The next film I will be watching is Dr. Strangelove...I am very excited about this one!!!
Here is a COOL website to visit with pictures and quotes and a plot summary:
http://www.tigersweat.com/movies/strange/
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Poor Raymond, Poor Friendless Raymond
The Manchurian Candidate has the heart to be a cutthroat Cold War piece but its focus is also divided into other parts. While it makes comments on such things as war and the brutality of communists it also focuses on a doomed love story, a political satire, a thriller, and a murder mystery.
I thought a couple of interesting things were brought up. There is a warning to everyone that the threat of communism is on our own land. There is a blunt suggestion that the politicians in our own government are weak-minded and easy to sway. Also, that the communists are much more advanced in the art of brainwashing. We of course match them in their intelligence of the mind with brawn and luck as the character Major Marco exemplifies. It sometimes seemed as though without blatant clues and loads of luck did he figure out some of the mysteries behind the brainwashed Raymond Shaw. Also when Marco and the Korean interpreter that he thinks is one of the communists fight Marco wins, of course.
Just like many of the other films that I have watched much finger pointing and accusing was done. Raymond Shaw’s mother is one of these seemingly McCarthyists but is actually a communist herself. This makes a very interesting political statement about the scapegoats that went were accused in the United States during this time. Her husband is the symbol for Joe McCarthy brandish, drunken and frivolous. This goes back to the part political satire piece.
Another interesting thing about this film involves the repeating image of Abraham Lincoln’s countenance. Lincoln’s image is one that we would associate with freedom, which is one of the main points of many of the films that I have been watching. The ironic thing about Lincoln’s image is that it is most often shown with the presence of the two character’s showing “anti-American” tendencies. The bust, the portrait and the costume of Lincoln are not props and just random coincidences but Lincoln in this film carries a character of his own. He represents death and martyrdom for one’s country for the betterment of its people.
I could literally do a Freudian analysis on every single one of these characters but I can honestly say it is extraordinarily difficult to work hard at this point in time on anything. As this being my final year of school comes to an end I will take this and the rest of the films that I have watched with me in the future and be more aware of the many themes and ideas that I developed as a result of this independent. Just know that if I really wanted to I could do a Freudian analysis of all of the characters in this fascinating film.
I thought a couple of interesting things were brought up. There is a warning to everyone that the threat of communism is on our own land. There is a blunt suggestion that the politicians in our own government are weak-minded and easy to sway. Also, that the communists are much more advanced in the art of brainwashing. We of course match them in their intelligence of the mind with brawn and luck as the character Major Marco exemplifies. It sometimes seemed as though without blatant clues and loads of luck did he figure out some of the mysteries behind the brainwashed Raymond Shaw. Also when Marco and the Korean interpreter that he thinks is one of the communists fight Marco wins, of course.
Just like many of the other films that I have watched much finger pointing and accusing was done. Raymond Shaw’s mother is one of these seemingly McCarthyists but is actually a communist herself. This makes a very interesting political statement about the scapegoats that went were accused in the United States during this time. Her husband is the symbol for Joe McCarthy brandish, drunken and frivolous. This goes back to the part political satire piece.
Another interesting thing about this film involves the repeating image of Abraham Lincoln’s countenance. Lincoln’s image is one that we would associate with freedom, which is one of the main points of many of the films that I have been watching. The ironic thing about Lincoln’s image is that it is most often shown with the presence of the two character’s showing “anti-American” tendencies. The bust, the portrait and the costume of Lincoln are not props and just random coincidences but Lincoln in this film carries a character of his own. He represents death and martyrdom for one’s country for the betterment of its people.
I could literally do a Freudian analysis on every single one of these characters but I can honestly say it is extraordinarily difficult to work hard at this point in time on anything. As this being my final year of school comes to an end I will take this and the rest of the films that I have watched with me in the future and be more aware of the many themes and ideas that I developed as a result of this independent. Just know that if I really wanted to I could do a Freudian analysis of all of the characters in this fascinating film.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
On the Beach has a colorful cast and innovative and revolutionary filmmaking techniques. What is really capturing about the film though is the plot. On the Beach is based off of the book of the same name by Nevil Shute. The novel was published two years before the filming of the movie began.
The major theme of the film is post-nuclear survival. The problem however is what do you do when death is inevitable and a giant cloud of radiation from this war that had nothing to do with you is heading towards your country, the only country left? Many questions were asked by characters of these films- Moral questions, civil questions and questions of life and death. Some would think that civilized living would completely diminish due to a doomed fate but somehow Australia stayed strong in the face of this unfortunate outcome. So why did this happen? Who is to blame? These are two of the most impending and crucial questions. How could this outcome have been prevented? Now we are fortunate enough as a nation to not have had to face any sort of nuclear attack in which some of the results of those attack would still be affecting us today. So the main universal question that many are still asking today is who is to blame? Who started it? This is a very touchy subject even when no bombs were every really exchanged between the United States and the Soviets. The film leans no more towards one way or the other. Americans are however featured in this film and it is a film made by Americans so that adds a little bias in terms of this debate. It is a question however asked by an Australian. Someone outside of the Cold War is reviewing the Cold War. This makes for an interesting perspective, especially the stereotypes that they had of the world and Americans in particular. They were amazed by the amount of alcohol Dwight consumed that had no effect on his behavior at all. This could be saying that Americans are barbaric in their indulgences of the drink or it could be saying that they are stronger than that, more powerful and elusive to any kind of handicap that might come his way.
