King Kong

I was at Disney's Hollywood Studios yesterday and came across this.  This is from the movie.

King Kong

I agree with the Professor; King Kong is a film that grabbed my imagination at a very early age. The dinosaurs were such an innovative addition that along with the giant ape the film served to overwhelm the audience.
Was it just me, or were there some elements of a subtext of a racist nature here? The white girl being pawed by the giant "black man" seemed a metaphor for racial tensions and sexual-based fear.

Chaplin Skating in the Rink

In the film "the Rink", my favorite of the 4 shorts, Chaplin performs one stunt after another in long shots from a stationary camera.
The skating scene was amazing. He seemed suspended from a string at times, and i was impressed by the choreography. I wonder how much time he dedicated to those moves. Uncut, clearly stylized skating moves Fred Astaire could never have done better with his dancing. One of the finest examples of a continuous "action" scene I've seen.

Bob Bates

Charlie Chaplin without makeup.

Black Narcissus - 1947

This film won well-deserved Academy Awards for Production Design (Alfred Junge) and Cinematography (Jack Cardiff).

Films - PEL Spring 2

Here are the movies we will be studying for the Spring 2 term.

"Black Narcissus"

"The Hill"

Boris Karloff in "Targets"

"Blade Runner"

3rd and Final Paper

The third and final paper for Elements of Film deals with genre analysis.  If you have already written on this subject, you may choose either the analysis of a single film or the discussion of a director’s work (subjects of the two earlier papers).

For this last paper please select a genre and give a brief history, a discussion of its conventions, styles and themes.  Also important is which notable filmmakers might have made this a focus of their work and if this genre fits into the national identity of any particular country.  Viewings outside the required films are always good to add credibility.

You may turn this paper in on the final day of class or email it to me no later than Friday, Dec. 13.  There will be no penalty for doing so.  Please send it to:

 thammond1946@yahoo.com

If you have any past due papers, these are due on the last day of class.  I will accept them, but deduct one grade for anything late.

See you all Monday night for the final exam.