The Great Dictator (1940)
This is Charlie Chaplin's first true talkie. Before this, he occasionally put dialogue in his films (e.g. the silly talking at the beginning of City Lights) but this was the first film where there was dialogue throughout the entire movie.
This film is also a great example of Chaplin's social consciousness. At this time, World War II was about the start (and most could see the signs) but it hadn't started yet. Chaplin was using the power of cinema to raise awareness of Hitler's true colors. In so doing, he made of fun of the most dangerous man on earth. Well done, Chaplin. Well done.
Here are the questions to answer in regards to The Great Dictator:
- What do you make of Chaplin's use of dialogue? What was it like for you to hear Chaplin's voice throughout the film? In what ways was this film still silent-film-like in spite of the presence of dialogue?
- What moment of the film do you feel had the most powerful message in regards to World War II? What made this moment so powerful?
- Do you feel this film still has messages for us today? Explain.
It Happened One Night (1934)
This film was directed by Frank Capra. Capra was the first director to become a star. Before him, people went to see films made by certain studios or by certain actors but no one would go to see films made by certain directors (the three silent greats are exceptions in that they also acted in their films). But Capra would put his name in large font on his films and on their posters and people would go to see films just because Capra made them.
Capra was known for making films that were incredibly optimistic. They would deal with the problems of the time but they would always end at the most hopeful moment possible. This appealed to audiences during the Great Depression.
It is also important to note that this film won five Academy Awards:
| Award | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | Won | Columbia Pictures (Frank Capra and Harry Cohn) |
| Best Director | Won | Frank Capra |
| Best Actor | Won | Clark Gable |
| Best Actress | Won | Claudette Colbert |
| Best Writing, Adaptation | Won | Robert Riskin |
Answer the following questions about It Happened One Night:
- Why do you feel that audiences during the Great Depression liked Frank Capra's films so much? Why might they like this film?
- Did you like or dislike this film? Why? Please explain in detail.
- Pick one of the five Academy Awards that this film won and write about why you feel it earned that award.
The Wolf Man (1941)
This is an example of the kind of monster movies that were rampant during the Hollywood Golden Era. It was a fun treat for Halloween as well as an important example of a genre that dominated an era. As we talked about in class, the monster movie was to the Hollywood Golden Era (1930's and early 40's) as the superhero movie is to use today.
As you respond to this film, please answer the following questions:
- Why do you think people in 1941 liked this sort of film?
- Did you like or dislike this film? Why? Explain in detail.
- Did you notice any moments in the film that you think were toned down because of the Hayes Code? Tell us more.
- How do you feel the special effects of this film compare to the Melies films made 29 years earlier? Were they better? Worse? The same? Please explain in detail and provide examples.
Patience Montoya
ReplyDeleteThe Great Dictator
I think this was a really amazing movie. It was still like a silent film because there were a lot of over exaggerated movements and things in it. Hearing Charlies voice throughout the film was cool to me because I'm used to just seeing him and his facial expressions but now I could put a voice to it.
I think the end scene where he makes his big speech has the most powerful message because he has so much power in his voice. At first he didn't seem sure of what he was going to do when he went up there, but everyone thought he was this big guy who had all this power. Reality he was someone who they would have taken straight to a concentration camp if they knew who he really was. But seeing that they were unaware of his true identity, he used it to his advantage to show that he cares about all humans and that no matter what background you have you're all the same and you're not alone.
I think this still has a lot of important messages for us today because we are still poisoned with hatred and racism today even though it may not be the same as it was before. There are a lot of things that are wrong with society and people need to realize that if we want a better world for everyone we need to unite together.
It Happened One Night
I think that people liked watching his films because they were optimistic and could give them time away from what was going on in their lives so they could live through the eyes of somebody else for a while. I think that people liked this film because it shows that good things can happen and they will.
I liked this movie a lot. I thought it was super cute how at first they didn't even want to be around each other and then by the end they wanted to be together so bad. It was a really cute love story.
I think that Clark Gable got the best actor award in this movie because he was good at making it seem like he didn't want her. I feel like he got really into his character.
The Wolf man
I think people liked this sort of film because it had monsters and creatures that were fictional. Movies like this were probably really scary to them and being scared is fun when you know you're not actually in any real danger.
I didn't not like this film but it wasn't something I would just sit down and watch for fun. I'm not really into monster movies very much.