Some blame the scientists and some blame the Americans. There are many comments to which those involved in the Cold War must stop and think about especially if they encouraged the use of the new weaponry throughout the film. The film puts into display the “results” of such an atomic war and points out that if these countries were so smart to build these bombs why weren’t they doing something better with their time than throwing them at each other? They should have known exactly what was going to happen.
One of the biggest moral issues of the film was the availability of suicide pills so that you and your family members would not have to suffer through radiation poisoning. At the beginning of the film it seemed as though such pills were very difficult to come across but by the end of the film such pills were given out freely. This suggests complete and utter hopelessness. A doomed society cursed by other’s violent intentions. What was interesting to me was never in the film did they discuss the complete annihilation of the human race and how that affects the future of the universe. It is made aware that the entire United States’ population is gone but there is never a discussion of the rest of the world. There was no research into how another dominating race could adapt and rise up in the radiation and no attempt to preserve human life.
People were very discontent and disconnected in their relationships. The young couple and their child were facing the devastating inevitability that their young daughter would never experienced things that they had experienced. The husband and wife grow apart and throughout the movie reflect on how their relationship was not as exciting as it once was. The end of the film however they remember their early experiences together on the beach. An interesting opposite to the young married couple is the older relationship that develops throughout the film between the married American Commander and the extra lonely Australian temptress. Their love is desperate but it seems true enough.
There are many little ironies in this film which make you question a lot of the securities you have in your life. New love is certainly something that many would not think as something they would be looking for in the last months of life. The coke bottle tugging on the window shade is an example of a hopeless and unending chain of disappointments that these people have suffered through, though they find it quite comical that they spent so much time hoping that someone was out there and still alive.
There were a lot of implications of this Atomic war that didn’t just affect those that were involved but the entire world. I think that that was the main focus of the plot. When countries of such intelligence are blinded by their own power and do not realize that the repercussions of their actions directly affect the entire world, devastating changes occur and in this case the end of life. Fingers pointed in every direction but mostly it pointed to those that didn’t have the common sense to stop before they were ahead of themselves. Many blamed the beginning, the scientists who developed the theory and many those that consciously pushed the button. Whatever the reason or whoever the criminal the outcome of this film was dramatic to say the least.
If you had five months before a giant cloud of radiation, that you had nothing to do with, covered you and your family in a devastating sickness…What would you do?
The major theme of the film is post-nuclear survival. The problem however is what do you do when death is inevitable and a giant cloud of radiation from this war that had nothing to do with you is heading towards your country, the only country left? Many questions were asked by characters of these films- Moral questions, civil questions and questions of life and death. Some would think that civilized living would completely diminish due to a doomed fate but somehow Australia stayed strong in the face of this unfortunate outcome. So why did this happen? Who is to blame? These are two of the most impending and crucial questions. How could this outcome have been prevented? Now we are fortunate enough as a nation to not have had to face any sort of nuclear attack in which some of the results of those attack would still be affecting us today. So the main universal question that many are still asking today is who is to blame? Who started it? This is a very touchy subject even when no bombs were every really exchanged between the United States and the Soviets. The film leans no more towards one way or the other. Americans are however featured in this film and it is a film made by Americans so that adds a little bias in terms of this debate. It is a question however asked by an Australian. Someone outside of the Cold War is reviewing the Cold War. This makes for an interesting perspective, especially the stereotypes that they had of the world and Americans in particular. They were amazed by the amount of alcohol Dwight consumed that had no effect on his behavior at all. This could be saying that Americans are barbaric in their indulgences of the drink or it could be saying that they are stronger than that, more powerful and elusive to any kind of handicap that might come his way.
Some blame the scientists and some blame the Americans. There are many comments to which those involved in the Cold War must stop and think about especially if they encouraged the use of the new weaponry throughout the film. The film puts into display the “results” of such an atomic war and points out that if these countries were so smart to build these bombs why weren’t they doing something better with their time than throwing them at each other? They should have known exactly what was going to happen.
One of the biggest moral issues of the film was the availability of suicide pills so that you and your family members would not have to suffer through radiation poisoning. At the beginning of the film it seemed as though such pills were very difficult to come across but by the end of the film such pills were given out freely. This suggests complete and utter hopelessness. A doomed society cursed by other’s violent intentions. What was interesting to me was never in the film did they discuss the complete annihilation of the human race and how that affects the future of the universe. It is made aware that the entire United States’ population is gone but there is never a discussion of the rest of the world. There was no research into how another dominating race could adapt and rise up in the radiation and no attempt to preserve human life.
People were very discontent and disconnected in their relationships. The young couple and their child were facing the devastating inevitability that their young daughter would never experienced things that they had experienced. The husband and wife grow apart and throughout the movie reflect on how their relationship was not as exciting as it once was. The end of the film however they remember their early experiences together on the beach. An interesting opposite to the young married couple is the older relationship that develops throughout the film between the married American Commander and the extra lonely Australian temptress. Their love is desperate but it seems true enough.
There are many little ironies in this film which make you question a lot of the securities you have in your life. New love is certainly something that many would not think as something they would be looking for in the last months of life. The coke bottle tugging on the window shade is an example of a hopeless and unending chain of disappointments that these people have suffered through, though they find it quite comical that they spent so much time hoping that someone was out there and still alive.
