Classical Hollywood

Question 1

Casablanca

Answer 1

Michael Curtiz (1942)
Studio: Warner Brothers
starring Humphrey Bograt, Ingrid Bergman

Question 2

social (Casablanca)

Answer 2

set and filmed during WW1 = tensions between countries
bogart (playing Rick) reflects what america was like in WW1 being a strong headed logical man.
Affairs were frowned upon (hayscode) ‘nice’ unmarried women werent suppose to sleep with their boyfriends.

Question 3

Cultural (Casablanca)

Answer 3

stylistic qualities of ‘film noir’ in cinematography.
chiaroscuro lighting; having shadows silhouettes and high key lighting.
Use of ‘seedy urban landscape’ portraying the world gone wrong also owes its use to film noir

Question 3

The big 5
and mini 3

Answer 3

Big 5: Paramount, Warner Brothers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Fox Film, RKO
Mini 3: Universal, Columbia, United Artist

Question 3

Institution (Casablanca)

Answer 3

film was never intended to be a classic
made as part of a ‘conveyor belt’ of studio releases with popular lead actors.
released to coincide with the allied invasion of North Africa and the capture of Casablanca
nominated for 8 academy awards- Won 3
both mainstream romantic drama and a pieice of political propaganda

Question 3

Political (Casablanca)

Answer 3

film recognises the power sharing role of the vichy goverment annd the nazis of the former french colony

Question 4

Hays Code

Answer 4

Self imposed industry set of guidelines for all motion pictures that were released between 1934 and 1968.
Prohibited: profanity, nudity, graphic or realistic violence, and sexual persuasion or rape.
When a couple kissed on film it couldn’t be longer than a few seconds

Question 5

Vertically Intergrated

Answer 5

Pre-production > production (shooting film) >post production > Distribution (marketing of film) > Exhibition (cinemas)

Question 6

Classical Hollywood must haves:

Answer 6

> linear story telling
Romantic story line/subplot
continuity editing (puts things in a understandable sequence)
dialogue key / music to set mood
characters motivation is centre plot
mise-en-scene = creates verisimltude
presentations of gender exprectations

Question 7

include:
>hays code
>needed to boost moral
>classical hollywood conventions
>double standards (enforced by hays code)

Question 8

key point: 1

Answer 8

changed peoples perspective of America in the war as Rick represented America and he was strong so America had to be strong too

Question 9

key point: 2

Answer 9

Rick was Hollywoods first rebel hero, being a liberating figure. He was the prototype for a new kind of America

Question 10

Key scene: Ilsa (gun scene)

Answer 10

> willing to step out of character
non diegetic film score, minor key= tensions, returns to their motif song= intimate moment
close up of ilsa, lighting highlighting her glisening tear.
shot reverse shot

Question 11

Key scene: Rick (his first scene)

Answer 11

> medium shot at eye level
shows chess board > playing by-himself showing his intelligent and strategic but also isolationist

Question 12

expressionistic lighting

Answer 12

> Curtiz use of lighting by using deep dark areas of shadow to build atmosphere
Ilsas tear is highlighted by high key lighting, making it glissen

Question 13

Cutiz technical competence:

Answer 13

> Dolly-shot = being able to move the camera to create smooth horizontal camera movements = beautiful cinematic shots (eg. plane flys over, cutiz uses orginal dolly shotto show plane but adds secondary camera movement by panning from the plane to the people)

> Curtiz also allowed actors to act in close up (eg. Ilsa asks Sam to play ‘As time goes by’ as she reminices about her and Ricks relationship. By using close up we see her emotion making us have a connection with Ilsa; sympathizing with her)

Question 14

Michael Curtiz quote:

Answer 14

“I put all the art into my pictures the audience can stand”
>you could pick any scene and use it as a piece of art; cinema was Curtiz art form = meaning in every scene

Question 15

Vertigo

Answer 15

Alfred Hitchcock (1958)
studio: Paramount
Starring: James stewart, Kim Novak

Question 16

Social (Vertigo)

Answer 16

some scenes / conversations where deemed a little too risqué for 50’s censorship board - talking about bras and love lives, as well was scenes showing underwear where almost cut

Question 17

Alfred Hitchcock

Answer 17

considered on of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema.

Question 18

distinctive style
(Hitchcock)

Answer 18

pure cinema, suspenseful storytelling, innovative camera techniques. psychological tension over explicit violence

Question 19

Recurring themes
(Hitchcock)

Answer 19

nature of guilt, complexity of human relationships, psychological motivations behind criminal behavior.

Question 20

Visual Signature
(Hitchcock)

Answer 20

use of elaborate and carefully planned camera techniques, famous cameos in many of his films

Question 21

control over production
(Hitchcock)

Answer 21

often working closely with screenwriters and gaving a significant say in the casting and editing process.