Very nicely done. Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteI liked his use of dialogue i love the way he speaks in this film. It sounds so intelligent, but not cocky. It was pretty weird to be hearing his voice throughout the film, but i liked his voice. He somehow makes everything sound sweet while still sounding assertive, like it was when he was playing hinkel. There were some moments that were silent film like. Sometimes in their movements they were more flamboyant than they needed to be, but thats only because thats what they were used to.
Obviously for the answer to this question everyone is going to say the speech at the end of the movie. And it was great, i know. It did give a powerful message, and it's super inspiring. But for me, the barber and everyone in the ghetto taking care of each other, and fighting back to the soldiers was huge to me. That gives a powerful message in my opinion.
This movie does still have a message for present people. To me, the message is to take care of one another. In the movie like i stated before, the people in the ghetto took great care of eachother, or at least tried. They knew the meaning of friendship and togetherness. Like the barber says in his speech pretending to be hinkel, We should be helping eachother, not hurting eachother.
ERIN ALLGOOD
Nice job. Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteFor me to hear charlie Chaplin’s voice for the first time was weird but it was ok. I didn’t expect it to be like that, to me he sounded a little older but it was ok. Now that i can listen to it, i guess it can fit him. This film was like silent films in ways like how the girl was hitting everyone in the head with the pan thingy, and how he was like walking all funny after the girl accidentally hit him in the head.
I think how he would fight against the storm trooper guys was a pretty cool message. But i think the most powerful message was the speech. That was honestly really powerful. I was talking about it to my sister at home about it and she told me that she watched it before and she said she cried haha.
Uhhhmmmm this could have messages today in ways how he said that people should work together but everyones filled with greed. That is a powerful message that is very true. people should be working together but everyone worries about themselves instead. This film was funny and soooo good. I was a bit confused about the hitler and the barber parts. I think the barber guy was in the army at one point? maybe?
Good job, Hector. Graded.
DeleteIsaiah, The Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteIt was kind of weird to hear Charlie Chaplin’s voice it wasn’t the voice i excepted to hear from him but it was ok i don’t hate his movies just because of his voice i think this movie was cool because it was funny but had a strong message throughout the movie too and Charlie made that work very well for this movie i think he was the perfect for this movie his part was a brave barber who took a stand in the end of the movie which was great.
The moment of the movie that i thought had the most powerful message in regards to World War II was probably the same for everyone which was the speech he gave at the end about how he didn’t want to be a dictator any more he wanted everybody to be equal no matter who they were he hated to see people in missery from that day on he wanted every body to look up instead of being looked down on
I do think that this movie still has a message for people today because we still here about hateful things today a recent thing that has been going around has been about police abusing their power, instead of helping people their hurting people kind of like how hitler abused his power by hurting other people just because he didn’t like the way they looked or what they believed in. The message is to treat people equal not less than you
Good job. Graded.
DeleteCharlie Chaplin- The Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteI actually pictured him with that voice. It didn't really shock me. Having him talk a lot though was kinda weird, not that much though. If I were a silent film star that had to transition to talkies, I would just have my character be mute. Not able to talk, but everyone around me would, or a mime. Then again, if Chaplin did this, than we wouldn't have the great movie that we have upon us.
The actions were still silent-film like. Every movement Chaplin did. The only difference was that there was noise around the action.
The speech. The best speech I have ever heard. Every time I watch it I get the goosebumps. The way he delivered, with such power really gets you. He has a very powerful voice that keeps you attentive. You can tell that that speech meant a lot for him to make. It was a speech to every single viewer. To make us think about how we need to act as humans.
The messages that was given back then, still works now. The time might have changed, but the problems haven't. This film fits every time period from now till forever because there will always be evil in this world.
Frank Capra- It Happened One Night
This movie in particular, was very up-lifting. It sure made me smile. That was a rare thing to have during the Great Depression. For Frank Capra to accomplish this and more is just amazing. People went to go watch Frank Capra films because they knew that they would walk out of it with a smile on their faces.
I loved this film. I haven't seen such a great romantic-comedy before. Believe me, I've seen quite a few. Everything about this film is great, the Acting, Directing, and Writing is just spectacular.
Best Actor. Clarke Gable's performance was just so great. He's like Tony Stark, but without the money. I really enjoyed watching him act. If I were in that time period, I would go to any movie he was in.