There were a lot of implications of this Atomic war that didn’t just affect those that were involved but the entire world. I think that that was the main focus of the plot. When countries of such intelligence are blinded by their own power and do not realize that the repercussions of their actions directly affect the entire world, devastating changes occur and in this case the end of life. Fingers pointed in every direction but mostly it pointed to those that didn’t have the common sense to stop before they were ahead of themselves. Many blamed the beginning, the scientists who developed the theory and many those that consciously pushed the button. Whatever the reason or whoever the criminal the outcome of this film was dramatic to say the least.
If you had five months before a giant cloud of radiation, that you had nothing to do with, covered you and your family in a devastating sickness…What would you do?
Friday, April 3, 2009
"It's Shakespeare"
I wanted to watch this for insight involving the media in the United States and how news was handled concerning the Cold War. This film did not disappoint. There are many interesting things that were stated by Ed Murrow in the film and by others about the purpose of television. One of the main concerns of the film is what exactly the purpose of reporting news via the television is and what news is and is not limited to.
The plot of the film surrounds the controversies of Senator McCarthy’s warning to the nation about local communist threats to democracy. Specifically in the case of Lieutenant Milo Radulovich, a member of the Air Force forced to resign because of apparent “communist sympathies”. Ed Murrow’s programming was held in high regard because of his nuanced ways of reporting the news. McCarthy unjustly accused hundreds of people, including government officials, of having ties to communism. Many reporters of the day wouldn’t report any kind of controversial news fearing that they themselves would have the finger pointed in their direction. Many people looked to television during this time as a form of entertainment to leave their fears of communism behind. Morrow believed that television was not an instrument of, “decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world,” but the exact opposite. He reported the news, the truth to those who were willing to listen. The film always portrayed a sense of worry in the newsroom that somehow they would all be accused of communism for whatever it was the Ed Murrow was reporting, however, they did all stand behind him and support him in his aspirations to simply report the news.
One of Ed Murrow’s closest supporters was Fred Friendly, former president of CBS and co-creator of See it Now.
A major issue with this new way of reporting news was the potential of ruining someone’s reputation with information gathered about them on the news. Having the ability to associate a face with words pertaining to that face is much different than to simply listening to words about such a person over the radio. This also seemed to play a huge role in relaying information to the public during the Cold War. It was expected that McCarthy would go after anything that was in Murrow’s past after the program dedicated to spoiling McCarthy’s reputation was aired. McCarthy was given the opportunity to rebut anything that was said during this program but instead pointed a finger at Murrow. The film didn’t talk much about Ed Murrow’s past but there were a few moments that suggested that he had communist ties. It is true that Ed Murrow was a liberal newscaster who was described as “anti-anti-communist” which McCarthy thought was as bad as being a Communist.
I thought it interesting how Shakespeare was quoted by Ed Murrow and referenced in the film.
“The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves” – Cassius.
Something about this film made me think that Ed Murrow was one of the most intelligent beings in existence during the Cold War. His quoting Shakespeare actually happened but the way it was presented in the film just puts Murrow on such a high pillar of intelligence! Fred Friendly asks “Did you write your closing piece?” Murrow responds “It’s Shakespeare” Then Friendly not amused blurts “Uh-huh. Write your closing piece.” Was Murrow misunderstood by even his closest colleague? Was there anyone that Murrow completely confided in or was he alone during this entire time? This film made it seem so. Was this whole McCarthy incident really just a battle between two men fighting for their beliefs and there was no involvement of anyone behind each person? Did it just happen to be caught on film? I think this is what Murrow means when he believes that our ideas will win this war and not because of bombs. If the nation becomes so distracted with these really unimportant tribulations we will have already lost the war because we would not have used our intelligence for progress. He also makes this comment about the use of television. How television should be used for the purpose of progress not so much as art and entertainment.
At the beginning of news broadcasting through television many people thought that the public would be uninterested and want to be entertained. There was the battle between the civics lessons vs. entertainment programming. When Murrow loses sponsors for his broadcast he says, “The content of what we are doing is more important,” more important than any sponsor, more important trying to entertain the nation; What is more important that telling the truth and informing the public and sparking interest in the nation for the freedoms of our nation? During this time sponsors were holding back the news and I’m sure that plays a somewhat important role in the news today. Murrow warns Television is losing its meaning and soon it will become nothing more than “wire lights in a box”.
Edward R. Murrow Quotes
“In a story there are two equal and logical sides to an argument.”
“If we never read a dangerous book or had a friend that was different or attended a meeting that advocated change we’d be the kind of people McCarthy wants”
"The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthty's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result."
“Never saying no is not the same as not censoring”
“Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit”
“No one can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices”
“Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn’t mean you are wiser then when it reached only to the end of the bar”
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the sould of America dies with it”
Edward Murrow is my new favorite person to quote.
The plot of the film surrounds the controversies of Senator McCarthy’s warning to the nation about local communist threats to democracy. Specifically in the case of Lieutenant Milo Radulovich, a member of the Air Force forced to resign because of apparent “communist sympathies”. Ed Murrow’s programming was held in high regard because of his nuanced ways of reporting the news. McCarthy unjustly accused hundreds of people, including government officials, of having ties to communism. Many reporters of the day wouldn’t report any kind of controversial news fearing that they themselves would have the finger pointed in their direction. Many people looked to television during this time as a form of entertainment to leave their fears of communism behind. Morrow believed that television was not an instrument of, “decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world,” but the exact opposite. He reported the news, the truth to those who were willing to listen. The film always portrayed a sense of worry in the newsroom that somehow they would all be accused of communism for whatever it was the Ed Murrow was reporting, however, they did all stand behind him and support him in his aspirations to simply report the news.
