Films Studies

Film studies Film: Citizen Kane Power It is funny what happens to us in childhood and how it effects us for the rest of our life. Citizen Kane is addressing the subject of the American dream and how it all ends up being a tragedy. Charles Foster Kane is a character bigger than life it self. He is charismatic and as rich as a king. He is loved and has, in more ways then one, reached success at a very young age. His story follows the arch of a tragedy, where success is found for the god like figure, and then they fall. Kane is very much a god -like figure and his fall is O so great. In a way it is a narrative on Orson's own life, despite him claiming that his character has no resemblance to who he is. Yet, Orson gave a narrative of his own life without even knowing it. Citizen Kane was the first film he ever made and was the greatest as well. He would go own to attempt to replicate what had been done, but nothing could compare, so he fell. Towards the end of his life he beca...

Film Studios FIlm: The Treasure of Sierra Madre November 5 Gold Themes Gold has been the obsession and epitome of human greed for thousands of years. A shiny valuable metal which does not rust and weather. Many men have died in war over gold and perhaps many shall die in the future. The Treasure of Sierra Madre directed by John Huston brings up an interesting question, what is wealth. As Howard (Walter Huston) says sometimes water can be more valuable than gold. The only reason that gold has such value is because of society. In some tribal settings the wealthiest would not be the man who had the most possession but the man who had assisted the post people, the man who had the most people in debit to him. The thing about materialistic wealth is that it can never truly fulfill you. We see this as Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) gains wealth. The more gold he gets, the unhappier he becomes. This film shows how greed can kill metaphorically and physically. We see at the end what gold ...

Film studies Pascal Di Betta Film: Grapes of Wrath October 29, 2017                                                                         Acting A shot that stood out to me was the scene with the dead monkey. As Joe Gills (William Holden) approaches the dead body with drapes on it, we begin to get nerves. Has Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) Killed the poor fella. As she lifts up the cloth we see that it is a monkey. She invited Joe to come up because she thought he was a the coffin guy. She realizes she has invited a total stranger into her house and tells him to leave. He is about to, until he realizes that he knows her. “Wait a minute, haven't I seen you before? I know your face.” He says. “Your Norma Desmond, used to be in silent pictures, use to be big.” She raises her eyebrows as high ...

Double indemnity. Film Studies Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson)  is the shining star of this film. When I think of insurance companies I think of extremely boring tedious work, and also of corruption and fraud. However Barton gave me a very interesting perspective on the business. Through his monologue talking about suicide we see a bit of humanity come out, and also chuckle to see mister Napoleon tell of the boss. The Boss has just attempted to tell Ms. Dietrichson ( Barbara Stanwyck)  that her husband committed suicide. But she won't have that crap. She storms out and so the boss say they will have to take it to court. Keyes comes in and biggies to list all the ways that people have committed suicide. He becomes enthused lively and it is captivating to watch. “Mr. Norton, of all the cases on record not one single case of suicide by leaping of the re end of a moving train. And you know how fast that train was going at the point where the body was found, 15 mile an hou...

Film Studies Pascal DiBetta Film: All about Eve Oh Eve George Orwell's animal farm has a parallel to a major theme in All about Eve. Although the book itself is dealing with the ideology of marxism, it is also addressing the concept of the a revolution which applies to the main driving plot of the movie. Perhaps this theme is not revealed until the last shot of the film, however, looking back we can see the similarities between Eve and Margo as the film progresses. We see at the very end when Eve is sitting on the coach, the true colors of the character of the young star. Old, tired and in no way innocent (emphasised by the cigar she is smoking). A movies theme can make the difference between a well made film versus a incredible film. The story can be told with skill and elegance, yet it is the the question that is being asked which makes it great. Many may forget that the true meaning of a revolution is to simply end up back where you started, revolution meaning t...

