Stagecoach Entry # 3

1) Relate what was discussed in class to the screening:

In class we discussed the "Monument Valley" which is where stage coach was filmed.  Many films were shot there because of the scenery and the openness.  The view is also amazing.  We also discussed old western movies and John Wayne.  Stagecoach made John Wayne's career really take off.  This movie was also John Ford's first western movie with sound.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content:

http://www.filmsite.org/stagec.html
This article gives a brief overview of the movie and it also gives a review of the movie.  It discusses Ford's career and how the movie Stagecoach was nothing but a positive asset to his career.  Stagecoach made his career very successful and made him a lot of money.  Stagecoach was nominated for seven Academy Awards for its quality.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class:

The article states that the sophistication in this film is outstanding, which you can see when watching.  It was very classy and all the characters had a level of sophistication, but not necessarily perfect.  It also discusses how John Wayne was played such a great role in this film.  It says that Stagecoach helped reinvent western movies and could get people to enjoy them more, which since it had such great reviews and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, it proves that it did.

4) Give a critical analysis of the film:

Considering I am not a fan of old western movies, I was actually surprised that I liked this one.  I absolutely loved the love story in it and of course, that kept me actively engaged.  The humor throughout the movie with the Doctor was very entertaining but I wish that they made it more clear what the fuss was between the two women were.  If someone was coming into the movie a little late, they may not have understood why there was so much tension.  Overall, John Wayne was very entertaining and not hard on the eyes, either.

 (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

    (x) If I reused any information from other papers I have writing for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper

3(x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4(x) I have not padded the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5(x) I have cited in the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

6(x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way.  I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography

7(x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

9(x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Laura Mazzola_________________________ Date: 3/31/14_________

It Happened One Night- Journal #2

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening:

We discussed in class the beginning of film with sound.  After Charlie Chaplin's big silent films started to fade away, they started producing movies with sound, starting as a silent film with sound sequences because at this time the radio was very big.  Debuted in 1934, It Happened One Night, had sound and had two famous actors Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.  It Happened One Night was successful with the use of synchronization and amplification, unlike the first few movies with sound due to muffled sound quality.  Microphone placement quality was enhanced. 

2) Find a related article and summarize the content:

http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/looking-back-at-it-happened-one-night

This article says that It Happened One Night was the ultimate romantic comedy. The fact that was discussed in class was that the sales of undershirt sales decreased after this movie came out because Clark Gable did not wear one.  Extremely interesting when you think of the role models to people in this world.  It says that not only was the movie interesting, but it was nice to look at.  The director had to shoot in very small places (bus, hotel room, etc.) and did it flawlessly. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class:

The article talks about the great romance in the movie and that looking back on it now really proves how great It Happened One Night was.  We forget with all of the movies around today the credit to be given to Frank Capra for the joy that is brought to people when watching this movie.  Many (if not all) people wanted to feel the love that Gable and Colbert displayed.  It was truly a joy to watch with all of the innocence, yet hidden erotic gestures made.  

4) Write a critical analysis of the film:

Personally, watching this film had me laughing and smiling.  Sometimes, I caught myself in shock when hearing the way the actors in the movie interacted with each other with Gable being very dominant and controlling.  I forget that it was in 1934 and the roles they were playing with the dominance and him "running the show", was normal then.  Once I understood that times are now very different then they were then, I understood a lot.  The film showed a great romance yet did a great job of having the comedic aspect to it.  It had me wanting them to be together and wondering greatly what was happening next.  I did not live in the 30's, yet I feel like it was sort of an unrealistic plot.  Meeting a stranger on a bus and spending the same night in a hotel room with him is not realistic to me.  But it did keep me engaged and laughing.  I am really a sucker for romantic movies.   

    (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

    (x) If I reused any information from other papers I have writing for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper

3(x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4(x) I have not padded the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5(x) I have cited in the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

6(x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way.  I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography

7(x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

9(x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Laura Mazzola_________________________ Date: 3/22/14_________

The Gold Rush 1925

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening:

-In class we discussed the details to making a silent movie and that it was a lot of improvisation to make it.  When you are watching, you can tell that improvisation was used to make it when the characters are interacting.  Charlie Chaplin was a big name in the silent movie era during that time and that it was really a jump-start to his career as well as Keaton.  Since a silent movie is mostly visual except for some music streaming through, the maker needs to keep the audience entertained.   Charlie Chaplin liked to use comedy in his silent films.  In the Gold Rush, he really used comedy as well as comedic gags to display his character. 

2) Find a related article and summarize the content:

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C03E7D61531EE3ABC4F52DFBE66838E639EDE

This article was written in 1925 after the premiere of the Gold Rush and mentions: “the hungry days in London, the times when he was depressed by disappointments, the hopes, his loneliness and the adulation he felt for successful actors.”, speaking of Chaplin.  The article describes Chaplin’s pride while watching the movie and the struggles he has overcome.  It is a summary of the movie and explains that Chaplin is more sympathetic in this silent movie.

3) The article changed my opinion because I didn’t know that Charlie Chaplin was more sympathetic in this movie than his others.  It also states that this movie was a big time paying job for Chaplin, which I also did not know, I thought he was very popular at the time and made a great deal of money. 

4) I was very apprehensive about watching this movie because as a 21-year-old in 2014, I had never even seen a full silent film.  The movie was actually quite entertaining and I found myself laughing a lot.  This movie was very effective at portraying the comedic effect through gags and improvisational scenes.  In class we discussed how gags defined Chaplin’s character, which the viewer could tell he was good at, but in the Gold Rush, he also had the romantic effect of his character of falling in love.  Which was also stated in the article.  Overall, the movie balanced a great amount of comedy, romance and drama.

1.     (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2.     (x) If I reused any information from other papers I have writing for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper

3.     (x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4.     (x) I have not padded the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5.     (x) I have cited in the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

6.     (x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way.  I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography

7.     (x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8.     (x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Laura Mazzola_________________________ Date: 2/28/14___________________