One of Ed Murrow’s closest supporters was Fred Friendly, former president of CBS and co-creator of See it Now.
A major issue with this new way of reporting news was the potential of ruining someone’s reputation with information gathered about them on the news. Having the ability to associate a face with words pertaining to that face is much different than to simply listening to words about such a person over the radio. This also seemed to play a huge role in relaying information to the public during the Cold War. It was expected that McCarthy would go after anything that was in Murrow’s past after the program dedicated to spoiling McCarthy’s reputation was aired. McCarthy was given the opportunity to rebut anything that was said during this program but instead pointed a finger at Murrow. The film didn’t talk much about Ed Murrow’s past but there were a few moments that suggested that he had communist ties. It is true that Ed Murrow was a liberal newscaster who was described as “anti-anti-communist” which McCarthy thought was as bad as being a Communist.
I thought it interesting how Shakespeare was quoted by Ed Murrow and referenced in the film.
“The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves” – Cassius.
Something about this film made me think that Ed Murrow was one of the most intelligent beings in existence during the Cold War. His quoting Shakespeare actually happened but the way it was presented in the film just puts Murrow on such a high pillar of intelligence! Fred Friendly asks “Did you write your closing piece?” Murrow responds “It’s Shakespeare” Then Friendly not amused blurts “Uh-huh. Write your closing piece.” Was Murrow misunderstood by even his closest colleague? Was there anyone that Murrow completely confided in or was he alone during this entire time? This film made it seem so. Was this whole McCarthy incident really just a battle between two men fighting for their beliefs and there was no involvement of anyone behind each person? Did it just happen to be caught on film? I think this is what Murrow means when he believes that our ideas will win this war and not because of bombs. If the nation becomes so distracted with these really unimportant tribulations we will have already lost the war because we would not have used our intelligence for progress. He also makes this comment about the use of television. How television should be used for the purpose of progress not so much as art and entertainment.
At the beginning of news broadcasting through television many people thought that the public would be uninterested and want to be entertained. There was the battle between the civics lessons vs. entertainment programming. When Murrow loses sponsors for his broadcast he says, “The content of what we are doing is more important,” more important than any sponsor, more important trying to entertain the nation; What is more important that telling the truth and informing the public and sparking interest in the nation for the freedoms of our nation? During this time sponsors were holding back the news and I’m sure that plays a somewhat important role in the news today. Murrow warns Television is losing its meaning and soon it will become nothing more than “wire lights in a box”.
Edward R. Murrow Quotes
“In a story there are two equal and logical sides to an argument.”
“If we never read a dangerous book or had a friend that was different or attended a meeting that advocated change we’d be the kind of people McCarthy wants”
"The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthty's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result."
“Never saying no is not the same as not censoring”
“Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit”
“No one can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices”
“Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn’t mean you are wiser then when it reached only to the end of the bar”
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the sould of America dies with it”
Edward Murrow is my new favorite person to quote.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"That's good Hilda, I'm glad"
The Day the Earth Stood Still won a special award at the Golden Globes for promoting international understanding. I think this film plays true to this award. Klaatu has a certain old Hollywood hero appeal and so he is the perfect spaceman to relay a message of peace to the Earth.
I think the beginning of the film was trying to capture how the United States would react to something like an unidentified spacecraft; with heavy artillery. Good thing Klaatu brought with him Gort, a weapon vanquishing robot. Somehow through Klaatu’s study of Earth he has not realized the growing tensions between the leading countries. It is made obvious, these tensions, when it is explained to him that it would be “awkward” to have a meeting of all the world leaders. How did he not realize this after all the radio listening he had done?! This is supposed to make the world aware of exactly what is wrong with this “cold war”.
It is interesting as well that as we as a nation looked to the sky to explore our universe it is a man from this outer world to tell us our problems.
They often talk about “another world” when worrying about where this “spaceman” is from. Could it possibly be a reference to Russia as in another world different from our own? Russia during this time was worried to have supposed advancements in technology and willingness to take out any enemy such as the United States. This could be a very terrifying scare tactic indeed.
Klaatu enjoys many of the tourist attractions in DC that many take pleasure in. It is no wonder that Bobby, the all American boy, has a deceased father buried at Arlington. This plays into Klaatu’s opposition to war. Klaatu also recognizes Lincoln as a great man having “great words”. This is a positive reflection on America, even an alien can see that we are a super fantastic country.
The growing fear of atomic power and force is brought into clearer terms as Klaatu has wielded atomic energy for his spaceship. See? Atomic power can be great and used for good! But the planet is unaware that in the future we will apply this awesome power to spacecrafts with threatens the peace of the rest of the universe which is living in peace.
The genuine bits I felt in the film were the sheer amusement on Klaatu’s face of a variety of objects that he comes across such as a music box, a train set or a locked door. There is a type of sincerity in these reactions that I really responded positively to.
It is also no wonder that when asked to stir up the Earth by the professor Klaatu neutralizes electricity all over the world. Is Klaatu a Marxist? The car plants are shut down and farmers milking cows by machine are facing severe problems without electricity.
When there is no electricity Klaatu and Mrs. Benson were trapped in an elevator where he tells her everything. There is a strange shadow cast through the front elevator doors. Now the pattern is from these old fashioned doors obviously but I found it interesting that the shadow was similar to that of a cage or jail cell and is cast over the faces of these two characters. They are stuck in time, trapped in the elevator, neither of them are really progressing in their lives either. Mrs. Benson recently offered marriage still has no exact decision and Klaatu is a man running from the entire world and still has not gotten his message out to the Earth.
