Transcript film noir
Humanities Today – Presentations Wednesday – practice music criticism – bring devices and headphones Thursday – Test cards (turned in) – Binder Checks Friday – Music Test Monday – Make-up tests Tuesday – Music Criticism paper – try to bring headphones and devices Important – Midterms are posted Wednesday morning – Any late work? Please do not move the desks This is were I always arrange them Yet all rows end up pushed to the front of the room Before you are dismissed each day, they need to look like this Music Binder KET video notes worksheet with summary on back What do you hear listening guide worksheet Purposes, terms, instruments and voices ppt. with summary Practice Music Criticism worksheet completed Presentation expectations Pay full attention to presenter(s) – Eyes on them – No talking during the presentation – not even during their music sample – Sit up completely – All devices put away (not on tables/laps) and silenced – Ask questions to clarify American Cinema Today – Continue Casablanca Important – Midterms are posted Wednesday morning Please do not move the desks This is were I always arrange them Yet all rows end up pushed to the front of the room Before you are dismissed each day, they need to look like this Film Noir “Black Film” Or “Dark Film” Background The film noir genre was born from crime films: audiences grew bored with the criminal protagonist wanted more of a hero during war times Lasted from 1945-ish to 1950-ish (according to traditionalists) Some film noir films have criminals and private eyes, but not all private eye or crime films are film noir. Darkness of the Setting Cities: Mean, nasty places where anything can happen at any moment Violence and crime occur often, usually randomly Sex: strip clubs, bars, sultry women abound Cities are grimy, dirty places with lots of shadows. Darkness of the Setting Fog: Fog obscures, makes things unclear and unknown Fate, mystery, future Casablanca (1942) What Lies Beneath (2000) Water: What lies under the water? Rarely can the audience see below the surface of water Sometimes choppy and tumultuous Film Lighting noir uses high contrast lighting with lots of shadows. Sometimes props are the only source of light This is called low key lighting. – Little key lighting (principle source of light) – Mostly fill light (lights from side or back) – Comedies & musicals use high key lighting to create uniform light with little contrast What do you see for lighting in this image of Bogart from Casablanca (1942)? Notice the Brox Sisters in 1929’s Singing in the Rain. What do you notice about the lighting? Darkness of Humanity: It’s a world of paranoia and entrapment Male protagonist feels trapped and overwhelmed by a situation Chance plays a larger role than fate Heavy use of camera work to show craziness and entrapment: – – – – – Bars or lines in front or behind character Tight framing Odd angles Slow tracking shots Backward tracking shots Femme Fatale A “dangerous woman” who traps or pulls the male protagonist (usually a common, everyday Joe) into a world of crime and danger She is sexy, dangerous, often filled with “mad love,” greed, or jealousy Often, one or the other, maybe both, will die. AKA – The Spider Woman – Ensnares the hero in a web of danger, lies and death Postmodern Film Noir Even though film noir died out, it still exists: – Small details have been taken from the classics (symbols, lighting, characters) – Some feel film noir must be black and white, others feel that high contrast can be achieved through vivid colors Our Movies Casablanca – 1942 – Michael Curtiz Chinatown – 1974 – Roman Polanski The Maltese Falcon 1941 John Huston A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette. Double Indemnity 1944 Billy Wilder An insurance rep lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions. Double indemnity - a provision in a lifeinsurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death