Bobbi Jo Burrows

ARTH204 Prof. Bouchie 07/04/2012 Midterm Exam

1.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The Golden Age of Hollywood and the studio

system were the high point of American cinema. Things had never been better for the upper echelons of the production companies, and the American public went to the movies in droves. For the actors in the studio system films, times were not as good. Either way, the studio system changed the way films were made worldwide.

The studio system came into being largely because of the introduction of sound into films. The introduction of sound into the films caused an economic upturn after the release of The Jazz Singer, which in turn caused the major players in film production and distribution to acquire first-run theaters to screen their own films. The result was that the major filmmaking companies had a monopoly on the film business; the independent theater owner, could not make money as they could not show the A list films the production companies were showing in their own theaters. Further, the companies began buying large lots in sunny California. These lots were used as production lots, with sets and sound stages. Now Hollywood could turn out more films than ever before. The actors were not so well off; the film companies trapped them in restrictive contracts that did not allow them much freedom with their careers, and the actors were constantly making movies, day and night, with almost no breaks in filming. The studio system was an assembly line for films, and it worked. One of the trademark styles you would expect to see in classical cinema is the invisible style. The camera, the crew, and the actors should all work together to make the audience feel that there was no camera, that the audience was actually there. This is evidenced well in Roman Holiday, Murder, My Sweet, and Singing in the Rain. The directors designed the camera shots to convey emotions of a wide range. The angles of the shots help to influence the way the audience feels about a character. In Roman Holiday, there are many high or low angle shots meant to exaggerate a characters height to induce

apprehension about the character, or to induce a feeling of superiority. Chiara Oscura is used effectively in Murder, My Sweet to make us feel uncomfortable when the Femme Fatale is seen smoking in the dark, as well as shots where we are looking over one characters shoulder to look at another character. In Singing in the Rain, the lighting and set construction helped tell the story. The high key lighting enhanced the feelings of being happy- and in love. In addition, the set had hidden symbolism in it, which made the audience think of things that enhance the film, such as Dalis eye in the background during the final scenes of the film, indicating that we should watch the main character in the movie as he dances. These are just a few examples of the endless ways that the directors of the Studio System films made the audience feel like the cameras were not present, that they were simply voyeurs witnessing someone elses life.

2.

The production code in Hollywood during the time that Roman Holiday, Murder, My Sweet, and

Singing in the Rain were made was very restrictive and forced many directors to find ways around the code, while showing what an audience wanted to see. Many things were against the production code, such as lewd acts, sexuality, gambling, crimes, and drinking alcohol. The directors found many creative ways to show the scenes that the HUAC found immoral. Roman Holiday was a great example of the creativity that a director could employ to avoid directly violating the production code.

In Roman Holiday, director William Wyler got around the provision in the production code that said that a man and a woman couldnt be seen in a bed together unless both people have one foot on the ground by placing the Princess on a coach and having the man pulling the bed next to the couch. Further, they were sleeping head to feet, so there was no resemblance to what a normal bed scene would look like. In addition, any public displays of affection had to be necessary to the story, so Wyler stretched what was necessary. In addition to all of this, toward the end of the movie, there is a jump in time from when the Princess says that she wishes she could be domestically inclined for a man, and when it is time to leave and go back to the opulent quarters she lived in. It would be fair to say that something of a more than friendly nature- or outright sexual nature- occurred during that timeframe, as the man had made

something of a proposal in offering to move near her. Wyler again avoided violating the production code by leaving the action off-screen in this instance.

In all three films, the production code was generally followed, for example, in Singing in the Rain, during a scene when most people would have been drinking alcohol, the characters all drink milk at midnight. In addition, in Murder, My Sweet, the violent scenes were not actually shown, except through cuts that left the action to the audiences imaginations. This definitely was done in accordance with the production code, among other examples. The production code made for a clean film; however, most of the audience knew what was going on, which made the films even more humorous. Although there were instances of stretching the production code in all three films, there were no blatant violations. Certainly, the restrictions of the code made for an enjoyable movie experience, but the removal of the production code made the films closer to real life and more believable for audiences.