The Wolf Man
I have no idea. If I had to say something, I guess it would be that it demonstrated a story that would allow them to escape into. A universe where a Werewolf could exist. The special effects might have something to do with it. To see someone transform into a Werewolf might have been mind-blowing.
Honestly, I didn't like this film. Horror movies nowadays don't scare me, so something like this, really didn't scare me. I guess that's why they liked this film. They didn't have anything to compare it to. I thought that if some scenes weren't too slow, they were too quick.
Yes. They couldn't really show a bloody, gory murder. If it did than we wouldn't have watched it in class anyways. Cursing, my gosh there were a lot of moments where cursing might have made the scene more realistic. Maybe the Chemistry between the Protagonist and his love interest would have been more appealing.
The same. The scene's where he would transform were cool, for the time period that it was made, but it was essentially what Melies would do with his fading stuff. They were just films, fading into one another. The same shot but the Werewolf had less hair on him with each fade.
Nice work. Graded.
DeleteIt Happened one night
ReplyDeleteThe audience of the great depression liked his films simply because they were good films. He was the first real famous director because they were so great. I think they liked this film because it was an adventure, and it could help them kind of escape their lives for a little while. Get away from the depression. It was probably a really good distraction for them.
I LOVED this film. It was hilarous!! And i loved the story. It was a great adventure, and you got to root for a couple to make it. To fall in love and go on more adventures. This is probably one of my favorite movies now, and i'm so glad that we watched it.
This movie won so many awards because it was actually genius. And of course, the director is behind that, and thats why this film won best director. Obviously, and previously stated, people loved this director. He made great films, this one in particular. I also understand why it won best actress. She did really great in this movie getting into character, even though her eyebrows are awful.
ERIN ALLGOOD
So glad you liked it so much! Graded.
DeleteIt Happened In One Night,
ReplyDeleteI think people liked this film because it was a good movie to sit back relax and enjoy the underdog in this movie was Claudette because she was on the run and she had everybody after her accept for someone who she met on the bus who had agreed to help her along her journey i think people liked it because they had someone to root for and everyone likes a movie with someone to root for
I did like this film i enjoyed it a lot it was funny at time like when they had to fake an argument just to make an awkward situation for the detectives which makes them leave the movie was also cool because the actors played parts were they hated each other for the most part but fell in love at the end even when he was mad at her he still made sure that she was safe and that nobody would harm her
I think out of the five academy awards this film won i think the most deserving one would probably be the best director because the way frank made this movie flow was just great he knew what he was doing he had the actors in the right place at the right time the whole movie was just great all together
Very nicely put. Graded.
DeleteIt Happened One Night
ReplyDeleteI don’t know why the people liked his films so much, I’ve only saw one film and it was really good. But i read the part in the paragraph above said they were incredibly optimistic. They would deal with the problems of the time but they always end at the most hopeful moment possible. And that this appealed to the audiences during the Great Depression. So i Think that did a lot of why they liked his film.
I liked the film a lot. I liked how the guy just took care of the girl. I don’t know if he took care of her at first just for the money and the story that he would give her, but he ended up loving her at the end. I thought it was funny when the rich guy asked if he loved the rich guys daughter and he would say a lot of stuff about her, than right before he left he said he loved her. It was funny how the girl was turned away from the guy when they had to sleep outside, when she was talking about how he can leave whenever he wants, but he wasn’t there when she turned around and she started crying out loud and he went running back.
I think the best award is best actor. Clark Gable was really good in this film. I think that he did really good in all of this film. He was funny and just like serious at the same time. The girl did really good to. They both work really good together. So it is fair that they both won the awards. Good job to both of them!! :)
The Wolf Man
I think people liked movie because it was just so good and it was good for halloween to. This movie was just for fun but it was really good. I liked this film because it was just so cool honestly. It was just cool how they made this for fun and it was still good. I liked how they made his bite marks from the werewolf disappeared, and nobody would believe that he was a werewolf.
I think one moment was when he was looking into the telescope and he looked at the girl was apart of the Hayes Code. She didn’t get undressed or anything so yea…
there was a lot of yelling in this film, but if swearing is against the Hayes Code, then that would probably have a part in this. I thought it was pretty weird how just just walked into the girls store and asked for the moon earrings that she was wearing upstairs.