The film also has comments on religion. After Klaatu is brought back to life from some sort of mysterious machine by Gort he alludes to the idea that there is an Almighty Spirit.
Highlights from Klaatu’s monologue:
Universe grows smaller everyday
Security for all or else no one is secure
No freedom is given up except the freedom to act irresponsibly (when talking of the advantages of robots such as Gort)
Mutual protection of all planets
Complete elimination of aggression
Join and live in peace or continue and face obliteration
I think the beginning of the film was trying to capture how the United States would react to something like an unidentified spacecraft; with heavy artillery. Good thing Klaatu brought with him Gort, a weapon vanquishing robot. Somehow through Klaatu’s study of Earth he has not realized the growing tensions between the leading countries. It is made obvious, these tensions, when it is explained to him that it would be “awkward” to have a meeting of all the world leaders. How did he not realize this after all the radio listening he had done?! This is supposed to make the world aware of exactly what is wrong with this “cold war”.
It is interesting as well that as we as a nation looked to the sky to explore our universe it is a man from this outer world to tell us our problems.
They often talk about “another world” when worrying about where this “spaceman” is from. Could it possibly be a reference to Russia as in another world different from our own? Russia during this time was worried to have supposed advancements in technology and willingness to take out any enemy such as the United States. This could be a very terrifying scare tactic indeed.
Klaatu enjoys many of the tourist attractions in DC that many take pleasure in. It is no wonder that Bobby, the all American boy, has a deceased father buried at Arlington. This plays into Klaatu’s opposition to war. Klaatu also recognizes Lincoln as a great man having “great words”. This is a positive reflection on America, even an alien can see that we are a super fantastic country.
The growing fear of atomic power and force is brought into clearer terms as Klaatu has wielded atomic energy for his spaceship. See? Atomic power can be great and used for good! But the planet is unaware that in the future we will apply this awesome power to spacecrafts with threatens the peace of the rest of the universe which is living in peace.
The genuine bits I felt in the film were the sheer amusement on Klaatu’s face of a variety of objects that he comes across such as a music box, a train set or a locked door. There is a type of sincerity in these reactions that I really responded positively to.
It is also no wonder that when asked to stir up the Earth by the professor Klaatu neutralizes electricity all over the world. Is Klaatu a Marxist? The car plants are shut down and farmers milking cows by machine are facing severe problems without electricity.
When there is no electricity Klaatu and Mrs. Benson were trapped in an elevator where he tells her everything. There is a strange shadow cast through the front elevator doors. Now the pattern is from these old fashioned doors obviously but I found it interesting that the shadow was similar to that of a cage or jail cell and is cast over the faces of these two characters. They are stuck in time, trapped in the elevator, neither of them are really progressing in their lives either. Mrs. Benson recently offered marriage still has no exact decision and Klaatu is a man running from the entire world and still has not gotten his message out to the Earth.
The film also has comments on religion. After Klaatu is brought back to life from some sort of mysterious machine by Gort he alludes to the idea that there is an Almighty Spirit.
Highlights from Klaatu’s monologue:
Universe grows smaller everyday
Security for all or else no one is secure
No freedom is given up except the freedom to act irresponsibly (when talking of the advantages of robots such as Gort)
Mutual protection of all planets
Complete elimination of aggression
Join and live in peace or continue and face obliteration
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Day the Earth Stood Still
I am actually really excited about the next film that I am watching, the original The Day the Earth Stood Still. I am relieved that there is an original to this film, I don't know how I could include Keanu Reeves into my studies. Here is a site for some info on the original: http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes/day.html
"Freedom is not hereditary"
This interesting short propaganda film was created by the Department of Defense. I found myself silently laughing at this film in its attempts to scare Americans into imagining Communism on United States soil. The film was a warning not to take for granted all of the advantages we have under a democracy such as going to a PTA meeting. It also suggests keeping a stronger hold on your children such as allowing a daughter to marry quite young. Overall the film gave the concept of the necessity to protect personal liberties and not take for granted these liberties.
Essentially the plot is about a man names Jerry Donovan with an average family that is not participating in his freedoms such as the ability to express independent thought at a variety of meetings that his wife wants him to go to. Jerry instead wants to watch television or go bowling. He goes to sleep and wakes up to a communist run community. The red nightmare. He fights a variety of injustices that he experiences and is ultimately taken into custody for destroying a museum of communist inventions that is set up in his church. His punishment is the death sentence. He recites an epic speech talking about the righteousness of democracy and is “killed”. He wakes up and is a changed man and no longer thinks of his freedoms lightly.
Interesting Quotes:
Communist school
“Espionage as a science”
“Propaganda as an art”
“Sabotage as a business”
“Outdated capitalist way of life”
“Competitive coexistence leads to a collapse of the economy”
“Conform without resistance to the leadership of the proletariat”
“Collective character is not developed in the home life”
Bourgeois class is “diseased”
Communists, “can’t fool people all the time”
“That bullet will never reach you”
“Communist attempts at world enslavement”
“Freedom is not hereditary”
Essentially the plot is about a man names Jerry Donovan with an average family that is not participating in his freedoms such as the ability to express independent thought at a variety of meetings that his wife wants him to go to. Jerry instead wants to watch television or go bowling. He goes to sleep and wakes up to a communist run community. The red nightmare. He fights a variety of injustices that he experiences and is ultimately taken into custody for destroying a museum of communist inventions that is set up in his church. His punishment is the death sentence. He recites an epic speech talking about the righteousness of democracy and is “killed”. He wakes up and is a changed man and no longer thinks of his freedoms lightly.