3.

I can tell you I know it when I see it but I dont know how to define it. Almost every element you name as

the definition of a Noir film would apply to Casablanca but you would not call Casablanca a Noir film. When Sydney Pollack was asked what Film Noir is, he replied with the previous quote. There are simply so many parts of a Noir that it is hard to name them all, but they are a formula. Murder, My Sweet follows the recipe of a Noir perfectly, and that is the reason why it was such a successful film.

First, all Noirs have the theme of crime in them. This is certainly apparent in Murder, as the thug, Moose, and his socialite boss engage in multiple forms of crime, along with the Femme Fatale, Mrs. Grayle. In addition, there is the theme of the crisis surrounding a characters identity, which occurs frequently in Noir films. In Murder, after he is kidnapped and drugged, Marlowe says, "'Okay Marlowe,' I said to myself. 'You're a tough guy. You've

been sapped twice, choked, beaten silly with a gun, shot in the arm until you're crazy as a couple of waltzing mice. Now let's see you do something really tough - like putting your pants on.'" This quote certainly indicates a struggle with his own masculinity after the theoretical rape that occurred while he was unconscious.

Next, there are the camera shots and angles used in the film. Noirs typically use deep focus, so that all the characters are given equal weight in the frame, and the viewer must decide what is important to focus on. They also frequently use shots where the camera is behind one characters back, and we look over their shoulder toward another character or group of characters. This is used extensively in Murder. There is also liberal use of Chiara Oscura in the film, as well as a good amount of low-key lighting to induce a feeling of apprehension and nervousness. The angles the camera takes toward the characters also gives the audience feelings about the characters. When Moose is in the same frame as Marlowe, the camera is often angled up at him, to make him appear bigger and more menacing. The reverse is true of Marlowe. The camera often looks down on him, to make him appear much less imposing. Further, in the scene where Moose and his boss are attacking Marlowe, the camera cuts so frequently that it gives the viewer a sense of panic, while at the same time not actually showing the violence and keeping within the production code.

The film finally culminates in Marlowe, our hero getting his happy ending, with some misfortune as he was blinded temporarily. The theme of the bad guys all being destroyed because of their flaws is demonstrated well in Murder. In the end, all the villains end up killing each other, giving a sense of justice and closure to the film. This is also a trademark of Noir films- the bad guy always loses.

Although Murder, My Sweet is not the most well known or most successful Film Noir, it certainly blended all of the ingredients of the mise-en-scene, the casting, and the story into a great example of a well-balanced recipe- a true Film Noir.

4.

Ridley Scotts Prometheus is a film rich in complex themes that are very relevant to todays world,

as well as to antiquity. The themes visited by Scott in the film include the theme of creation and destruction, Christianity and mythology, good and evil, strong and weak, and male and female. All of these themes fit together like a puzzle to create a picture of our society, with all its flaws, like ego and greed, and its redeeming qualities, such as faith and love. Scott created a film designed to make the viewer examine their own qualities and motivations.

The first theme that was noticeable was the Greek myth of Prometheus. Prometheus created man, and Zeus told him not to give man the gift of fire. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus, and was punished for eternity. This brings again the question of creation and destruction, and leads to the element in the film of Christianity. The corpse that the humans found in the corridor in the alien underground facility was 2000 years old, corresponding exactly with the life of Jesus Christ. Even more interesting is that Scott intended us to think that our creation of Jesus Christ angered the engineers (who were unusually tall, just as the titans, such as Prometheus in Greek mythology were pictured as) and that the engineers determined that we had become out of control and no longer gave the correct credit for creation of our race. The engineers simply decided to destroy their creation, as we no longer were being good children. In addition, the ship that carries the humans to the planet is called Prometheus. This fits perfectly into the Greek myth of Prometheus. as it is the ship that is carrying fire, or light, or even knowledge to the humans. Further, the film begins to bring up the question, Is Christianity only a means for humans to have something to believe in? In todays world, there is so much hate and evil deeds that we most certainly need something to believe in. This is explored in the film, as Shaw is devoutly Christian and her partner is not. Yet, it is Shaw who makes it through the end, with the question, Yes, we were made by the engineers, but who made them? indicating that her belief in God as creator has not died.

