The Outsiders

The Outsiders is an excellent counter culture film from 1983 that depicts tension between greasers and their wealthier counterparts, the Socs, and takes place in mid 1960s Tulsa. The film is directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the same director as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, and this film is done in much the same style as his other films. As the rivalry between greasers and socs heightens, a large brawl between the two begins, further increasing the tension until two young greasers, ponyboy and Johnny Cade get ambushed by the socs, eventually leading to Cade killing a soc with his switchblade. The pair are then forced to skip town and wait for things to cool off. This is quite a counterculture film, as the greasers and the socs are essentially the same people, but from different backgrounds, making the two groups very different in appearance and morals, but with the same amount of hatred for each other. However, because the socs come from a 'better' life, they are often able to use society to their advantage, whereas the greasers are almost automatically outcasted by society purely because of their image.

Planet of the Apes 1968

The 1968 version of Planet of the Apes, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, calls back to many of the cultural and political issues that triggered an uprising in 1960s counterculture. Based off of the 1963 French novel, La Planete des Singes by Pierre Boulle, the film follows an astronaut, Taylor, played by Charlton Heston, who has crash-landed on an unfamiliar planet with his small crew. Soon after, he is separated from his comrades and forced into slavery by an indigenous and dominant race of apes.

The film touches on the American Civil Rights movement through the brutality and disrespect shown to Taylor, although he decides to oppose the movement’s theme of nonviolence. While in captivity, he is incapacitated with a fireman’s hose, which was used during several civil rights riots, most notably by Bill Connor in Alabama against civil rights protestors in 1964.

Another political issue that the movie touches on is freedom of speech. In Schaffner’s film, the humans are mute and Taylor, the one man who can speak, is seen not as a miracle, but as a threat. The apes believe that he may be a missing link, and fear that his existence is scientific heresy, which could dismantle their society and the entire foundation on which their culture rests.

There are other connections to issues like Feminism, through the character Nova, given to Taylor as a gift but given no personality and dehumanized even by Taylor himself, the Gay Liberation Movement through the apes constant attempts to emasculate Taylor and his violent refusals, separation of church and state, experimental advances in science through risky brain surgery performed on Taylor’s friend Landon, played by Robert Gunner, who has been subjected to a labotomy that has rendered him catatonic, and more.

But, the underlying countercultural element that plays the biggest role in the film is environmentalism and the anti-war movement. The movie’s closing scene (no spoilers) shows the astronomical effects that nuclear war and the overuse of natural resources may have.

Across the Universe

"Across the Universe" is a film about the politics and social issues of the sixties. It was not actually written in the sixties, but came out in 2007 as popular culture began seeing a new wave of hippie culture and fascination with the sixties. The movie is about a group of friends who might be considered hippies, who make friendships, fall in love, and rise up against what they see as the oppressive forces in their society. The movie is written as a musical using remakes of 34 old Beatles songs. The plot is worked around the themes in the song, so that the characters are able to sing the Beatles songs in every scene, and the plot still makes sense. At a lot of points in the movie I still felt as though the plot was really stretched to fit with the songs, but in general they did a pretty good job of incorporating the music into the story line. The cinematography of the film is very dreamlike and seems to be nodding back to the heavy LSD usage of the sixties. During many of the musical scores, the characters become part of a magical dance number with mythical creatures and dramatized war scenes. During one of these dreamlike scenes, the movie make another nod back to the Beatles by including a lot of the elements of the "Yellow Submarine" film around the "Across the Universe" characters. Although the scene is still centered around the "real" actors, there are cartoons all around them that the viewer would recognize from "Yellow Submarine." In general, "Across the Universe" was made to bring some of the music and social values of the sixties back into modern popular culture.

Chocolat

The movie Chocolat, is about a young single woman, with a young daughter, who moves to a very small religious and conservative french town and opens a chocolate store. She is seen as a radical individual, she has never been married, even though she has a child, and she opens up a chocolate store in the beginning of lent. This movie exemplifies the social changes that were taking place in the 1960's. Vianne, the protagonist, encourages the people in the town to break out of their very traditional molds. She encourages a woman to leave her abusive husband, and two elderly people to find love with each other. She welcomes a band of gypsies into the city and even begins an affair with one of them. By breaking the molds that have been prescribed by the religious town to the people, she helps the townspeople see a new way of life and the joys that come with it.

