Bicycle Thief

Movie: Bicycle Thief, 1948; 93 min

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Actors: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Vittorio Antonucci

Summary:

An Italian man needs a bicycle in order to carry out his job. When his bicycle is stolen, he and his son set out to find it and the person who stole it.

Question 1: What aspects of Italian Neo-realism are exhibited throughout the film? State specific examples.

            Throughout the film, both thematic and visual realist techniques are exhibited. For example, a majority of the camera shots are in deep focus. When the man is walking through the streets looking for his bicycle, everything is in focus to show the audience that everything going on in the background is important. The story is also focused around daily activities. It revolves around an average, Italian man who must work in order to provide for his family. The movie shows the busy streets, men working, children wandering the streets, and many more daily activities. The film has a lose structure which leads the plot to evolve slowly. Also, through the man’s struggles in searching for his bike, the audience has a compassionate feeling towards the man and his situation. An effect of realist movies is usually evoking compassion for the characters in the film.

Question 2: What effect does the “endless” ending have on the audience’s perception of the film as a whole?

            The typical ending to realist films is the “endless” ending, which is apparent in Bicycle Thief. The film follows a man as he desperately searches for his bicycle and the man who stole it. In the end, the man attempts to steal someone else’s bicycle but is caught. His son witnesses the entire thing, and the man feels ashamed that he resorted to stealing from someone else. The film ends with the man crying and holding his son’s hand as they walk with a crowd. The viewer can see the backs of the crowd, but it is unknown where they are going. This makes the ending endless because the audience has no idea what will happen next, just like the man does not know his future. This type of ending makes the audience think beyond the end of the film. It makes the viewers wonder what will happen next, and it keeps them thinking about the film after it finishes.

Bicycle Thief and Italian Neo-realism

Italian Neo-realism

Bicycle Thief

            The film, Bicycle Thief, made during the peak of Italian Neo-realism, effectively portrays the realist movie structure. The movie follows a hard-working man through his struggle to retrieve his stolen bicycle. Realist elements such as loose film structure and deep focus can be seen throughout the film. For example, the plot revolves around the life of a man who works hard in order to make money to provide for his family. His job of putting up posters around the city requires a bicycle to travel around more effectively. In order to buy a bicycle for his job, the man must sell sets of sheets from his house. Many people were at the trading place, trying to sell their belongings in exchange for money. This everyday aspect of life during this time period was portrayed in the film. On the first day of his job, the man’s bicycle is stolen. The plot evolved slowly towards the beginning of the film, and then once the man’s bicycle was stolen, the plot of the movie became apparent. The man’s determination to retrieve his stolen bicycle and his struggles in the process evoke the audience’s sympathy for the character. In order to do this, the director takes a compassionate point of view on the unfortunate situation and obstacles the man must overcome in desperation to find his bicycle. The film focuses on societal issues such as poverty when, at the beginning of the film, a group of men stand around waiting for a job. During this time, there were not many jobs available and if was difficult to find a job stable enough to provide for a family. The bicycle is so important to the man because it allows him to carry out his work and provide for his family.

             In addition to the realist thematic aspects of Bicycle Thief, the realist camera shots are also seen in the movie. A majority of the scenes are in deep focus, with everything in the background as clear and as sharp as the characters. This makes the viewers understand that the setting is an important contribution to the storyline and the plot. For example, whenever the man walks in the streets in search for his stolen bicycle, everything is completely in focus to show that that bicycle could be anywhere and the man must keep his eyes open for any clues. The deep focus keeps the audience’s focus away from only the main character and makes them look all around the scene just as the man must do when searching for his bicycle. Also, the shots are put together in a lose structure with minimal technology such as editing and special effects. The minimal editing and camera cuts, gives a more realistic, natural feeling to the film. The minimal technology keeps the audience focused on the daily routines and plot of the film, instead of on special effects. The final realist aspect of Bicycle Thief remains the classic, “endless” ending. At the end of the film, the man attempts to steal someone else’s bicycle out of desperation, except, he is caught in the act. The film ends with the man and his son walking side-by-side, the man crying out of shame, into a large group of people. Nobody knows where the group is walking to, making the audience wonder what will happen to the man and his family. The ending leaves the audience heavily thinking about the film and its significance by giving such an honest and transparent concluding scene. 