In addition, the character of David has most of these themes within his character. He is treated as if he is a lower being because Weyland created him, yet he has abilities that no one else can even begin to touch. Its interesting that the engineered is the closest thing to the engineers in this film. He is almost god-like himself, with his ability to read peoples dreams, interpret almost any language, and figure out how to operate the alien ship. Also, he gave one of the main characters the black goo- either to destroy him in a very human display of vengeance for mistreatment, and also a mirror of the engineers actions, or to allow him to achieve his dream of finding out exactly how humans were created. Again the theme of creation and destruction shows up with David.

Again the theme of creation and destruction shows up throughout the film with various humans becoming impregnated by variations of the Goo. The two scientists left in the alien structure have the

snakes from the goo going down their throats or transforming them into raging zombies. The one scientist is made sick by the goo that David gave him, and then impregnates a sterile Shaw with an alien fetus. Later, she attempts to have an abortion, however the alien baby does not die. It grows and goes on to kill and impregnate the engineer and have the alien baby burst out of his chest. It is interesting also, that every time that someone is impregnated by the black goo, destruction of some kind soon follows.

Finally, the film ties all of these themes into a piece that makes the viewer not even realize they are watching a film based on Christianity, Mythology, creation, and destruction. These themes are so complex that it takes quite a bit of chewing on them to digest it all. Scott made a film that certainly ties into todays world, as we are often trying to create our own, and many people are trying to disprove that God made us, or vice versa. Humans have become arrogant and cocky, and that, just like in the film, leads down a road of destruction. Scott was trying to make people think with his creation. It worked.

5.

Ridley Scotts Prometheus could be classified as either a science fiction film, or a horror film.

There are certainly elements of both genres in the film, so the statement that Scotts film is without question a horror film is difficult to support or refute. The film is not concretely either of the genres; rather, it is a blending of both. However, I see the film as a touch more horror than science fiction.

First, the film is definitely extrapolative. We have bits of the technology shown in the film now, and its not a stretch to say that we will have all of it not too far down the road. However, at this time, we have not had any direct dealings with aliens, so we can only speculate as to what they look and act like. So again, in concept, the film has elements of both science fiction and horror. Secondly, the film is scary at times, but not in the usual horror film way. There isnt any gratuitous, liberal violence in the film. All of the violence is necessary to the story line and isnt meant to simply induce feelings of terror or nausea. They are simply meant to help tell the story and induce a feeling of apprehension. Many other science fiction movies employ the same technique to help tell the

story, i.e. Blade Runner, the Matrix, etc. We cant classify those films as horror films, even if they have scary or violent elements in them,

However, the film does have many horror elements in it. The feeling of apprehension is pervasive throughout the film; the viewer is constantly on edge, waiting for an alien to pop out of a corner and destroy someone. We are gratified when the snake from the goo kills the scientist and infects the other, when the engineer destroys Weylands group, and during the final fight between the alien and the engineer. There are also times in the film when the audience feels genuine revulsion, especially at the time when Shaw is performing her abortion and when Vickers burns the scientist because he is sick, in addition to the previously mentioned examples. There are so many more examples of when terror and horror are felt during the film that they cant all be listed in this paper.

Prometheus appears to be a new breed of horror film, one that viewers will not even realize is a horror film. Scott did a wonderful job of making a horror film palatable to an audience that doesnt normally watch horror films, like me.