I think the special effects where better. They probably had a lot more time to figure out how to work special effects. It was better because how they made the werewolf and how they showed him change slowly into it. I liked how the girl gypsy lady wasn’t as scared as everyone else and tried to help as much as she could. I also liked how the werewolf people could see the star thing on people they’re going to get next. And how the guy saw the star thing on the girl he liked. Then it was sad at the end when the dad killed his son on accident, the son knew to so he told his dad to take the stick thing to protect himself.
Good job. Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteIt was a little weird to hear Charlie’s voice. That’s not how I imagined it at all. It was still kind of like a silent film because to me it seemed like he didn't really want to talk in the beginning. He didn't talk a lot when he came back from the war. Also when he had to give a speech and he didn't want to. But still he did give one and it seemed like everyone liked it.
I think that the speech had the most powerful message in the movie. Because he stood up in front of people that thought he was someone else. So I think he used that to make his speech more powerful. His voice also probably helped make his speech so powerful. Everyone seemed to like his speech.
Yes I think it still has a message for us today. I think that the message is not to hate someone because of their religion or race .It’s probably a lot different today than it was back then. Mostly because there are a lot of people who bully other people just because they feel like it or they just want to.
The Wolf Man
I think people liked this movie because they needed a break from reality. Or maybe they just liked movies like this. They might have liked to be scared or have a fun night out. It was probably scary to them anyways; they didn't have any other movies to compare it to. But even if they did the Hayes code would make it so they weren't able to see it.
I did like this film even though it was kind of rushed at the end. When the dad killed him and they were trying to hunt him down because he already killed someone else think that the part where they werewolf was biting them was boring because we didn't get to see anything because of the Hayes code.
I think that the special effects were about the same as Melies film. I think they could have been a little bit better because it was 29 years later than Melies film. The effects were about the same as Melies. They did pretty much the same stuff as the other movie like fading into another scene.
The Great Dictator use of sound was really unique. There was times when no sound was coming through I think to show how serious the moment was or how much meaning it ment. It was really weird but cool to hear Chaplin's voice, I don't know why but I imagined it a lot differently. I also enjoyed the moments in the movie where nobody was speaking and only props were being heard, again I think it symbolizes something.
ReplyDeleteI think we can all agree that Chaplins speech at the end of the movie was the most moving part. He really made some of the best points ever and had so emotion in what he was saying. It was a little surprising to have such a powerful speech appear almost out of no where. It really meant a lot to me and I constantly remember what he says.
I 100% believe this movie had very moving messages to address not only people back then but now as well. Chaplins speech at the end about peace and how bad people and war can be, I think, is a message that we should all learn and grow from. It may sound weird or silly but I think if the entire world heard Chaplins speech every day the world could impossibly be a better place.
Very nicely put. Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteWhat do I make of Chaplin’s use of Dialogue? Well, I am not 100% sure I understand this question. It seems to me he is speaking the same as everyone else. I didn’t notice a difference from any of the other talkies. His voice, his voice there are so many wonderful things I can say about his voice. First of all his voice is better than excepted. I thought he would have a rough harsh voice, but his voice is the complete and total opposite and I love it. Even though his voice was wonderful I still had a hard time getting used to the fact that I was actually hearing his voice. I never noticed a time where it seemed like a silent film either because it wasn’t that noticeable or I was still in aw about him talking.
Do you even have to ask? It’s so obvious that his speech is the most powerful message in the whole film “we all want to help one another, human beings are like that.” That line alone made my day. I love his speech, it’s more of how things should be. Yet every word is true from “I am sorry” to “let us all unite”.
I feel this film has a message for everything. It is not just about war it’s about how we do everything. It makes me rethink how I do things. For example the other day someone at the tracks station asked me if I had some spare change I could give him so he could get home. Normally I would have said no with out hesitation. But I thought about Chaplin’s speech and I said “maybe let me check” turns out I had a spare dollar and I helped him get home. Even though I did not know who he was or what he had done I felt happier the rest of the day.
It happened one night.
I believe people liked Capra’s films because they always have a happy ending after a rough time. It brings them hope because they were going through a really rough time and so the story that Capra’s films had they could relate to and it made them believe that they would have a happy ending. If they were anything like I am, than they treasured the love story. This film had such a good love story I wish every film had a love story half as decent.
Did I like this film? No I did not simply like this film, I loved it. I loved the story, how I could relate, and I prized the happy ending. Sense I was absent Friday the 31st of October I did not finish this movie with the class, but I was determined to watch the ending. It was hard to find but I found it and I am glad I took the time to watch the ending it was worth the stress of finding it.