The yellow submarine

  The Yellow Submarine   They yellow submarine starts off in a paradise under the ocean, called Pepperland in which a yellow submarine lays on top of a pyramid on a hill. This is when there is a surprise attack of ‘blue meanies’ which are from beyond the mountains, who close the band inside of a music proof bubble, which converts the people from Pepperland statues by throwing apples upon them and there is a fade of color of what used to be a beautiful countryside. Lord Mayor, makes the Sailor go and get help, and runs to the yellow submarine to escape. This is when the sailor travels to Liverpool where he follows Ringo and convinces him to return with him back to Pepperland. This is when he gets his three friends to return as well. They all return in the yellow submarine, having to go through several regions: sea of time, sea of science, sea of monsters, sea of nothing, foothills of the headlands, and the sea of holes. Finally got back to Pepperland and find a washed down, flowerless wasteland. Everybody was powerless and sad due to the power of the Blue Meanies. This is when the Beatles defeat some Meanies, steal some instruments but were found and had to retreat. Finally they were in the clear, and they started singing which weakened the Meanies and made them retreat. Pepperland was restored of its beauty and the flowers bloomed again, as well as the Pepperlandians. The Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. The chief blue meani tries to kill Jeremy and Jeremy performs some sort of magic on him which makes him admit his defeat. This is when John extends an offering of friendship to the Chief and they become friends. There is a large party where everybody sings together, and everybody lives happily ever after.

Hey There! My name is Manny, Man of your dreams...

The title is from one of the opening lines of the movie entitled White Irish Drinkers. Set in Brooklyn, NY in 1975 this movie portrays two young brothers that make a deal to try to steal from a movie theater when the Rolling Stones have a concert. Although this movie was released in 2010, it has terrific examples of the counterculture present during the 1970's. For example, early in the movie when Brian (the younger brother) is working at the movie theater, there is a poster of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Rolling Stones are coming the Lafayette movie theater, the disco men are thrown out of the pub because they don't "serve their kind," neon glow in the dark posters of shrooms, a glow party, and marijuana (which is when the Irish say that they do not do pills, drugs, or weed because they are "White, Irish Drinkers"). There is so much more going on in the movie that gives an idea of the American counterculture during the 70s that I highly recommend this movie to those who are interested in suspense, drama, and crime.

Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 counterculture film directed by Arthur Penn and stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.  The film takes place during the great depression and starts with Bonnie being bored with her life and wanting to make a change. She gets that chance when she meets Clyde, who tries to steal her mothers car.  She decides to take up his offer of being his partner in crime.  The two start with small holdups but their amateur efforts, while exciting, are not very dangerous.  Bonnie and Clyde join forces with C.W Moss, Clyde's brother Buck, and his wife Blanche and begin taking on bigger crimes such as bank robberies.  After a bank robbery gone bad, Clyde ends up shooting the bank manager in the face.  The gang is pursued by law enforcement, and they end up capturing Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer, who is eventually released.   A raid later catches the outlaws off guard, killing Buck with a shot to his head and injuring Blanche. Bonnie, Clyde and C.W. barely escape with their lives. Blanche, who is in police custody, is tricked into revealing C.W.'s name, who was up until now still only an "unidentified suspect." Hammer locates Bonnie, Clyde, and C.W hiding in C.W.'s father's home.  C.W.'s father strikes a bargain with Hamer, in exchange for leniency for C.W, and helps set a trap for Bonnie and Clyde.  When Bonnie and Clyde stop on the side of the road to help C.W.'s father with a flat tire, the police open fire and riddle them violently. 

Jonathan Rivera - Hair

The film I decided to watch for this assignment is Milos Forman's musical Hair. The movie si based off of the Broadway production of Hair. I chose Hair because it is the perfect example of a counter-culture film. Hair was not filmed in the 60's, however the storyline of the film is set in the 60's, during the Vietnam War. Hair addresses issues of war, hippie-culture, race and class.

Hair follows the story of Claude, and young man who goes to New York City and meets group of Hippies who introduce him to a new world involving drugs, class struggles,social justice, and love.

The attached clip is the opening of the film and the song "Aquarius", one of my favorite songs from the movie.

