TD1

Question 1

Origin of Cinema

Answer 1

The first to present projected moving pictures to a paying audience were the Lumière brothers in December 1895 in Paris, France. They used a device of their own making, the Cinématographe, which was a camera, a projector and a film printer all in one

Question 2

What were early films like ?

Answer 2

at first (1894-1895,) very short, sometimes only a few minutes or less. (ex : frères lumières)
Shown at fairgrounds, music halls
Subjects included local scenes and activities, views of foreign lands..
Usually accompanied by lectures, music and a lot of audience participation.

Question 3

Rise of the film industry

Answer 3

by 1914, several national film industries were established

at this time europe, russia and scandinavia = the dominant industries
america was much less important
Films became longer and storytelling or narrative, became the dominant form

Question 4

Date when feature-length movies were presented with synchronised sound

Answer 4

Early 1930s

Question 5

mid 1930s

Answer 5

Some feature-length movies were presented with synchronised sound were in full colour too

the advent of sound secured the dominant role of the American industry

Question 6

The great train robbery

Answer 6

1903 by Edwin stanton Porter (1870-1941), Silent Movie, 12 minutes = new because technically rare to have reels = short video (=bobine)
VS film = pellicule

People shocked because people at the end are shot by the gangster

Question 7

Gangster movie

Answer 7

in 1903
Has to do with entertainment : people were looking for action movies. The frontier closed in 1890 (= moving zone btw civilisation, pionners and “savages”)

Apart from going to theatre and reading short stories there were very few distractions so gangster stories were ++ popular : you have to meet the public’s expectation

Question 8

Scarface

Answer 8

Scarface 1932 Howard Hawks
It’s maybe about Al Capone ⇒ biography : he was a liar
Two men are fighting because of the women= triangular relationship = structure of the dual = typical to the western = 2 men fight in the end (especially in the street)
Scarface = about alcohol, cocaina ⇒ 1980s = linked to cuban immigration
Linked with prohibition
Colours = flashy = typically Pulp
Flashy colours = the only means to attract people attention
Red = colour of passion & colour of the dress of women, she embodies this
// the flapper = this new women who smoke and drunk

Question 9

Psycho,

Answer 9

1960 Alfred Hitchock

Colours = opposite colours
Yellow = colour of scare = to go yellow = to be scared / to break a strike, yellow = couleur de la traitrise.
++ famous
YET she dies after 20minutes so
Clothes of woman = shocking

= a photograph and composition
⇒ a thriller, suspense movie : mixes different genres.

Question 10

Bonnie & Clyde

Answer 10

About the real Bonnie and Clyde but + glamorous.
They were not famous BUT she is a major feminist icone.
They are facing the camera : they are shooting at the camera // 1903 movie
Here = a photograph

Question 11

The monster

Answer 11

Frankenstein : the monster movie
The monster is always political

King Kong = vision of the women is also important = other version of beauty & beast

Question 12

The gangster

Answer 12

The gangster = the urban version of the cowboy

Question 13

Western movie : list in English

Answer 13

the good the bad and the Ugly, Sergio Leone
Once upon a time in the West, Fulvio Morsella
Dances with wolves, Camille Cosney

Question 14

Qui établit le genre des Western movies ?

Answer 14

John Ford : established the genre = la base : il fixe le code définitivement
L’homme qui tue la liberté de valence
La prisonnière du désert (The Searchers)

Question 15

Leone : qu’a-t-il établit ?

Answer 15

Leone established the spaghetti western

Question 16

Notions

Answer 16

From the cowboy / pioneer to the gangster
From rag to riches
The self made man/woman
Individualism

Question 17

2. From rag to riches

Answer 17

→ The gangster starts to sell drugs etc and then becomes famous and downfall because too much $ : Gangster = a successful businessman

Question 18

4.Individualism

Answer 18

→ It doesn’t mean that you are selfish but that you can make it on your own without the help of anyone : you have the capacity to survive in the middle of nowhere..
It is linked with history of USA : an american myth

Question 19

Expression def

Answer 19

The act or instance of transforming ideas into words (when I speak I express myself)
A manifestation of an emotion feeling etc without words
Communication of emotion through music, painting, movies etc
A look on the face that indicates mood or emotion
A particular phrase used conventionally to express something.
→ American Language became ++ opposed to British english. Gangster used expression that couldn’t be understood by British

Question 20

Repression def

Answer 20

The act or process of repressing or the condition of being repressed
To repress = to check or to inhibit (actions or desires)
To hold down & control (persons) unfairly or evilly (ex : to repress one’s civil rights)
Psychological aspect to keep down or hold back (memories, emotions or impulses) unconsciously
The subconscious rejection of thoughts and impulse that conflict with conventional standard of conduct