Thank you for sharing that experience, and bravo for finding It Happened One Night so you could watch the end. Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteFor a man who doesn’t like talkie films, I felt Chaplin had a very natural dialogue, it didn’t seem forced. (Except for the fake German obviously.) Mr. Chaplin sounds very close to how I imagined him sounding so I didn’t think it was strange hearing his voice through the film. Charlie Chaplin certainly stayed true to his silent films with all the slapstick comedy. Like Hannah hitting the soldiers with a frying pan.
I think a message everyone can take from this being dictator of the world is not only unrealistic but foolish. I think another big message behind this is you should treat every single person with dignity and respect. No matter their race, religion, gender or sexuality. We’re all human and should be treated as such.
I think the most powerful point of this movie is the final speech by the barber. I think this was so powerful because Charlie Chaplin really was that way. He genuinely wanted to help people as much as he could. It was so powerful because it was real. You could see he meant that speech from every piece of him.
The Wolf Man
Michi had some business to attend to during this time.
Graded.
DeleteIt looks like you wrote that "The Wolf Man" wrote this post.
It happened one night was a very nice film that gave people hope. I think that's why lots of people liked it is because somehow, miraculously it gave them something to hold on to. This film seriously was very inspiring, it had comedy but at the same time it had romance. Both the romance and comedy were really well put and definitely was thought out.
ReplyDeleteThis is basically continuing from my first paragraph. I do like this film and think it was really well put together. It really surprised me how sassy the main actress was, it surprised me even more how the main actor responded against it. Id say out of all the movies we've watched in class this movie is my favorite. Haha i'd watch this movie over and over again.
Damn this is a really hard decision. Im kinda feeling that Frank Capra the director of this movie deserved it most though. Whoever is reading this probably knows how hard and stressful it can be as a director. Their is loads to do so it usually takes a very long time before a movie is actually made. I just feel Frank deserves the reward for all the work he put into it. I also think actors actresses and others deserved rewards too.
Graded.
DeleteThe Wolf Man:
ReplyDeleteI think that the people in 1941 really enjoyed this movie. Even though to us now it seemed like a funny movie other than the scary movie that they would have seen it as at that time. They probably enjoyed the thrill that the movie provided in their hard lives and gave them a break from reality.
Personally I liked this film, but I don't think I enjoyed it the same way that they would have. Because of the time I was raised in and the extreme difference in horror movies from then compared to now. I saw it is more of a joke rather than a thrill.
I noticed quite a few moments in this film that were toned down because of the Hayes code. Like the scene where the were wolf murders the girl, and the scene where the main character murders the were wolf. they are hidden in both parts behind a tree so that the audience cannot see the murder, but they know what is going on.
I would say that the special effects in this movie were better than the films made by George Melies films made 29 years earlier in some ways. like the way that the films were smoother was nice, but I will always enjoy the classics. the part where he turns into a were wolf was nice too. it made it look like he was changing slowly instead of suddenly.
Graded.
DeleteThe great dictator
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed hearing his voice it wasn't what I expected to hear but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It still had some essence of silent films because of this I enjoy watching it. It had silent film like property's like how the comedy was shown.
The most powerful part of this film was when he was giving his speech this really showed a strong message in this film. It really put his views on world war two out in the open. This is really a great part in the film.
This film does have a message that does carry on to todays world. And the way I interpret the message is to love your fellow man. And to get rid of all the hate im the world. To use the gift of technology to help fellow man not to harm them.
-Jacob Belcolori
Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator:
ReplyDeleteI think Chaplin's use of dialogue was brilliant. It was made nearly eighty years ago and yet his great speech is still in top ten after top ten on videos all across the internet. It was also as relevant back then as it is now to our daily lives. It's one of my three favorite speeches of all time too. It was great to hear Chaplin's voice throughout the film. This film was still silent-film-like in spite of the presence of dialogue because the actors could still communicate exactly what was happening in the film without words and it was still filled with the classic Chaplin slapstick that we all know and love.
Obviously the moment of the film do I feel had the most powerful message in regards to World War II was the great speech. What made that particular moment so powerful has to have been the message itself and the way a god of acting such as Chaplin can deliver it. Even Chaplin's true emotions show through powerfully in that speech.