Alyssa MacDonald 4/24

The movie I watched for this week’s assignment was Taking Woodstock (2009), directed by Ang Lee. Although this movie wasn’t made during the sixties, the movie takes place in the year 1969. The main character is Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin) a struggling interior designer living in NewYork city. He has to move back with his parents in the Catskills, to help with the family motel. The motel is in bad shape, and lacking in business. As a way to generate business for the motel, Elliot calls the producers of a hippie music festival, notifying them of his vacant motel. Soon his property is swamped with thousands of people. The whole process is a life changing experience for him. This movie deals with drugs, sexual orientation, and societal standards. It shows the contrast between the traditional older generation and the rebellious ‘changing’ younger generation. I also like the music and cinematography in this movie. 

Easy Rider

Easy rider is a 1969 road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern. This movie conveys 2 bikers riding through the southwest with the goal of asserting their freedom. Fonda and Hopper play the role of the 2 free spirited adventurous bikers throughout the film that embark on this journey across the country. They are two free spirited hippies who start out by smuggling cocaine into Los Angeles from Mexico. They make a lot of money with this and head south to New Orleans with hope to make it their in time for Marci gras. During their trip down there they come across a couple glitches in the road. One being picking up a hitch hiker and taking him to his commune where they stay for a day. Once they leave this place they continue on their journey where they get arrested for "parading without a permit" and thrown in jail. Here is where they meet George a lawyer and local drunk who helps them out of jail and continues onto New Orelans with them. They persuade him into smoking marijuana. And then attempt to draw attention to themselves in a local restaurant. Pissing off the locals they came to their camp that night and assaulted them resulting in the death of George. They continue onto New Orleans to the brothel George wanted to go to where they meet two girls and all 4 of them do LSD together. They continue on to their trio to Florida where they hope to retire wealthy. But on the way their they encounter some rednecks who end up killing Wyatt. This time frame of films seemed to be really big on hippies and drug use which is a little different than today in my opinion. People take drug use more siously now I feel like and that's why it is not portrayed as much in movies as it used to be.

To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee during the peak of the Civil Rights era. It was published in 1960, during a time when the Civil Rights movement grew violent and spread into cities across the nation. The film adaptation of the novel hit the screen in 1962. Although, the film is set in the 30s, it reflects the 1960s political climate. To Kill a Mockingbird portrays many of the realities of racism in Southern life during the 1930s at the same time relating the film to the civil rights movement and current events of the 1960s. To Kill a Mockingbird makes a blatant statement about the events that had recently occurred and were continuing to occur in the country. The novel and film of To Kill a Mockingbird are largely an autobiographical account of Harper Lee’s life. In addition, the trial in the film mirrors actual trials that occurred such as the 1931 Scottsboro case and the 1955 Emmett Case. The movie takes place in the small Alabama town of Maycomb. Atticus Finch is an upright lawyer. When he takes on the case of Tom Robinson, a black man wrongfully accused of raping a white woman most of the town turns against him. Atticus did not win the case. Justice was not served. I think the story, To Kill a Mockingbird remains so emotionally powerful is because it portrays the racial injustices and prejudices against African Americans in the South, while also providing a lesson about social equality.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

I found the Invasion of the Body Snatchers to be a film that depicted the United States' paranoia of both a secret takeover by communists and the increasing power of the McCarthyists.  The overall theme of the loss of an individuals identity and of the human feeling was also a very prominent fear among many Americans throughout the 1950's.  The downbeat ending, in which the pods are victorious, was diluted by the scene in the hospital showing the authorities finally believing in the existence of the pods. By the ending not having the pods be victorious, they are instilling hope into the viewers.  This showed citizens that having to fear their loss of identity was a feeling that would in time be overcome together as a country.  

Social Upheaval in the 1960's: The Graduate

The theme of the social revolution that occurred during the 1960’s can be seen in many films made during that time. Mike Nichols’ The Graduate is one of those films. The main character, Ben (played by Dustin Hoffman), is a young college graduate who is staying at home to decide his future. Ben is faced with an interesting dilemma when his father’s business partner’s wife, the infamous Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), seduces him. His life only worsens when Ben falls in love with her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). This movie signifies the strong sexual revolutions occurring at the time. The idealism of sexual repression of the 50’s was obviously upheaved by this time, and instead The Graduate represents a new, radical look at the freedom of sexual expression prevalent during the 1960’s counter-culture.