The Wizard of Oz

Movie: The Wizard of Oz, 1939; 103 min

Director: Victor Fleming

Actors: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley

Summary:

Dorothy, a young woman from Kansas is swept away in a tornado to a magical land. She sets out to find the Wizard of Oz in hope that he will help her return home. On the way, Dorothy encounters a scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion, who accompany her on her journey.

Question 1: What is unique about the use of color in this film?

            This film was one of the first films to incorporate color into the typically black and white movies. What is interesting is that the movie begins in black and white, but then surprisingly switches into color. When the film is black and white, Dorothy is on her farm in Kansas and is living a boring life compared to life in the Land of Oz. Once she leaves her home and enters the magical world over the rainbow, the film switches into color. The color appears just as Dorothy steps into the magical land, giving the audience the feeling that they are experiencing the surprise and magic just like Dorothy. Without the color, the film would not have been as magical. This is what made the Wizard of Oz so unique and legendary.

Question 2: In what ways do the actors portray their roles differently compared to present day acting? Are there any other films where the actors portray their roles similarly?

            The Wizard of Oz was made in the earlier days of film, and since then acting has evolved. The film is more of a musical than any other genre because it contains numerous songs and some dancing. The acting is also different because the actors play their characters as if they were in a musical on stage. Their facial expressions are big and meant to extend out into the audience. The character’s voices are also different. For example, Judy Garland exaggerates her emotional reactions and voice throughout the movie. Except, this type of acting can be similar to the acting in present day movies that fall under the musical genre. For example, actors in musicals like Hairspray also exaggerate their characters. This is mainly because there is singing and dancing, and also because many movie musicals are originally meant for live performance on stage.

The General

Movie: The General, 1926; 75 min

Director: Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman

Actors: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack

Summary:

A train engineer becomes a war hero when in pursuit to save his love, Annabelle. The story follows the man’s train adventures and how he saves the day.

Question 1: What purpose do the minimal subtitles serve?

            This movie was made during the silent film era, so therefore, there had to be the separate subtitle slides in order to tell the story. The slides are separate from the movie and serve the purpose to tell the story through dialogue and narration. Theses subtitles are simple and straightforward. The simplicity of the subtitles allows the movie to be viewed by a larger audience because people will still be able to enjoy the movie even if they do not have a high literacy level. Also, the minimal subtitles allow the story to be told through the action and the actors’ facial expressions. The audience’s attention is drawn away from only focusing on reading the subtitles in order to understand the story, and instead they can focus on the special effects in the movie. This makes the film more entertaining and allows the movie to make more money through a wider audience.

Question 2: Compare and contrast the simple dialogue in The General to the more complex dialogue in Birth of A Nation.

            The straightforward, simple dialogue in The General attracts a wider audience for the film. Even though Birth of A Nation still attracted a large audience because of its racial content, The General was an easier film for the less literate population to follow. With simple dialogue, the story in The General was simple yet still very entertaining. It also draws the focus of the movie to the special effects that were not present in Birth of A Nation, which had a far more complex dialogue. There are points in that film where the dialogue and story line is difficult to follow where the simple storyline of The General left little confusion in the audience. Also, there are more subtitle slides with dialogue and narratives in Birth of A Nation that take away from the movie and make it choppier, where as, in The General, there is minimal interruption for dialogue because it is not necessarily needed. Personally, from a viewer’s perspective, The General was much more entertaining compared to Birth of A Nation mainly because there was little dialogue and more emphasis on the special effects.

Birth of A Nation

Movie: Birth of A Nation, 1915; 112 min

Director: D.W. Griffith

Actors: Spottiswoode Aitken, Mary Alsen, George Beranger, Monre Blue, Bobby Burns

Summary:

The story follows two Southern families living during the Civil War. It is split up into two parts: Pre-Civil War America and Reconstruction.

Question 1: In what way(s) could scenes/situations in the film have influenced the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan? Give specific examples.

            This film is credited to have instigated the rebirth of the Klu Klux Klan in the early 1900’s. The film portrays African Americans in a very negative way, and makes the Klan members seems like heroes. There is an emphasis on African American slang in the slides with dialogue. The director meant to portray them as unintelligent, leading the audience to discriminate again African Americans even more. In addition to the dialogue, there are scenes that shed a negative light upon African Americans. For example, an African American man chases a young white girl until she falls off a cliff trying to run away from him. Her death causes a huge frenzy in the town, even though it was not necessarily the man’s fault. In addition, a group of African American men kill Klan members, making them seem like the victims in the situation. Theses situations in the film lead the audience to pity the Klan members and they portray the African Americans as evil, leading to the rebirth of the KKK shortly after the movie appeared in theaters.

