film acting versus stage acting

Before watching Arsenic and Old Lace for class I had only seen it performed on-stage.  Although I enjoyed the film version, I couldn't help but notice how many theatrical elements had been carried from stage to screen. Cary Grant's character, Mortimer, seemed to exhibit most of these traits through his exaggerated facial expressions, comedic physicality, and the elevated volume at which he spoke. Like most British actors (if not all), Grant began his acting career in theater before transitioning to film, which is a completely different style of acting. In the film version of Arsenic and Old Lace there were times when it seemed like he was performing on-stage instead of on set. I found this a little distracting, especially when it was incongruous with the style of the other actors, who were more understated. I'm not doubting his acting skills. I think he was amazingly talented. But the juxtaposition between Grant's explosive technique and the subtlety of his colleagues' was interesting to say the least, if not a little unusual.

The American Dream

As the weeks have passed by and the number of movies we have viewed has increased, I have noticed the theme of "The American Dream" throughout a few of our viewings.  In the two films, Public Enemy and Sunset Boulevard, you are able to see the drastic measures that characters take in order to achieve the American dream of fame and riches.

In Public Enemy you see the two young men, Tom and Matt, go from committing small petty crimes, to growing into two notorious gangsters.  Tom's greed gets the best of him and the two find themselves in a gang war with a fellow gang.  In the end both Tom and Matt lose their life and their desire for the American dream has cost them their lives.

In Sunset Boulevard, Norma Desmond not only pulls in and traps Joe in her fantasy world of returning to the big screen, but takes his life when he will no longer play along with her games.  She is so consumed in her younger years of being the star, that she is unable to adjust to life off the screen.  Throughout the film you can see Joe slowly give up on his dream of becoming a famous screen writer as he falls in love with Betty, who also has the dream of becoming a famous writer.

Arsenic and Old Lace

I thought that I would just share some personal thoughts about this movie and a trend I feel is happening with movies that were made back in the 1940's.  This movie there was a lot of conflict and also a lot going on that you had to pay attention to.  I feel the end wasn't something you would necessarily expect.  Also in this movie and in previously movies we have viewed murders play a big role but aren't played out as that big as they are in todays films.  In my mind they seem to be very downplayed and like you are supposed to see it coming.  Now a days a death in a film there is a lot more emotion and effect to it that leaves the audience with different emotions as well.

How American Cinema has changed

Just something my dad stumbled upon while reading the paper. I feel it is appropriate for this class. The author has an interesting standpoint.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/movies/index.ssf/2012/02/what_happened_to_grown-up_films.html

Sunset Boulevard

So, when you mentioned the name of this movie in class I didn't recognize it as something I had seen. However, as the movie began and the plot thickened I was sure I had seen it before. That wonderful, but eerie scene at the end where Norma said, "Alright Mr. DeMille I'm ready for my close up" is something I could never forget. I think it was interesting when Norma was explaining her silent film days in comparison to the new sound films. She told Gillis that they didn't need dialoge because they used their faces. I agree with this. I think acting must have been alot harder without sounds. Every body movement and every facial expression had to be just right to get the correct message across to the audience. I thought the cigarette finger holder was pretty cool. When Mr. Gillis went to the New Year's Eve party he told Betty Shaffer they could talk in the Rainbow room, but they sat in a bathroom. Were bathrooms called Rainbow rooms? I thought Norma's quote, "I'm not selling the script, I'm selling me" was profound. I absolutely believe a script is nothing without the right actor or actress to bring the characters to life. I am alittle confused about the Pharmacy scene. Mr. Gillis went in to buy Norma cigarattes and ran into Betty and Artie. Betty was eating a sandwhich. The sign on the front of the store said Pharmacy on top and then breakfast, lunch and dinner. That seems alittle odd to put those two together. I forget who said it, but someone in the film mentioned that people think actors make it up as they go. When I am watching a film I never think about how long it took the actors to memorize their lines or if they are sticking to the script. I just watch the film as if it was real life happening right before me eyes. I thought that is was so cute that Max took care of Norma. He really did love her. I loved the scene where they are driving in the car and he tells her that the makeup over her left eye in not quite balanced. I hope a guy will look out for me in that way one day. Max even made sure she was in the spot light in the end. One line from the film reminded me of my mom. Mr. Gillis tells Betty that the trouble with readers is that they know all the plots. My mom reads ALOT. She always has. Everytime we watch a movied with her she ruins it becase she figures out the end half way through. Most of the time she is right. This movie really does expose the struggles and successes of stardom.

Film Suggestion.

Since many people in class last night named Johnny Depp as there favorite movie star i thought i would post this. I actually just watched it last night the film is called the Rum Dairy many of you may have seen it already! Depp is quite different in this, but he is still charming and charismatic as ever some of the qualities of a star! I have attached the trailer;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUx36yLLug

Enjoy.

