Oh, to be in NYC!

Playing at my favorite movie house...

http://www.filmforum.org/films/psycho.html

Too bad we couldn't do a field trip next week.

Spine Chilling Films

Here is the correct link for Nosferatu:

http://www.archive.org/details/NosferatuVs.Ritsu

Please note that it is tinted to decipher when it is daylight and when it is night. Blue represents night. Apparently, they filmed the entire film in daytime and had to be able to distinguish between night and day and Murnau chose to tint the film. Here is a link to Roger Ebert's essay on the film:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19970928/REVIEWS08/401010345/1023

It is a very interesting article (easy to read!)...

Remember, don't watch this film at night by yourself!

Also, if you want to re-watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, here is the link:

http://www.archive.org/details/DasKabinettdesDoktorCaligariTheCabinetofDrCaligari

And, if you want to read what Ebert had to say, here goes:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090603/REVIEWS08/906039987/1023

Silent Sunday Nights

Not that you should be staying up late on Sunday nights, but perhaps record some of these films and watch them with the lights out, by yourself maybe the following Saturday night. Now that you've realized silent films are really pretty cool, check some of these out on TCM...

Click here for the link.

Blog Response #6

Think about a director whose movies you have seen. In at least 2 well-developed paragraphs, discuss the three premises of auteur theory. Refer to Mr. Sarris' article and:

1. The technical competence of the director.

2. The distinguishable personality of the director.

3. The interior meaning of the works.

Think cinematically, use plenty of examples, and have fun. Remember: I look forward to reading them.

Due: Monday, October 4, at 8:00 am.

Blog Response #5

Watch Chaplin's The Gold Rush and compare and contrast it with Keaton's The General. Think about everything you've learned thus far in terms of reading film. Discuss mise en scene, open/closed framing, kinesis, narrative, etc.

Both films are available at the Internet Archive:

The Gold Rush

The General

I look forward to reading your responses, which should be at least 2 well-developed paragraphs.

Due: by Friday, 10/1, 8:00 am

Blog Response #4

Now that you are getting used to watching motion pictures with no words...

I would like you to watch portions of Birth of a Nation (if you'd like, watch the whole thing!) and compare it with Falling Leaves. Look at both films and write two well-developed paragraphs that discuss mise en scene. Is the camera static? What kind of shots are used? What is the framing/composition of individual shots? Do the shots employ a lot of movement or not? Describe how the use of movement in the film/clips complement or detract from the development of the narrative. Note the type of movement (movement of figures within the frame or movement of the frame itself) in the shots and describe as accurately as possible the effect that the movement has on the relationships among the figures in the frame.

You can find Birth of a Nation here. Watch from 9:00-14:00 and 36:00-41:00. You should note certain techniques Griffith uses such as the 180-degree rule (right around 13:00) and his use of establishing shots and close ups.

If you want to re-watch Falling Leaves, go here.

Have fun!

Blog Response #3

Using your viewing(s) of Citizen Kane, discuss the following quote from your Bazin article in at least two well-developed paragraphs:

"Citizen Kane can never be too highly praised. Thanks to the depth of field, whole scenes are covered in one take, the camera remaining motionless. Dramatic effects for which we had formerly relied on montage were created out of the movements of the actors within a fixed framework. Of course Welles did not invent the in-depth shot any more than Griffith invented the close-up. All the pioneers used it and for a very good reason."