Interesting Quotes:
Communist school
“Espionage as a science”
“Propaganda as an art”
“Sabotage as a business”
“Outdated capitalist way of life”
“Competitive coexistence leads to a collapse of the economy”
“Conform without resistance to the leadership of the proletariat”
“Collective character is not developed in the home life”
Bourgeois class is “diseased”
Communists, “can’t fool people all the time”
“That bullet will never reach you”
“Communist attempts at world enslavement”
“Freedom is not hereditary”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Red Nightmare aka The Commies are Coming! The Commies are Coming!
Red Nightmare is the next film that I am to watch it is on VHS so I have to watch this one at home. Here is a website about this film:
http://www.conelrad.com/sovietamerica/red_nightmare.html
http://www.conelrad.com/sovietamerica/red_nightmare.html
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"I like Ike!"
The Atomic Café is a really fascinating film. It gives great insight about the terror and culture of the time when atomic power was a new and important entity in the United States. The film is part historical, part propaganda and part insightful into the cult-like qualities surrounding the terror of an attack on America. Many things made me cringe and vocally gasp. Even the very beginning of the film was shocking. Film clips were shown of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Those that were in the airplane reported the monotony of the experience and that it wasn’t until the damage had been done had they realized that the destruction was massive and horrible.
1947 was the Year of Division. There was a clash of ideologies between the East and the West. The ruthless expansion of the Total State challenged the basic ideals of individual and national freedoms.
The propaganda continues as a hypothetical situation took place in which the United States became communist and we lost all of our basic rights. Then a video of a model of the Statue of Liberty blowing up then a large fist crushing residences and places of business and finally human ties and emotional ties in pillar form are pushed over.
Another thing that was interesting about tying together all of these films was that the filmmakers presented the information to you and didn’t have a specific feeling or idea that they wanted you to have making the film watching experience more interesting and more intrinsically edifying. Such as, one explanation for the Korean War which said that fighting in Korea was for National Security purposes and even so far as to say for our own survival.
I especially like the US military training film clips. One of my favorites was one in which they were showing the warning signs of a communist in which a woman protesting war is ridiculed by 3 military men in uniforms. This was immediately followed by incredible chilling sound clips and images explaining the fate of the Rosenbergs.
There was an interesting clip of some kind of minister or priest speaking about the use of the H-Bomb. Normally the thought would be that any type of religiously affiliated persons would be against any type of aggressive war tactics that would potentially result in death. However in this clip a priest mentions the importance of having the H-Bomb though he thinks it must not be used he says that it is important for the protection of democracy.
I think that with the confusion of what exactly it meant to have so many new advancements in the United States it could be safe to say that the people were feeling lost and so they are more likely to have people tell them what to do. I think that it blew people’s minds that within a century we were fighting with muskets and are now involved in nuclear warfare. The film stated that we were scientifically more advanced than we could emotionally handle. Which I think played a huge role in the United State’s society during the Cold War. I think that the lies that the media and the scientists told people also were something that has greatly made an impact on the history of the Cold War and even today. Atomic power became kind of an obsession and was integrated into everyday life. In this time of high stress there was instated a Mental Health week in which a bell was rung to calm citizens and even some husbands were encouraged to give their families tranquilizers.
There was kind of a suggestion that if you followed procedure and protected yourself and your family from fallout that everything that you had lost would return to you.
The idea of *Duck and Cover* was another thing that swept the nation and Burt the turtle was sure to teach you how to protect yourself if you hear a nuclear explosion. I fail to recognize how this in anyway would protect you from something that could give you extraordinarily large amounts of radiation.
The idea of a fallout shelter was also an intensely interesting thing to me especially when bomb shelters used in WWII only suffocated and incinerated those who sought safety in them.
The final scenes, which are quite memorable, all of the propaganda shown in the rest of the film is delegitimized. There is no hiding or escape from an Atomic attack.
Interesting Quotes:
“Well I guess there is nothing for us to worry about, we have the bomb”
“Fight the war to win rather than settle it at the diplomatic table which is impossible when dealing with Russia”
“She died a lot harder” – When speaking about the execution of Ethel Rosenberg
“If you wouldn’t tell Stalin, don’t tell anyone”
“You will be moved out in time to avoid sickness. If that doesn’t happen and sterility or sickness does affect you, you will probably be killed by something else anyway.” – Army general when talking to solders about procedure when dealing with atomic explosions on the battle fields.
“If I don’t know everything then you know nothing about communism, only fear of it.” – Nikita Khrushchev
1947 was the Year of Division. There was a clash of ideologies between the East and the West. The ruthless expansion of the Total State challenged the basic ideals of individual and national freedoms.
The propaganda continues as a hypothetical situation took place in which the United States became communist and we lost all of our basic rights. Then a video of a model of the Statue of Liberty blowing up then a large fist crushing residences and places of business and finally human ties and emotional ties in pillar form are pushed over.
Another thing that was interesting about tying together all of these films was that the filmmakers presented the information to you and didn’t have a specific feeling or idea that they wanted you to have making the film watching experience more interesting and more intrinsically edifying. Such as, one explanation for the Korean War which said that fighting in Korea was for National Security purposes and even so far as to say for our own survival.