Public Enemy

I really enjoyed Public enemy i had not seen it before and i really enjoy the gangster style genre. I especially like the 1930's prohibition, pin stripe suit, bowl hat style portrays of this kind. I believe the movie followed the typical gangster style the rise from nothing, the accession to power, the living the high life and the fall from grace or in this case death for tom and larry!

Interesting that Warner Bro's put out the disclaimer at the end discussing how this is the fate of every public enemy and that it is a societal problem that needs to be addressed. Cagney's performance was unique still not quite sure i liked his performance there is something that eats away at me. I agree he deserved the lead role ahead of the actor who played Larry he Cagney certainly had more screen presence. I think what i didn't like was i felt Cagney was acting for the camera and sometimes i felt as though he acknowledged it was there; taking away from the experience for me personally.

I don't know i may be way off base, but on the whole another enjoyable movie.

The Public Enemy: James Cagney

Personally I love The Public Enemy and was thrilled to watch it again in class. If you enjoyed it as well here is a movie review commenting on James Cagney's performance and his role as a gangster. I thought he did a wonderful job and he convinced me from the start that he was truly a a malicious gangster. "His is a riveting portrayal, one can't take their eyes off his brutality and
callousness, a menacing coil ready to spring into action at a moments notice,
whether to kill in cold blood or shove citrus in his girlfriend's face."

http://classicmoviesdigest.blogspot.com/2009/11/public-enemy-1931-cagney-gives-bang-up.html

The Public Enemy

I thought it was very interesting that Warner Bros. decided to put a disclaimer about a life of crime at the end of the movie as not to be critized for glamourizing the gangster. I find that that role is not only glamourized in movies today, but almost made out to be heroic. For example, in the recent film Public Enemies Johnny Depp plays a notorious bank robber, John Dillinger. Even though he isn't a moral man I was still rooting for him through the whole movie. I even felt that when he was killed it was unfair. Something I thought was different was the scene where Tom Power's father beats him with a belt. We never see child-punishment in the media like that anymore. If anything children are controlling their parents. I thought it was funny when Tom Powers said going to school meant learning how to be poor. Well, if that's the case I have spent alot of money at Eckerd just to learn how to be poor. Also, what was the deal with the cop who flat out shot Larry. Could they do that back then? Then all the cops were sitting around drinking beer saying, "he got what was coming." He was a kid. They broke into a building, they didn't kill anyone. Seems alittle extreme to me to shoot him like that. The main thing I noticed in the film was how sexually suggestive it was. There did not have to be any sex scenes the characters langage and actions were enough to paint a picture of their intenetions. For example, while Patty's wife is trying to seduce Tom she says, "I want to do things for you Tommy." Gwen Allen was also pretty forward. Lastly a quote I will never forget from this movie is, "I wish you was a wishin' well so I could tie a bucket to you and sink ya." Wow. I don't even know what to say about that.

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES - 1938

The success of "Dead End" caused Warner Bros. to issue another crime picture the next year featuring the Dead End Kids. "Angels With Dirty Faces" also had Humphrey Bogart in a supporting role, but this time out, James Cagney, Warner's reigning tough guy since "The Public Enemy" in 1931, was the lead. The movie was helmed by the studio's most prolific director, Michael Curtiz. Here is the original trailer.

Notorious

Being in Elements of Film last semester i had previously seen the long 3 seconds on 3 seconds off kiss scene from Notorious before! Everyone is always finding new ways to push the limits of bend the rules and that is what Hitchcock did here!

What a great romance movie! Although the sub of uranium ore that was unfolding provides tense moments and is the foundation for bringing all the characters together i thought it was a little weak as we never really found out what was going on but who cares in the end when everything turns out just find.

Great movie onto the next one!

Notorious

So, was it just me or did anyone else notice that Devlin never opened his mouth in those kissing scenes with Alicia.I thought it was so awkward. She was rubbing her lips all over him and he kept his mouth pursed together. Is that the only way they were allowed to kiss in movies back then? Heck, if I only got 3 minutes I'd make them count.

NOTORIOUS - THE FATEFUL CUP

The coffee cup for this shot was actually about 12 inches tall so it could stay in relative focus with Ingrid Bergman.

NOTORIOUS - 1946

Here is a shot of Hitchcock directing Ingrid Bergman in the high crane shot that ends on the key.

STEAMBOAT BILL JR. - FAMOUS KEATON STUNT

THE NAVIGATOR (1924)

Here is an extremely rare original lobby card (11x14) probably worth several thousand dollars today. And above, a few more classic images from the film...