Question 2: Compare and contrast acting and character representation in Birth of A Nation with the acting and character representation in present day films.

            Acting in early movies is very different from present day acting. The fact that early movies were silent contributes to this contrast. In Birth of A Nation, the actors’ expressions are very exaggerated in order to express their emotions without the aid of sound and dialogue. Nowadays, actors have the luxury of sound that allows them to portray a character’s emotions without over-exaggerating with facial expressions. Also, present day actors have the luxury of editing and multiple takes of one scene. This allows them to get deeper into the role because they are not preoccupied with getting the scene absolutely perfect the first time. Because it was made before more complex editing methods, Birth of A Nation was more like a play because the actors did not have numerous takes for one scene. The actors had limited room for making mistakes, so it was more like a live performance instead of a movie. This could also be a reason why their facial expressions were more exaggerated because the actors were so used to acting on a stage. Acting has evolved over the many years of the making movies, but present day actors can also learn from the earlier actors like those from Birth of A Nation. 

Taxi Driver

Movie: Taxi Driver, 1976; 113 min

Director: Martin Scorsese

Actors: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris

Summary:

Taxi driver Travis Bickle becomes sick of seeing the “scum” on the streets. He befriends a 12-year-old prostitute and is determined to help her. Wrapped up in cleaning up the streets, Travis turns into a violent murder.

Question 1: What color significantly stands out and catches the viewer’s eye? Tell specific scenes where this color adds to the storyline or plot.

            The color red stands out in many scenes and shots throughout the film. Red is used to set the mood for each shot, for example, when Travis and Wizard are talking outside the coffee shop, the red tone in the scene indicates the danger in the neighborhood. A red tone can also represent love and seduction. When Iris and Sport are dancing and he is seducing her, there is a red, romantic tone to the room. Also, the red in traffic signs is meant to catch the viewer’s eyes. Signs with red words such as “accident” and “this way” are used to foreshadow and tell the audience where and what to draw their attention. Except, many viewers will not notice the signs when they watch the movie, but if they pay close attention to certain details, they will gain a deeper understanding of the film. In addition, red in objects and places give a certain vibe to the film and location. For example, Betsy’s red dress gives off a sense of love. In the campaign office, the red carpets and walls, let off a feeling of tension to the politics and campaign activities occurring there. Finally, red plays a large part at the end of the film when Travis kills the three men and there is blood everywhere. The red from the large about of blood represents death and also Travis’ need for vengeance. Red can induce a numerous amount of emotions, and the director effectively portrays many of these emotions throughout the film.

Question 2: When does the saxophone (smooth jazz) music play and what significance does it have?

            Throughout the film, saxophone music plays at certain moments. When Travis drives in his taxi, this music tends to play for a majority of the time and usually stops right when he gets out of his taxi. The music gives the audience a sense of calm because of its smooth jazz feel. This music can represent how Travis feels when he is driving his taxi. The taxi is where he feels safe and calm in a world where chaos is occurring outside the cab doors. He drives through dirty neighborhoods with prostitutes and pimps, “scum” as he would call them, walking the streets. Yet, Travis is safe within his taxi and this is why the jazz music plays during this time. When the music stops when Travis exits his taxi, his feeling of safety is lost and the audience can feel it in the abrupt change in the music.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Movie: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939; 129 min

Director: Frank Capra

Actors: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Harry Carey, Claude Rains

Summary:

Jefferson Smith, head of the Boy Rangers, is made senator of his state. His first time in the nation’s capital as a member of Congress, Smith attempts to make a boys camp and soon finds himself wrapped in the corruption of a political boss.

Question 1: What purpose does the montage sequence of Mr. Smith’s journey through the capital play in telling the story and exhibiting his personality?

