward G. Robinson Mr. Montana
Little Cesar represents the symbolic consolidation of many of the factors that led to the gangsters genre. What were these factors?
1) Social environment
- depression. Warfare. Troubled American dream.
Fascination with vigilante figures (Al Capone John Dillinger)
2) Technology – sound. Tommy guns, wardrobe, crime has sound! Tires screeching,
** American mythologies –
impenetrable exceptionalism. (from astronauts to Cowboys to gangsters.… Private investigators even!)
Individual rather than collective.
What does the gangster character reflect in social attitude/ideals?
Undercutting of conventional ways of climbing the social/economic ladder.
Embodiment of American exceptionalism (but also criminal that is often considered as a foreign infestation… the dangerous part; Irish, Italian, black, Jewish.
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of I am a fugitive from a chain gang
Warner Bros. 1932 - Mervyn Leroy
James Allen - Paul Muni
Based on char. Robert burning
Sebastian (black man)
What studio was to social issues as another was to glamour?
Warner Bros. Dash hard realities
Paramount and MGM – glamour
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of Heroes for sale
First National Pictures (controlled by Warner Bros. ) 1933 Dir. Williams Wellman (also skyscraper souls)
Ruth - Loretta young
Tom Holmes - MC
Roger (betrayer)
Max
What seems so compelling/interesting about the ending to heroes for sale?
Open ended. Situation seemed to have no end… There was a promise with FDR; but it seems like the depression had no end.
Heroes for sale and,in part, I am a fugitive from a chain gang are examples of what? – Type of film at this time.
Preachment yards
The finger of judgement - LAW
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of Gabriel over the White House
MGM 1933 – Gregory la Cava
Judson Hammond – Walter Houston
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of Gabriel over the White House
MGM 1933 – Gregory la Cava
Judson Hammond – Walter Houston
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of The film that exemplifies wisecracking
Footlight parade – Warner Bros. – 1933 Dir. Lloyd Bacon
Chester Kent –James Cagney
Nan – Joan Blondel
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of Skyscraper souls
1932Edgar Selwyn
David White – warren William
Lynn – Maureen O’Sullivan
Jenny – Anita page
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of The Black Cat
Universal pictures 1934
Edgar G. Unmer
Hjalmar Poelzig - Boris Karloff
Dr. Vitus Wedegast - Bella Lugosi
List of the production company, director and main characters (and their characters) of Tarzan and his mate
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1934 – Cedric gibbons James McKay
Tarzan – Johnny Weissmuller
Jane - Marino Sullivan