Texas Chainsaw Masacre

In The Texas Chainsaw Masacre I thought the father played the most important role in the crimes the family committed. From the moment we were introduced to the hitch hiking son, I felt that there was something mentally wrong with him due to family issues, even though we did not find out until much later that the crimes were committed by a family. We were able to see that the father is clearly in charge when he tries to force the grandfather to kill the innocent girl with a hammer, when he scolds the son for being gone for too long, and when he scolds the other son for losing the girl. We can also see that the father has control issues when the girl comes running to help and he acts innocent and acts like he is going to help her. I think that he responded in that way because he wanted to be in complete control of the situation without her acting spontaneously trying to escape. By her feeling finally safe and calm he would very easily be able to lure her back to the house. Finally, I noticed that the the two sons and the grandfather live to simple please the father and kill. His two sons act much more scared of him than any normal child would act. The are afraid to displease him and go along with his slayings to keep peace in the house. Although this was a disturbing movie knowing it was a true story, I found the plot to be full of underlying issues between the members of the crime family.

This class in my opinion has become progressively more interesting.  When we watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre last week in class I didn't think I was going to be able to watch it because I have never been able to watch those types of movies.  But for some reason even though we had the option to leave I stayed to try and overcome my fear.  It ended up being one of the more scarier movies I have seen... Even though it wasn't even that gory I had some trouble watching it, but it was interesting to listen how they had filmed it and looking back on it how it wasn't even that gory.

Color to Movies

One thing that I have realized has made a huge difference in my opinion in movie making is the effect color has.  Going from watching movies without any color to then starting to see some major films with color, catches my attention much quicker.  I didn't realize it before watching movies in black and white how much of a difference it plays in movies.  In my opinion it makes it so much more realistic and eye catching and brings it to life in a way.  It is interesting to see that before color it was normal in black and white and that's how all the movies were shown.  To have color makes a huge difference in my opinion and I prefer it way more than black and white movies because of the fact that it catches my attention so much easier.

The Exorcist

A terribly terrifying horror movie, The Exorcist is a movie that is one that will leave an impression for years to come. I believe that the first time I ever saw this movie has left me with scars, even today. It shocked audiences everywhere when it was first released in 1973. The movie has a few movies that were produced afterwards, but they do not seem to have the same initial effect as the first one. It kind of reminds me of the set of movies named Paranormal Activity. The horror of this film was ahead of its time when it was first seen by audiences, but in today's world our generation seems to be sort of desynthesized to it. However, the films of today have increased in horror and special effects. It is a movie that one should watch when studying American Cinema because it shows how the American public has always had an interest in horror, religion, and mysteriousness.

Blue Velvet the way David Lynch intended.

I think the helium would have definitely added to the movie.

MidTerm Exam

Hey there! These are my answers to the midterm exam that I was asked to post! I know it's a lot of reading, but I hope it's interesting!

Question 1: What factors were involved in the end of the Studio System as it existed from the early days up through the 1950’s?

            To begin with, the Studio System was dominant from the 1920’s through the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. The Studio System was known for the vertical integration techniques that many of the large companies practiced. Belton describes vertical integration as

The structure of a marketplace that is integrated (rather than segregated) at a variety of crucial levels; in the case of the motion picture industry, the studio system established a market in which the studios are owners of their production facilities, distribution outlets, and theaters. In other words, the studios control every level of the marketplace from the top down, from production to exhibition.[1]

Vertical integration is what made it very easy for a certain amount of production companies to become the strongest such as MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros., and 20^th Century Fox. However, as companies grew more powerful one might say that several people and agencies became corrupt. For example, in an attempt to gain a higher revenue through the movie sales, manipulative booking techniques were used. These techniques included block booking, blind bidding, and runs, zones, and clearances.[2] However, these techniques became known quickly, and many people disagreed with them.

            The demise of the Studio System began before World War II, “when the U. S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division filed suit against the eight major studios accusing them of monopolistic practices.”[3] However, this case lasted throughout the war and was not settled until May 1948.[4] Because the Supreme Court ruled against the Paramount Case and the studios, the eight major studios (Paramount, Loew’s/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Fox/ 20^th Century-Fox, Warner Bros., and Radio-Keith-Orpheum)[5] were forced to divorce their operations from each other, and to remove themselves from the theater chains; therefore they would have no involvement in both the production of the films and the distribution.[6] However, because the major studio’s had become so powerful, they were able to stall the courts ruling for a few more years, which gave them the power to maintain their control until the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.[7]