            When Mr. Smith travels to Washington DC for the first time, he has the title of a senator but with the curiousity of a tourist. Even though Mr. Smith has such a high title in government, he still rides the bus and tours the Washington museums and monuments. The scenes are overlapping, in a montage-type sequence to show the capital through his eyes, which are taking in everything he sees. He admires the Declaration of Independence and statues of John Hancock and Samuel Adams. As he admires these significant parts of American history, the liberty bell rings in the background and the scenes are overlapped with a video of the bell ringing. Mr. Smith is also drawn in to the Lincoln Memorial, showing his respect for his country. This montage sequence sets up the story by showing that Mr. Smith is new to Washington and the government. Also, it shows that Mr. Smith is very curious and he enjoys exploring new places.

Question 2: What is the significance of Mr. Smith’s hat? And tell specific scenes/shots where the hat is the main focus.

            Mr. Smith wears a hat for a majority of the film. His hat, in a way, shows the audience how he is feeling at certain times throughout the film. For example, when Mr. Smith is talking to ­­­Susan Payne, he fumbles with his hat, showing he is nervous. During their conversation, the only thing in the shot is Smith’s hand holding his hat as their conversation goes on without seeing their faces. He drops his hat numerous times during the conversation and constantly moves it around when it is at his side. This interaction with his hat shows the audience how he feels around beautiful girls and becomes nervous when dropping his hat everywhere, without directly showing Smith’s face to show his emotion. In addition, when Smith wears his hat, it seems to give him a sense of security. When he wears it when with other politicians, he appears to be more calm and collected compared to when he is not wearing his hat. Smith also takes off his hat to show respect to others. This action indirectly tells the audience who Smith respects and who the audience should also respect.

American Graffiti

Movie: American Graffiti, 1973; 108 min

Director: George Lucas

Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, Suzanne Somers

Summary:

The story follows a group of teenagers living during the fifties. After their graduation, the each member of the group enjoys a unique night on the town.

Question 1: What purpose does the music play in the setting of the time period?

            Classic fifties music constantly plays throughout the movie. Whenever the characters are in their cars, which is a large portion of the movie, Wolfman radio is playing. The Wolfman, a fifties radio announcer, connects all the characters together because everyone plays this popular station. Sometime the music is playing softly in the background, and other times the music is the main focus of the scene along with places, such as the diner or the main street, that set the time period. Because this film is a time period piece, the music is essential to the setting. The music brings the audience back to the fifties and gives them the feeling that they are actually there.

Question 2: How is wardrobe used to give first impressions of each character’s personality?

            Wardrobe plays a large part in characterization of the main characters in the film because it gives the audience a first impression of each character without directly telling them who each person is. For example, John wears a tight white t-shirt with a box of cigarettes tucked in the sleeve, showing that he is the tough guy. Also, Steve has his hair combed neatly and wears his collared shirt tucked into his khaki pants, showing the audience that he is somewhat of a preppy character. Each character’s initial outfit, along with their hair and makeup, gives the audience an indirect characterization of their personality and what type of person they are portraying from the fifties.

Shawshank Redemption

Movie: Shawshank Redemption, 1994; 142 min

Director: Frank Darabont

Actors: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman

Summary:

Andy Dufresne is convicted murder and is sentenced to two life sentences at Shawshank Prison. In prison, Andy befriends Red and a group of other men. He also has connections with the warden of the jail through his knowledge of banking, which eventually sets him free.

Question 1: What are static colors in the film and what do these colors add to the mood and feeling of the shots?

            Almost every shot in the film contains some distinct form of a grey or similar dark color. The grey hue to the shots gives the movie a sad, depressing atmosphere similar to the atmosphere of a prison. Even when the location is not within the prison walls, for example when ­­­­Andy is released from the prison and walks free in the town, there is still the saddening color in each scene. The purpose of this grey tone throughout the entire film is to give the viewer the feeling one feels when in prison. The grays make the audience feel depressed and alone, feelings that draw them into the movie even more because they are able to relate to what the characters are going through.

Question 2: What is the significance/purpose of the opera music playing in the entire prison?

            When ­­­Andy receives the records and record player, the first thing he does is play the music, and once he gets the chance, he plays the music on the speaker system so the entire prison can hear the beautiful opera music. Music is not a luxury for prisoners so when this beautiful music plays, all the prisoners stop what they are doing to enjoy the beautiful sounds. The music gives the prisoners a sense of freedom and it also makes them feel normal for a brief moment. The act of playing the music also foreshadows Andy going against the warden because he kept playing the music even though the guards and the warden kept telling him to stop. He accepted his punishment for his actions, but he did not regret them because they gave him and his friends a sense of being normal once more.