The Graduate

I saw this film for the first time last summer in my Elements of Film class and was just as blown away by its magic this time. This is another watershed film and an emblem for its time. It creatively reveals the generation gap so topical in the sixties--the differences in values between the middle-aged (hardworking, disciplined, materially driven) and the young adult (free-loving, keeping it real, and a little lost). The characters that drive this movie are so distinctly shaped and often in conflict with one another that it's enthralling. Forbidden sex only adds to the seduction. Protagonist Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is a pitifully likeable hero as he comes of age among the two Robinson women amid the late-1960s economic boom, civil and feminist rights movements, and uncertainties of a country at war in Vietnam and at home within the institution of the American family. Simon and Garfunkel's music heightens this meaningful story. I love and appreciate all of the symbolism! And the ambiguous ending only adds to the film's allure.

"DRACULA" - 1931

This is the one that started the classic Universal Horror cycle of the 1930s.

High Noon

I really enjoyed this film. I noticed that everytime Kane was shown as he was searching for prospective deputies the same "theme" music was used. Kinda gave it a sort of Peter and the Wolf feel.

Gary Cooper sutble facial gestures are still the best. He does it better than any actor I have seen....I think Edward Norton might be a close 2nd.

A FEW TOP 20 LISTS

These lists are meant to be guides for future viewing if you find yourself drawn to any one of the genres we will study in class. They are all titles you can't go wrong with. There are three lists here covering Westerns, Film Noir and Horror. A few foreign titles weaseled their way in but all the rest are as solid as Mom and apple pie. If you have lists of your own, be sure and post them. See you in class.

20 WESTERNS
Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian)
A Fistfull of Dollars (Italian)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Italian)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Unforgiven
Red River
Rio Bravo
Shane
Stagecoach
My Darling Clementine
The Searchers
7 Men From Now
Ride the High Country
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
The Wild Bunch
Winchester 73
The Naked Spur
The Magnificent Seven
High Noon


20 FROM THE CLASSIC PERIOD OF FILM NOIR
They Live By Night
Out of the Past
Gun Crazy
Murder My Sweet
The Set-Up
Detour (1945)
On Dangerous Ground
Gilda
Double Indemnity
The Asphalt Jungle
The Maltese Falcon
The Big Sleep (1946)
Kiss Me Deadly
The Killers (1946)
Criss-Cross
Nightmare Alley
The Killing
Naked City
The Big Heat
Touch of Evil


20 HORROR MOVIES
The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari (1920 - German)
Nosferatu (1922 – German)
Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Dracula (1931)
Vampyr (1932 – Danish)
The Black Cat (1934)
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Wolf Man (1941)
Cat People (1942)
Curse of the Demon
The Horror of Dracula (British)
Eyes Without a Face (French)
Psycho (1960)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The Exorcist
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Halloween (1978)
Alien
The Shining
The Thing (1982)

My Man Godfrey

I was impressed by the term "a forgotten man," which is a much more graceful label than "the homeless." I admire the way this Capra film was trying to make us look at class and success/failure with new eyes, but the melodramatic tone of any scene containing Irene repelled me. As with Scarlet in Gone with the Wind, she was not a character I cared about, and I really didn't want her to end up marrying someone as intelligent as Godfrey. Her sister was better suited for him; there was more behind her eyes.

Arsenic & Old Lace

This old farcical film was too over-the-top for my taste. I understand it's a comedy with melodramatic moments, since it's adapted from a stage play, but the overacting, especially on Cary Grant's part, nauseated me. Many times he looked more like one of the Three Stooges than a leading man. The loony lacy aunts, murderous as they were, seemed to trot everywhere like Edith in All in the Family.

While the allusion to Frankenstein's Monster, in the characters of Johnny and Dr. Einstein, was smart and cute, I'm wondering if any of you enjoyed watching this film. To me, it's American Cinema at its cheesiest.