            However, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Paramount Case was not the only thing influential in the decline of the Studio System and Era. Due to the war, there were several protests and strikes by the studio labor unions that took place after the Second World War.[8] The studios were also experiencing competition with television, independent producers and actors, and a change of leisure time for the American public (because the War greatly disrupted the way people lived in America).[9] Also, many of the actors began to ask for lump-sum payments because they were taxed at a lower rate and gave the actor a higher status and star symbol in the film industry. Lastly, the era of the blockbuster was right around the corner, and because the Studio System was unable to compete with the mode of production they slowly began to release their personnel and shut down their businesses. However, there was still a remnant of the past left behind because many of the studios were rented out to private producers and television shows.[10]

            In conclusion, the Studio System brought along a Golden Age to Hollywood, but it was met with demise at the end. This was due to the corruption of the vertical integration, actors and actresses asking for lump-sum payments, labor unions going on strike, the changing culture and economy due to World War II, and the Paramount Case. However, as one door might shut another one will open, and this door would lead to the beginning of the Blockbuster Era.

Question 2: In the first several decades of film production, various Studios were associated with particular styles and genres. Discuss this subject and give examples from our viewing list or other movies you might have watched on your own.

            An observer and critic of American cinema would notice that there are differences in style and genres that each Studio might have. This is especially true in the first several decades of film production when a Studio would be known for a particular style and/or genre before the later years when a Studio would begin to incorporate different styles and genres.

To answer this question I will begin with the major and the minor studios. The major studios include Paramount, Loew’s/ Metrow-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M), Fox/ 20^th Century-Fox, Warner Bros., and Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO); while the minors were Universal, Columbia, and United Artists.[11] Although these are the most well known studios, the business actually began with Motion Picture Patents Company, which was Thomas Edison’s trust that had, “control of basic motion picture patents, governed production, distribution, and exhibition.”[12] However, out of this trust emerged Adolph Zukor’s Famous Players Company in 1912, which capitalized on the dramatic content within the films and the actors and actresses.[13] It was at this point in history that different companies began to emerge and start their productions. Each of these studios had their own style and specialty genre.

Perhaps one of the largest styles that are present within film is the narrative style. Belton describes the Narrative process as,

…an orderly patter in which an initial state of affairs is introduced, after which something occurs to disturb this equilibrium. Subsequent events attempt to restore the original status quo, but this is repeatedly frustrated, and order is recovered only at the end of the film.[14]

The narrative style also has subdivisions of style within it such as the classical narratives and the adventure story, which could include horror.[15] These types of movies often present the viewer with a character-centered cinema. Therefore the characters must overcome their obstacles within the film by problem solving.[16] Therefore, the character’s struggle to achieve their goals or solve their problems gives way for the action, adventure, comedy, horror, or other drama that is depicted towards the viewer. However, there is also the point that these struggles are also constricted to a certain time and space within the movie, which also provides more of a dramatic effect.[17]

            An example of a narrative film would be Some Like It Hot!, which was directed by Billy Wilder and distributed by United Artists. It starred Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and others. This movie is an example of the flight and pursuit aspect of a narrative. It shows how the main characters, Josephine and Daphne travel down to Florida because they were trying to escape the gangsters since they only surviving witnesses to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Throughout their journey they were met with comical obstacles as cross dresser’s and members of an all-female band.

            Another type of style would be the melodrama, which first came to the United States from France as a silent film.[18] Therefore, Belton states that this type of film,

…perfected the craft of visual expression, translating thought and emotion into gesture, costume, décor, and other elements of mise-en-scène. It discovered how to say all without literally saying anything.[19]

As stated above, this type of film was ideal for the silent cinema. Therefore actors such as Buster Keaton or Charles Chaplin were very prominent. A melodramist by the name of Griffith was well known in the United States on speaking on behalf of nineteenth-century agrarianism.[20] He had films such as A Corner in Wheat and The birth of a Nation.[21]

            Another genre of music would be the musical. This type of film contains song and often dance numbers that tells a story, and they usually have a narrative or musical reality, which assist in telling the story line. An example of an early musical would be Broadway Melody, which was produced in 1929.[22] Although musicals, particularly the operetta flourished at Paramount and M-G-M, the musical began to shift into a present-day (ie High School Musical) style musical when RKO began producing the Astaire-Rogers musicals. These are also known as the “screwball musicals” because of the slapstick comedy throughout.[23]

            Within the genres of American cinema, there was also a large demand for comedy films. The genre of comedy contains other genres within it. For example, many of the silent films that Chaplin partook in were also comedies.[24] It is Belton that states that, “American film comedy, like comedy in general, is the genre of the people.”[25] This is very true with the fact that comedies often made fun of anyone and everyone. There were different types of comedies such as the Silent, Slapstick, Romantic, Screwball, War, Animal, Ironic, and Greek Comedies.[26] Although many studios produce comedic films, the two that might be the most well known for the production of early comedic films are Hal Roach and Columbia (which alone produced 190 releases of The Three Stooges).

