Citizen Kane

1.                             In class, we talked about Orson Welles and Citizen Kane. Before he made the picture, Welles worked on radio and famously was responsible for the 1938 radio broadcast of The War of The Worlds. He also worked in theater as well. For making his first film, RKO gave him permission to write, produce, star and direct the entire film. They basically gave him the right to do whatever he wanted. When it was released, the film was not successful. This panicked the studio, making them almost burning the film's negatives. Despite that, the film went on to be nominated for many Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay, all for Welles. Years and years later, the film has appeared on many lists for greatest films, almost entirely taking the number one spot. The American Film Institute named it the greatest film, twice.

2.                             The article I have chosen is from brightlights.com and is on the film's impact, themes, and analysis. David Thomson wrote in America in the Dark, that the film should be praised for its romantic and idealistic passion for power, style, impact, meaning, and success, everything a true American might desire — like Charles Foster Kane or George Orson Welles. It also tells that not only William Randolph Hearst was an inspiration for the character, but Welles himself. Kane loved the world of newspapers and Welles loved the world of film. It discussed the mystery of the film's big question, "What is Rosebud?" 

 http://brightlightsfilm.com/45/kane.php

3.                             The film's mystery is riding on the question of figuring what Rosebud actually means. You try and guess what it means in every sequence in the film. At the end, when they start to burn Kane's treasures, a sled is shown and what is said on the sled? Rosebud. I thought to myself, " I have the answer!" Rosebud is about his sled, which was a toy to him as a boy, so it implies that in the end, this wasn't the life for him. Instead of going away, he should of stayed with his mother, and the sled reminded him of that time, as a child.

4.                            I had to say, first watching this film, I wasn't impressed. I don't see this as the greatest film of all time. I guess many saw this as Welles's first film and that he created the film all by himself. I may have to see it again, to maybe understand it all together, but, that could be awhile.

 CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

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 written 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 only the pages I personally read.

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: Brian Meyers    Date: 4/16/13  

Gone With The Wind

1.                     In class, we talked about Gone With The Wind and Black Cinema during that time period. The film was originally based on the 1936 novel of the same name by Margret Mitchell. What was curious about her was that when Warner Bros. bought the rights to the book, she only wanted $50,000 and wanted nothing to do with the making of the film. Another curious thing about the film was the casting of Scarlet O'Hara. The actress who famously played by Vivian Leigh was British, while the character has a Southern Belle accent, as this was considered rare back then. For a film from 1939, it was extremely long, as it ran for more than 3 hours. So long that in the middle of the film, the words "INTERMISSION" was displayed for the audience to take a break from the last 2 hours. Race was a main issue and because of the Jim Crow Laws in the south, during the film premiere in Atlanta, the black actors that were in the film, including Hattie McDaniel, who would later on win the Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy, were banned from the premiere. The film became a huge success and went on to win 10 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. It also went on to become the highest grossing film of all time for more than 30 years. It has since become one of the greatest films of all time.

2.                   The article is from reelclassics.com and is on Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie in the film and her reflection on the film now. Surprisingly, unlike her character in the film, she lived longer than Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, and Hattie McDaniel. During the interview, she talked about her experience making the film and after the film was released. She talked about the trouble with the production of the film, including the switching of directors. First, George Cukor, who left after clashing with the producer, then Victor Fleming, who was given the credit as the film's director and went on to win Best Director for the film, but fell ill and had to leave. Then Sam Wood, who directed Goodbye, Mr. Chips. She talked about the legend that she made Clark Gable cry, knowing that he didn't want to cry during filming, and she confirmed it.

http://www.reelclassics.com/Movies/GWTW/gwtw-article2.htm

3.                    This article surprised me because it didn't even know if anyone from the film was even alive and happy that she happily described her experience when making the film. I didn't know that there was trouble on the set. That it took three experienced filmmakers to complete the film and only one was given the credit and awarded the Best Director Oscar for it. After seeing the film and thinking about it now, I can see that it had to take something crazy to make a true, masterful piece of film making.

4.                     This was my first time seeing Gone With The Wind and I truly liked it. I can see why it is still a masterpiece of film and is considered one of the greatest films of all time. The concept, the story, the setting, the characters and its backdrop of the Civil War is what makes this film a true classic and I can't wait to watch it again.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

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 written 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 only the pages I personally read.

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: Brian Meyers    Date: 4/2/2013