Question 21

Public enemy number 1

Answer 21

The gangster

Question 22

The gangster : public enemy n1

Answer 22

The public enemy 1931 American all-talking pre-code Gangster film

The grapefruit scene = in the morning, his girlfriend says sth he doesn’t agree with so take grapefruit and smashes it on her face ⇒ shocks : can we have more respect for women please ! ++ important created a chain reaction
The gangster rather than being a robinhood became somebody who had to be hated and that doesn’t respect anything
⇒ explains what we have a production code
Pre code movies
Post codes movies
Because of that created a production code : do & don’t

Question 23

Public enemy n2 + def

Answer 23

the woman the temptress
An attractive young woman uses every possible means to advance her social and financial status

Question 24

Public enemy n2 : the woman the temptress

Answer 24

Jean harlow 1911-1937 : portrayal of “bad girl” characters “blonde bombshell” “platinium blonde”

Hell’s angels 1930 = first major appearance
Marilyn Monroe took a lot from Jean Harlow especially the peroxide blonde

Baby face = a self made woman, decides to succeed : but OK for a man to be successful but not for a woman to be successful, a woman should be left at home without having many men : she hold her success from her conquests. She moved from scratch to a high position in society.

1926 silent film temptress

Temptatrice : déclenche foudre des censeurs : vous pouvez pas dire qu’une femme couche à droite et à gauche pour réussir.

Question 25

Amendment 18

Answer 25

After 1 year from the ratification of this article the manufacture sale, or transportation or intoxicating liquors within the importation thereof into or the exportation thereof from the US and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes if hereby prohibited

An amendment may be proposed by 2-3rd vote of both houses of congresses
The amendment must then be ratified by three-4th of the state legislature ⇒ ++ unusual

Question 26

Interdiction, Prohibition, Repression

Answer 26

Interdiction, Prohibition, Repression
⇒ Illegal & Criminal activities : emergence of the gangster as the real figure in society.

Released by 21st amendment in 1933

“The dries” (for prohibition) VS “the wets” (freedom of drinking)

Question 27

A notorious gangster

Answer 27

Al Capone :
Paul Money : plays Al Capone in Scarface.
⇒ end of the film : he becomes rich
⇒ Connected to American ideal : from rag to riches
⇒ He is the perfect embodiment of the successful businessman : makes money thanks to illegal means.

Question 28

This picture is an indictment of gang rule in America & of the callous indifference of the gvt to this constantly increasing menace to our safety and our liberty. Every incident in this picture is the reproduction of an actual occurrence, and the purpose of this picture is to demand of the government “what are you going to do about it?” The gvt is your gvt What are YOU going to do about it ?

Answer 28

Disclaimer (to reject, to deny connection, responsibility)

Scarface was censored so had to make a disclaimer in order to be released :

⇒ But gvt = elected so YOUR gvt.
⇒ Everybody is involved
They agree there is a problem in the society & they are involving the public : they don’t want to portray a glorification of the gangster.
⇒ Confusion btw reality and fiction. (at a time capone was still alive 🙂

Question 29

The Motion picture production Code of 1930 (Hays Code) origin

Answer 29

The gangster has become a Maness so Senatore Hays created a code that took 3 years to be drafted :

If motion pictures present stories that will affect lives for the better, they can become the most powerful force for the improvement of mankind.

Question 30

The Motion picture production Code of 1930 (Hays Code) : General principles

Answer 30

Crimes against the law
Sex : Adultery, no white slavery, miscegenation is forbidden
Vulgarity
Obscenity etc

Question 31

The 20s

Answer 31

Jazz
Movies
Radio
Illegal liquor
Prosperity (not for everybody)
Gangsters
Consumer culture based on credit : embodied by Ford Model T “you can have any colour you like as long as it is black”…In gangster movies ++ beautiful clothes, car, houses
Prejudice against immigrants : Ku klux klan = semi-secret society perfectly legal : you can advocate white supremacy & Sepration btw white and black in public places because of Percy V. – that get rid of the 14th amendment and right to vote : burning houses allow you to get rid of the right of vote because if you don’t have a house you cannot vote.
The worst economic crisis

Question 32

Pulp magazines (or “pulps”)

Answer 32

Inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 to the late 1950. Printed from cheap wood pulp paper ⇒ linked to entertainment : a way to escape for teenagers.

Frontier closed in 1890 = moving zone btw wilderness and civilisation

All Western magazine : Western magazines
Weird Tales : gothic mvt
Science Wonder Stories : Science fiction : new frontier : exploring new universes
Super Science : mad scientists, the Frankestein creature
The Black Mask : detective stories

Question 33

2 types of detective stories :

Answer 33

→ Detective story : they are intelligent and they discover who the murder is : Conn Doyle invented Sherlock Holmes
→ In the US another type of detective : doesn’t belong to the police, will be paid to solve sth, he uses his fists. ⇒ transposes the wilderness in the city. He can survive, fight, drink a lot, and have a lot of women.