            Another genre would be war. This type of film presents the viewer with a narrative that has, “explosive action sequences, superhuman feats of bravery, and spectacular displays of mass destruction.”[27] While watching war films, one might be able to see how unlike other films, there is usually a distinct difference in sexual roles between males and females. War films can also be used as a type of propaganda such as J. Stuart Balckton’s Battle Cry of Peace produced in 1915.[28] One example of a well-known war film would be Casablanca produced in 1942. It shows how there are sexual role differences between men and women, a struggle and goal objectives by the main characters, and how war scenes are depicted.

            There are three other types of film genres that are present within American cinema such as Film Noir, which is also known as black film, Western films, and Science Fiction films. The Film Noir is found early within cinema productions. It is the classical black and white films, but depends heavily on the different types of lighting, actors and actresses, and mise-en-scène. The Western films were known for their image of conquering the west, and although it was Edison who first filmed Buffalo Bill,[29] it was Warner Bros. who seemed to lead the way with John Wayne movies. Lastly, the horror and science fiction genre opened a new world to viewers by presenting the viewer with a heart-racing thrill. Star Trek would be an example of science fiction, and Dracula would be an example of horror. For example, Universal Studios would be well known for producing the monster horror movies, and Fox and United Artists would be known for the production of science fiction movies such as The Lost World or Things to Come.         

            Although different production companies were known for different styles and genres of movies, such as Universal Studios specializing in monster movies, many production companies often had a few films that were out of their element. However, by beginning with a narrative, a movie could follow simple steps to keep the audience engaged in the movie rather it be a comedy, science fiction, or western movie.

Question 3: There is something called the “Hollywood Style.” What is it and how did it develop?

            The Hollywood style has previously been described in the first two questions, but it will be described again in this question. There is a typical style that all artists follow known as the American National Style. Each artist, while showing his or her individualistic styles through their motion pictures are existing within a larger context which is a general style therefore known as the Classical Hollywood Style.[30]

            Although it is hard for an every day, untrained eye to see, the Classical Hollywood Style shows that there are specific processes and a certain style within a movie. This process is the narrative process. As stated previously,

…it follows an orderly pattern in which an initial state of affairs is introduced, after which something occurs to disturb this equilibrium. Subsequent events attempt to restore the original status quo, but this is repeatedly frustrated, and order is recovered only at the end of the film.[31]

The Classical Hollywood Style follows this in almost every American movie produced. For example, they all have a beginning, middle, and end. They also have different events that occur in the movie to the characters where the characters must solve their problems in order to achieve their goals.[32] There is also the fact that these goals are organized through time and space. Belton states,

Often the goals that organize a classical Hollywood narrative are given a precise temporal dimension—a specific deadline has to be met or a certain task has to be completed by a definite time.[33]

An example of this would be a more recent movie such as Inception. In this film, the characters must accomplish a goal in a certain amount of time, and within each level of the unconscious they have a certain time to get to the other level; the characters are also met with emotional and physical problems as well that the must solve in order to complete their mission of implanting a thought into a man’s head.

            Also, there are several hidden details within the Classical Hollywood Style. For example, while a viewer might not immediately see underlying meanings, they might, “unconsciously sense the classic principles of economy, regularity, symmetry, order, and pleasure.”[34]

            In trying to analyze and review a film that is produced using the Classical Hollywood Style, one might use segmentation, which is “an analytical technique designed to expose an underlying discontinuity by breaking the film down into basic narrative unity.”[35] An example of this is the segmentation of Chaplin’s The Gold Rush:

            I. Prologue

            II. The Cabin

            III. The dance hall

            IV. The cabin in town

            V. The dance hall

            VII. Epilogue[36]

Each of these segmentations is followed by a brief summary of the section. This helps to see the symmetry, imagination, the flight and pursuit of characters, the narrative structure and sexuality within the film, the resolution or irresolution of the characters problems, and other details that lead to a larger picture.