I especially like the US military training film clips. One of my favorites was one in which they were showing the warning signs of a communist in which a woman protesting war is ridiculed by 3 military men in uniforms. This was immediately followed by incredible chilling sound clips and images explaining the fate of the Rosenbergs.
There was an interesting clip of some kind of minister or priest speaking about the use of the H-Bomb. Normally the thought would be that any type of religiously affiliated persons would be against any type of aggressive war tactics that would potentially result in death. However in this clip a priest mentions the importance of having the H-Bomb though he thinks it must not be used he says that it is important for the protection of democracy.
I think that with the confusion of what exactly it meant to have so many new advancements in the United States it could be safe to say that the people were feeling lost and so they are more likely to have people tell them what to do. I think that it blew people’s minds that within a century we were fighting with muskets and are now involved in nuclear warfare. The film stated that we were scientifically more advanced than we could emotionally handle. Which I think played a huge role in the United State’s society during the Cold War. I think that the lies that the media and the scientists told people also were something that has greatly made an impact on the history of the Cold War and even today. Atomic power became kind of an obsession and was integrated into everyday life. In this time of high stress there was instated a Mental Health week in which a bell was rung to calm citizens and even some husbands were encouraged to give their families tranquilizers.
There was kind of a suggestion that if you followed procedure and protected yourself and your family from fallout that everything that you had lost would return to you.
The idea of *Duck and Cover* was another thing that swept the nation and Burt the turtle was sure to teach you how to protect yourself if you hear a nuclear explosion. I fail to recognize how this in anyway would protect you from something that could give you extraordinarily large amounts of radiation.
The idea of a fallout shelter was also an intensely interesting thing to me especially when bomb shelters used in WWII only suffocated and incinerated those who sought safety in them.
The final scenes, which are quite memorable, all of the propaganda shown in the rest of the film is delegitimized. There is no hiding or escape from an Atomic attack.
Interesting Quotes:
“Well I guess there is nothing for us to worry about, we have the bomb”
“Fight the war to win rather than settle it at the diplomatic table which is impossible when dealing with Russia”
“She died a lot harder” – When speaking about the execution of Ethel Rosenberg
“If you wouldn’t tell Stalin, don’t tell anyone”
“You will be moved out in time to avoid sickness. If that doesn’t happen and sterility or sickness does affect you, you will probably be killed by something else anyway.” – Army general when talking to solders about procedure when dealing with atomic explosions on the battle fields.
“If I don’t know everything then you know nothing about communism, only fear of it.” – Nikita Khrushchev
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Atomic Café
I also have just begun to watch The Atomic Café, a film that strings together the events of America's acquisition of atomic power through news clips and government film much of which was originally propaganda. It is already proving to be as chilling as it is interesting.
Here is a website which describes the early development of this type of compilationfilm and a description of the film itself: http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/04/atomic_cafe.html
Here is a website which describes the early development of this type of compilationfilm and a description of the film itself: http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/04/atomic_cafe.html
"Mother Russia Calls"
I recently finished watching The End of St. Petersburg and I found it to be a really wonderful and beautiful film. The beginning I found to be a bit dull but as the social and political struggles became more intense I was entranced by this silent film. I began to take notes about midway through the film and I will share some things that I noticed. ( These are taken directly from my notebook)
There are obvious class separations. The farmer, the proletariat-worker, the stock-holders, the bourgeois
I found it to be very strange and disturbing that at the beginning of the film the man who lives in the country becomes aware of his wife’s terminal condition then continues with plowing the field. He then immediately leaves the rest of his family to go to the city.
Does this mean that even in the country people are losing touch with general human nature and care for their fellow man?
Many reoccurrences of water and the ocean in contrast to images of the workers in a factory setting
Peacefulness and calmness versus violence and brutality
The occurrences of the image of the baby (crying or sleeping) may also have something to do with this contrast
Architecture has iron-like texture and quality
Homes are simple
Reappearance of the statues and looking up at them rather than looking down at them seems to be an apparent theme. Never looking straight at the statue – seeing eye to eye
Mobs/ large groups of people (where the people all look the same) adorning bowler hats – mixed up, fighting, working together in the end – stock people, workers on strike, army – always looking down at mob – reading newspapers chaos – eventually the hats are taken off
Very little presence of women at the beginning – later however only women are the ones to make the farmer feel regret and shame for informing the government of where the proletariat was
None of the characters have names but are characterized by their features or by their class (the proletariat, the boy, the bald one etc.)
All characters seem to have little or no emotion then they act out with extreme emotion
The farm boy seems to gradually lose his innocence as he becomes more and more mixed up with “progress” – unresponsive then violently aggressive.
Terrifying still image of the simple seemingly peaceful farmer sought with rage which was implanted in him by capitalism or some other corruption from progress
The image has chilling clear eyes and a violently angry expression. Tears are streaming down his face making him seem more human-like.
In this fight scene “progressive things” are broken: telephone, lamp, type writer
Image of the statue shown to give the sense of authority
Everyone seems to be disenchanted by life and the head of the police department seems bored of another “common” criminal
Government believed that war would prevent revolution
Water a very common comparison – Army tank guns pointed at the city and interesting image of the guns “crushing” the city
The same iron statue was adorned with flowers – possibly a symbol of femininity or an attempt to make “things” more pleasant.
Extreme nationalism – detest the Germans and German- made products – Smashing of German top-hat and snapping walking stick – Hat meaning leader literally the “head” and walking stick phallic symbol for power.
Iron statue with flowers is show crying: sadness or joy?