I do feel this film still has messages for us today. We still fall prey to the same stupid mistakes we did back in WWII. We trust the police without question. We give our lives to men who do not have our best interests at heart. We act like we have learned so many lessons from our history but, we're still only making the same mistakes in a different time and a slightly different way.
It Happened One Night (1934)
I feel that audiences during the Great Depression liked Frank Capra's films so much because they always ended at the most optimistic parts possible. At the very least that was the case with this film. It gave people a good laugh and some hope which helped distract them greatly from the hard times and may have been exactly what this country needed to get back up on its feet.
I liked this film. It was a good story with great character development. It also had a great misunderstanding to create some drama. It was engaging with the rampant sarcasm and real world ideas and messages that it brought to the table. All around I give this movie a 9/10.
One of the Academy Awards that this film won was Best Director. I believe it earned this award because Capra was always making very well thought out and meaningful movies that really spoke to the public at the time, and this movie was no exception.
The Wolf Man (1941)
I think people in 1941 liked this sort of film because it was always a suspense filled kind of film with a surprise around every corner. It was liked for the same reasons people enjoy horror films now. We want a complete and total escape from reality.
I didn't like or dislike this film so much as I was simply indifferent to it. I'm used to horror films being disappointing or getting everything about the subject all wrong so I don't build up any kind of expectations for them. For instance the movie "IT" was a horror film that everyone who saw it swore was horrifying which is exactly what you would want from a "horror" film and it was a good concept with a great preview/commercial for it so I thought it would be great but, it turned out to be a total flop on all the different levels I can think of. This film wasn't nearly as bad as that because it at least had semi-decent special effects and story line. But, it will never compare to the horror films I grew up with or the ones that are constantly playing and building themselves in my head.
I did notice moments in the film that I think were toned down because of the Hayes Code. Mostly the murder, blood and the possible creeper status of the main male lead. That scene with the telescope seems like it would have been a little more "racy" without the Hays code.
I feel the special effects of this film compare pretty well to the Melies films made 29 years earlier. I doubt the werewolf transformation would have run quite as smoothly as they did in this film if Melies had tried it 29 years before. He was good with his effects but, they often seemed a bit choppy. This was really just the next step in his work. An addition to the quality.
Graded.
DeleteThe Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteThe dialogue is actually really funny in this film, especially when Charlie Chaplin was playing "Hinkle." It made me laugh how he mocked Hitler so boldly. I didn't really expect his voice to sound how it did. I didn't think he would have a french accent even though he was french. It still had so many elements of a silent film even though it was a sound film. Every time he was in the street and the guards were chasing him around, it reminded me of a silent film.
I think that the most hard hitting and powerful point in the story is when Charlie Chaplin says his final speech in the story (as the Jew). It makes it feel like that situation has become so real. It feels like he's no longer talking as his character, but himself instead. In that moment when he's saying his piece, you realize how real this is and how seriously he feels about it.
This story even today teaches us that power should be used responsibly. Most men with too much power abuse it and end up harming others, not seeing the other side. we should use our power responsibly to love each other, because love conquers all.
This is Josh Payne
DeleteJosh Payne
DeleteThis is Josh Wagner
DeleteJosh Wagner
DeleteGraded.
DeleteI like what you say about the speech being from Chaplin himself instead of his character. Good point.
The Great Dictator (1940)
ReplyDeleteCharlie Chaplin mainly starred in silent films. Since there is no dialogue in them, you have to over exaggerate all of your movements. This was something I saw him do in The Great Dictator.
I loved Chaplin’s voice. It wasn’t exactly what I had expected, but it was still very nice.
Charlie Chaplin proves in this film, how great of a man he is. By directing, acting, and writing this fabulous screenplay. While he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, he did not. I think that’s crazy. The final speech alone, should have won something. “You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men!” The amount of expression and emotion he puts into this is amazing. All he wants is for people to be peaceful and stand up for not only what they want, but also what they deserve.
Of course this movie still has messages for us today. “Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost....” This applies to us now, more than it did 70 years ago. In a world that’s technologically advancing extremely fast, this is something I feel we need to remember. We are all human beings that want the same thing- happiness. I believe that when Chaplin wrote this screenplay, he knew how relevant it would be in the future.
It Happened One Night (1934)
I absolutely loved this film. It’s definitely in my top 3 favourite rom coms. It’s funny, romantic, and all around well made.