            In conclusion, most films follow this narrative Classical Hollywood Style. However, there are some that do not. By having an organized film, it is easier for a viewer to follow along with the movie, and by having a producer’s individual artistic ideas incorporated, it keeps the viewer engaged. The Hollywood Style is one that is not only seen in films from the past, but also in the films of today.

Question 4: What were the origins of the Production Code and how did it influence American filmmaking?

            Also known as the Hayes Code after Will H. Hays effort to clean up Hollywood’s image, The Production Code was instituted in 1934 by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America,[37] and this was instituted because of protests by certain prominent leaders within the community and members of the clergy.[38] The Production Code enforced guidelines on the producers of motion pictures so that they would not portray anything that would be offensive to the public. Belton states the following about the Production Code:

Directed against depictions of not only crime and violence but also sexual themes such as adultery; scenes of passion, seduction, or rape; sexual perversion, and miscegenation, the Code handcuffed the rampant sexuality of early 1930’s stars such as the sexy platinum blonde Jean Harlow and the sexually suggestive Mae West.[39]

The Code also put limitations on violence within the films. Many of the earlier gangster films often had a warning or even a Bible verse at the beginning of the films. The Code was meant to portray a good moral example to those who watched films in their leisure time. Throughout the years that the Production Code was instated, there were movies that were being produced where a viewer could see how The Code affected the scenes, sexuality, and violence, and how there were changes throughout the years (especially after the Second World War when sexuality began to reemerge).

Perhaps one of the biggest influences that the Production Code had on filmmakers is within the realm of sexuality. Films such as Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night portrays a man and woman sleeping in separate beds, with a curtain drawn between the two.[40] This is one example of why many of the sex comedies were without the actual sex. These changes were brought on by the Catholic Legion of Decency, which campaigned to depict Christian morality within the films and prohibit sexual perversion, vulgarity, and scenes of passion.[41] It was sexuality that The Code seemed to have more focus on, rather than the issue of violence within movies.

The Code also regulated war movies and worked closely with the Office of War Information (OWI).[42] It often would show the graphic battle scenes and blood, but would leave out the actual killing of the humans. This is also seen in many of the early gangster films The Public Enemy. However, violence, while important, did not seem like the main focus of the Production Code…sexuality was.

However, as the years continued on, many of the producers began to challenge the limits of the Production Code. As many of them continued to do this, The Code began to relax the rules a little bit. For example, Otto Preminger completely disregarded The Code in his 1953 film, The Moon is Blue by openly discussing premarital sex and using words such as pregnant, seduction, and mistress.[43] This pattern continued to grow stronger, and by the late 1950’s and early 1960’s the Production Code became almost impossible to control. There were too many producers disobeying the rules for The Code to work. Therefore, out of The Code, an effort was made to create a rating system. This rating system is still present now, and used on almost every film (except the Not Yet Rated films). However, it is clear that many producers are beginning to defy this rating code like the producers of the past. How is someone to judge if something is rated G, M, R, and X, or in today’s world G, PG, PG-13, R, X? It is a question that is to remain, but the legacy of the Production Code is still present today.

Works Cited

Belton, John. American Cinema/American Culture. 3^rd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill. 2009.

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[1] John Belton, American Cinema/ American Culture, 3^rd ed., (Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009), 68.

[2] Ibid., 82.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid., 67.

[6] Ibid., 82.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid., 83.

[11] Ibid., 67.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid., 68.

[14] Ibid., 23.

[15] Ibid., 24.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Ibid., 25.

[18] Ibid., 127.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid., 135.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Ibid., 155.

[23] Ibid., 157.

[24] Ibid., 166.

[25] Ibid., 173.

[26] Ibid., 174-194.

[27] Ibid., 196.

[28] Ibid., 205.

[29] Ibid., 244.

[30] Ibid., 22.

[31] Ibid., 23.

[32] Ibid., 25.

[33] Ibid.

[34] Ibid., 28.

[35] Ibid.

[36] Ibid., 29-30.

[37] Ibid., 110.

[38] Ibid.

[39] Ibid.

[40] Ibid., 181.

[41] Ibid.

[42] Ibid., 208.

[43] Ibid., 187.