Strange crucifix shown with 1917 as the date
They are martyrs for their country.
Women showing aggressiveness – fighting for bread
Baby is shown once again wailing – Fast images - not clear as to whether the baby is nursing or just nude or maybe both
Cannons and Guns dripping – similar to the statue that was “crying”
The war was almost like a performance –the thunderous applause – trying to please the people
My favorite scene – shoot the traitors and they shoot the government men – excellent cinematography execution bringing intensity
Proletariat’s wife crossing fallen soldiers and sharing bread with them
Woman nurturing and building their government again
Woman goes into the Winter Palace? Comparison between ornate building and beaten broken pail of bread carrying nutrients
Interesting/Repeated Quotes:
"Mother Russia Calls" – Repeated
“In the name of Tsar, fatherland and money”
“What are we dying for”? – “Three years and we don’t know what we are fighting for”
“Transaction completed when both parties are satisfied”
“A Coalition Government”
“The government puts itself under the protection of the people and the army”
Government doesn’t protect itself – puts its trust in those that they are supposed to protect.
“The proletariat has risen and is waiting for you”
“Long live the city of Lenin”
There are obvious class separations. The farmer, the proletariat-worker, the stock-holders, the bourgeois
I found it to be very strange and disturbing that at the beginning of the film the man who lives in the country becomes aware of his wife’s terminal condition then continues with plowing the field. He then immediately leaves the rest of his family to go to the city.
Does this mean that even in the country people are losing touch with general human nature and care for their fellow man?
Many reoccurrences of water and the ocean in contrast to images of the workers in a factory setting
Peacefulness and calmness versus violence and brutality
The occurrences of the image of the baby (crying or sleeping) may also have something to do with this contrast
Architecture has iron-like texture and quality
Homes are simple
Reappearance of the statues and looking up at them rather than looking down at them seems to be an apparent theme. Never looking straight at the statue – seeing eye to eye
Mobs/ large groups of people (where the people all look the same) adorning bowler hats – mixed up, fighting, working together in the end – stock people, workers on strike, army – always looking down at mob – reading newspapers chaos – eventually the hats are taken off
Very little presence of women at the beginning – later however only women are the ones to make the farmer feel regret and shame for informing the government of where the proletariat was
None of the characters have names but are characterized by their features or by their class (the proletariat, the boy, the bald one etc.)
All characters seem to have little or no emotion then they act out with extreme emotion
The farm boy seems to gradually lose his innocence as he becomes more and more mixed up with “progress” – unresponsive then violently aggressive.
Terrifying still image of the simple seemingly peaceful farmer sought with rage which was implanted in him by capitalism or some other corruption from progress
The image has chilling clear eyes and a violently angry expression. Tears are streaming down his face making him seem more human-like.
In this fight scene “progressive things” are broken: telephone, lamp, type writer
Image of the statue shown to give the sense of authority
Everyone seems to be disenchanted by life and the head of the police department seems bored of another “common” criminal
Government believed that war would prevent revolution
Water a very common comparison – Army tank guns pointed at the city and interesting image of the guns “crushing” the city
The same iron statue was adorned with flowers – possibly a symbol of femininity or an attempt to make “things” more pleasant.
Extreme nationalism – detest the Germans and German- made products – Smashing of German top-hat and snapping walking stick – Hat meaning leader literally the “head” and walking stick phallic symbol for power.
Iron statue with flowers is show crying: sadness or joy?
Strange crucifix shown with 1917 as the date
They are martyrs for their country.
Women showing aggressiveness – fighting for bread
Baby is shown once again wailing – Fast images - not clear as to whether the baby is nursing or just nude or maybe both
Cannons and Guns dripping – similar to the statue that was “crying”
The war was almost like a performance –the thunderous applause – trying to please the people
My favorite scene – shoot the traitors and they shoot the government men – excellent cinematography execution bringing intensity
Proletariat’s wife crossing fallen soldiers and sharing bread with them
Woman nurturing and building their government again
Woman goes into the Winter Palace? Comparison between ornate building and beaten broken pail of bread carrying nutrients
Interesting/Repeated Quotes:
"Mother Russia Calls" – Repeated
“In the name of Tsar, fatherland and money”
“What are we dying for”? – “Three years and we don’t know what we are fighting for”
“Transaction completed when both parties are satisfied”
“A Coalition Government”
“The government puts itself under the protection of the people and the army”
Government doesn’t protect itself – puts its trust in those that they are supposed to protect.
“The proletariat has risen and is waiting for you”
“Long live the city of Lenin”
Friday, January 23, 2009
The End of St. Petersburg
I am just beginning to watch this interesting silent film which was to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. It is directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin who is said to be one of the leading Soviet montage film directors.
This is a good website about the film.
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/08/46/end-st-petersburg.html
This is a good website about the film.
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/08/46/end-st-petersburg.html
Friday, January 16, 2009
What is this?
This independent study is an ideal opportunity for me to explore my interdisciplinary interests in film, politics and history will all be explored during this fourteen week course. I will be observing cinematic techniques, the history of this time period in chronological order by film (hopefully Amazon ships my movies in a timely manner), and analyzing the politics of the time.
I will be watching the following movies and cataloging my insights on them.
End of St. Petersburg (1927)
Atomic Café (1985)
The Commies are Coming, The Commies are Coming (1950's)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
On the Beach (1959)
Red Nightmare (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Seven Days in May (1964)
Topaz (1969)
Francis Gary Powers (1974)
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