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I could use some suggestions.
Doc
Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
I am teaching a film study class and I could use some ideas on movies to show the class. They should be no worse than PG13 just because I am unconfortable showing films with nudity and too much harsh language but at the same time they should be interesting in terms of movie-making art or social/political symbolism. Here's my current list:
12 Angry Men (Drama, hit you in the head with social commentary, good acting.)
Citizen Kane (Ditto, plus inovative film techniques.)
High Noon (The classic western anti-hero story.)
The Grapes of Wrath (Can you say "FDR will save America from the evil capitalists?")
Inherit the Wind (Courtroom drama mixed with religion.)
The Birds (The classic Hitchcock suspense thriller.)
Them! (The classic 1950s monster horror flick.)
Rudy (One of the great sports films.)
Sergeant York (One of the great war movies and biographies.)
Pleasantville (Can you say "Conservatives are stuck in the past and can only see in black and white until liberals enlighten them?")
Duel (Intense drama on a one to one scale.)
Any ideas?
12 Angry Men (Drama, hit you in the head with social commentary, good acting.)
Citizen Kane (Ditto, plus inovative film techniques.)
High Noon (The classic western anti-hero story.)
The Grapes of Wrath (Can you say "FDR will save America from the evil capitalists?")
Inherit the Wind (Courtroom drama mixed with religion.)
The Birds (The classic Hitchcock suspense thriller.)
Them! (The classic 1950s monster horror flick.)
Rudy (One of the great sports films.)
Sergeant York (One of the great war movies and biographies.)
Pleasantville (Can you say "Conservatives are stuck in the past and can only see in black and white until liberals enlighten them?")
Duel (Intense drama on a one to one scale.)
Any ideas?
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Too old to live...too young to die...
Too old to live...too young to die...
Comments
Social/Political: Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, original version.
What would be the "social/political symbolism" of that or Duel or The Birds? More to the point, what is it about "social/political symbolism" in movies that needs to be studied? To tell us what we already had to know in order for there to be any symbolism in the first place?
and a few "war" movies- Guadalcanal Diary, Three Came Home.
Merc
in terms of storytelling, I think it's the most advanced film I've ever seen. no critic has understood it. I figured it out. I know what it all means. Can you? In the meantime, hang on for one * of a ride.
too bad you couldn't show it to the class though.
"Scarecrow" with Gene Hackman and Al Pacino. A film about hope for uncentered men with little future, about having a dream, about loving and losing a child and its effect, in particular on a young man, which is seldom considered equitably in todays world where productions about that subject are made in abundance usually by or for women and from their point of view. (Both the above might be better restricted to High School age)>
"The Stars Over Henrietta" A terrificly entertaining film starring Robert Duval. About friendship and loyalty and using your wits and what it can bring you and cost you.
"The Rievers" from the classic story by William Faulkner with:
Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve McQueen .... Boon Hogganbeck
Sharon Farrell .... Corrie
Ruth White .... Miss Reba
Michael Constantine .... Mr. Binford
Clifton James .... Butch Lovemaiden
Juano Hernandez .... Uncle Possum
Lonny Chapman .... Maury
Will Geer .... Boss
Rupert Crosse .... Ned
Mitch Vogel .... Lucius
Diane Shalet .... Hannah
Pat Randall .... May Ellen
Diane Ladd .... Phoebe
Ellen Geer .... Sally
Dub Taylor .... Dr. Peabody
(more)
tremendously entertaining about life and sneaking off and forbidden fruit and growing up in early 20th century America.
(Cast list for "The Reivers" is C&P and the edit is for spelling.)
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA was Peter O'Tooles first movie and as a character study of how chance can turn a borderline psychotic into a acclaimed hero. Anthony Quinn's portrayal of a Bedouin is unsurpassed.
FORBIDDEN PLANET was made in 1955, but the Shakespearen storyline (The Tempest) never gets old. Leslie Nielson, Ann Francis, and Walter Pidgeon do a splendid job. It's also "Robby's" debut.
Another Peter O'Toole film of note is LORD JIM. A character study of a man who gets a second chance and still makes a poor choice, but is man enough to accept it. One of Joseph Conrads' best novels.
SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (original) has Lancaster and Douglas as military men involved in a military takeover of the US Government. This was timely when MacArthur was a general, and may be timely again. A good example of why civilian leadership is a requirement in a democracy.
Good choices on your picks. Inherit the Wind is an all time favorite of mine.[;)]
Patton (awesome war movie. Little rough on the language but nothing most kids haven't heard and even better than some PG-13s nowadays)
Clint's Spaghetti westerns (exemplifies the American individualist)
American Graffitti (classic coming of age story)
Stand by me (ditto)
Dr. Strangelove (need I say more?)
Night of the Living Dead (don't laugh. It's got some heavy social commentary in there in addition to being a great zombie flick and the start of the genre)
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
"Debbie Does Dallas" that has been edited to remove the nudity. It would only take up 30 seconds of class time.
Why don't you just include Deep Throat While you are at it!
great movie, great at demonstrating the idiocy of a modern nanny state no nudity no violence very funny.
Apocalyps Now (required)
Sling Blade
Tender Mercies
Ride the High Country
The African Queen
DWS- The point is to either illustrate filmmaking techniques or the social and political messages contained within the movies. I know that for some reason you get upset about symbolisim in art but that's part of what we do.
Too old to live...too young to die...
Some interesting suggestions. Thanks for the input. BTW- This is a college course but given the socially (if not politically) conservative nature of the population, I really want to avoid R rated movies. One of the English profs had parents all over him last year because one of the assigned readings in a literature class featured frequent use of the "F word" and some students refused to read it. Parents (I thought these were adult students but trust me swarms of parents got involved) were all over the vice president for academics' office arguing and complaining about the course content. I have enough people mad at me, thank you very much.
DWS- The point is to either illustrate filmmaking techniques or the social and political messages contained within the movies. I know that for some reason you get upset about symbolisim in art but that's part of what we do.
He just gets upset because they have never portrayed him accurately in any of the My Friend Flicka flicks.
2. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) (A truly absurd and funny comedy! No commentary here, just plain funny.)
quote:never portrayed him accurately in any of the My Friend Flicka flicks. You suggesting they are showing the wrong end of the horse?
Saxon, Bad Day a Black Rock would be on my list. Also Top Gun--The ultimate Seinfeld "Show about nothing"
"The Notebook"
"The Ten Commandments"
No Blade of Grass. Probably hard to find, a post-apocalyptic film, but without the Mad Max angle. A study in human nature under horribly adverse conditions. A mysterious blight strikes all grasses on the planet. Grasses include wheat, barley, maize, corn, sorghum, rice, just about everything but potatoes and carrots.
Old Yeller.
Any of John Wayne's later Westerns, including True Grit, Rooster Cogburn, Big Jake, The Shootist, The Cowboys.
Bad enough they have to watch all those old B&W movies with no car chases or explosions.
Too old to live...too young to die...
For a film for the sudents to cretique: Birth of a Nation. It shows what people thought about race in 1915. It also has some very absurd moments that turn out to be pretty funy now-a-days.
"Gone With The Wind" -need I say more?
"The Lion In Winter" -Kate Hepburn as Eleanor or Aquitaine and Peter O'Toole as Henry, and a very young Sir Anthony Hopkins as Richard Lionheart. Not necessarilly historically accurate, but the roles are very juicy. Possibly the best dialogue ever in a film. If I could pick one role from one film, I would choose the role of Eleanor.