Films Studies Pascal Di Betta Film: The third man Perspective As I have stated previously, a story is a point of view which gives us a new perspective on a certain object, person or idea. The Mise en Scene of the Third man is particularly fascinating; most of the shots in the film are tilted. Reading through the Understanding Movies by Louis Gianneti, the concept of framing within the perimeters of the film ratio is presented and can be seen in practice in almost every film. A beau tiful demonstration of this  in The Third Man is during the last scene, where Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli) is walking down the road. Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton ) waits for her, leaning against the a small wooden wagon. The Shot puts Anna in the dead center, making her the most important subject matter within the shot. She is framed by trees flanking both sides of the road, drawing our attention to her for over a minute as she walks towards the camera. As for the tilt, it is a ...

High Noon The pendulum of the clocks swings, setting a tempo for the music, the tick tock of the clock setting a back drop for the sequence that follows. The music intensifies, building; people are praying in a church. People sitting at a bar, watching the clock, waiting. The people on the screen merge with the people that sit in the audience as they sit and wait for noon. Doom doom, goes the drum, the music stately intensifying. Doom doom, we see the three cowboys, doom doom, we see the train tracks. Doom doom, the cowardly man, feeling ashamed for not helping Will Kane (Gary Cooper). Doom doom, everyone is looking at the clock. doom doom, we see the empty town. And then you hear the train whistle, and your heart jumps, and you get shivers because it is equal to someone hitting that last high note in a song. T his is what the film was setting up for, the high note. When that whistle blows we know there is death in the air. This film is talking about becoming a man. I think it ...

Film Studies Pascal Di Betta Film: Psycho September 7, 2107 Death of comfort The shower scene is probably one of the most iconic “scary movie” scenes of all time. The scene starts out with Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) getting into the shower. We, as an audience, have been trained that when we are shown a scene, we expect to have an outcome. A good story teller only adds scenes that give information that moves the story forward. A scene that seems to have no apparent reason is up form manipulation. Depending on music, editing and former information, these “filler scenes” can take on whatever purpose the director needs it to be. In the case of this film, the filler scenes add suspense. Marion is in the shower, naked and relaxed. Then, we see the shadow approaching. The curtain is rip back and the figure begins stabbing Marion. Despite knowing that something bad was about to happen, it is surprising and leaves the audience in shock for a good 10 minutes. With the added musi...

Film studies Pascal Di Betta Film: Grapes of Wrath September 3, 2017 Simplicity Grapes of Wrath is a stellar film and has many moments which struck me. One scene that comes to mind is Grandpa's Burial scene. The statement, “simple is better” truly applies to this movie, and this scene in particular. Casey, played by (John Carradine) is asked by Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) to give a few words to the recently decided Grandpa Joad (Charley Grapewin). He tells Tom that he isn't a preacher anymore but Tom insists. Casey says few words, everyone hitting it mark. He talks about how he shall not pray for Grandpa, because there is no need. He says it is the living that need praying for, because they are the ones who need help finding their path. “This, here old man, just lived a life and died out of it,” says Casey. This line gives the sense of what life really is, a beach. Here, young men become born and live there life like the tip of a crest and then crash down. Then they die...

Film Studies Pascal Di Betta Film: Casablanca August 26, 2107 Not So Much Love The best scene within Casablanca is the last scene. We have had the entire moving leading up to this point; figuring out the underlying story behind Rick's character and his relationship with Ilsa. It is in the last moments of the when the protagonist changes, or as one might say it, it is at that point in the film when the event of the story occurs. Rick is always saying he never sticks his neck out for anyone, and he doesn’t. It is the resolve of the movie when Rick gives up what he most desire, sticking his neck out for someone he loves. There are two layers of suspense that the writer has set up in the last scene. The spectator might think, “Will the Nazi general reach the runway and stop them? Will the plane crash or be shot down? Will Rick chose the right path or the wrong path?” As known to many, rick does the right thing; he takes down the Nazi general and lets Ilsa and Victor go o...