The Great Depression was a hard time for a lot of people. They had nothing. So, they turned to the movies. The ever so talented Frank Capra once said, “My films must let every man, woman, and child know that God loves them, that I love them, and that peace and salvation will become a reality only when they all learn to love each other.” His films do represent that. People needed hope and love during this time of suffering. It makes sense that they would go to the cinema to see Frank Capra’s wonderful works of art.
It Happened One Night is one of Hollywood’s “Big 5 Films”. Only two other movies have earned that title (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975 & Silence of the Lambs,1991). It took 41 years for another movie to reach the level of awesomeness in this one. That’s pretty dang impressive. I think it’s obvious why it won so many awards. Frank Capra only makes good films. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert both gave wonderful performances. I’m glad they won Best Actor and Actress because frankly, no one else that year deserved it.
The Great Dictator
ReplyDeleteI find Chaplin’s dialogue interesting, mostly because of how truly evil he showed Hitler (I mean Henkel) to be. And I swear, Chaplin’s voice was like nothing I ever expected ever, I expected his voice to be bad, but nope, it was good, nay, great. Although, a large majority of the dialogue given by Chaplin was in the last third of the movie, so that kinda made it like a silent film.
What moment in the film was most powerful against Henkel’s way? do you even need to ask, of course it was the famous speech that accounted for. what else could it possibly be? when Henkel was throwing that globe around like a volley ball swimmer? nope. When Chaplin gave a girl a shave? of course not. The speech was the only thing Chaplin used against Henkel, and boy, was it powerful.
Of course this movie can used thematically today, nearly all movies can be. I think you know which part contributes most powerfully into the themes shown in the movie. THE BEACH BALL SCENE… just kidding, it was the speech at the end about rights for everyone.
The Wolfman
Werewolf? Wolfman? Why is there two names for the same thing? Don’t worry though I LOVE this movie, it has a cheesy creepiness to it that gives it a nice pizzaz, the monster was faithfully told, and best of all, Creepy Gypsies. I can totally see why people of the time love that movie, because for them, it wasn’t cheesy creepy, but super scary, and in an unrealistic way that wouldn’t compare to the bad times that might of had going on.
I can also see why this movie would be turned down through the Hays Code. Like, for example, the brutalization of that poor wolfwereman, beat to death with a cane, which could also place it under the against murder thing Hays had going on. Not only the violence, but also our MC the weremanwolf seducing the chick by peeping into her room like a creep. Seriously though the Hays Code is a real bummer.
I don’t know man, that special effects on the manwolfwere where pretty good, and really a lot better than Melies could’ve done. But the werewolfman was the only thing that was unlike Melies films. Most effects, like the pentgram fading in, would’ve and were done by Melies in his films.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWolf Man
ReplyDeleteI think people might have liked this type of film because its like their version of our superhero movies. It’s the ‘talk of the town’ and what everyone is interested in watching. They all want to see something scary.
I liked this film a lot for the time it was made. Parts of it felt rushed to me but like mentioned in class before, they hadn’t quite mastered pacing yet. I have a personal fascination with gypsies so the bits where the included the gypsy characters kept me really into the movie.
When the wolf attacked the victims it wouldn’t show anything, and when it showed the bodies throughout the movie it didn’t really show a detailed wound like you would see today, if you saw a wound at all. It just looked like people lying down.
I think the special effects were far better, and for me that goes without an argument. I feel that its natural though that they would be better because people in the industry had time to improve on the art and understand more of the technology and how to use it effectively for the purposes they needed. Some of the special effects could just be included as makeup design. 29 years earlier I highly doubt they would have been able to create a wolf man with that much detail. Another example of the special effects could be the pentagram on the hand of the next victim. While they had projectors back then I don’t think they would have been able to concentrate the pattern on the actors hand as well as they did in Wolf Man.
It happened One night
ReplyDeleteAs expected as directors began to make more movies, people would begin to notice and recognize names of the people who made the film. I think Frank Capra was just one of those people whos name people started recognizing and they began to relate all of his films and came to the conclusion that they either liked or didn’t like his work. I think they might like this film because of the story line, and how its easy to follow as one of the main points.
One of the main reasons I enjoyed this movie was because I liked the story line. My favorite thing about it was the inside joke that was forgotten until the end about the ‘Walls of Jericho’. I thought the pacing was really well and actually was pretty similar to what is in a lot of movies today.