Fimsite.org (created by the film-focused network AMC) describes classic films as renowned films of first rank, reference points in film mythology, or films that have become a part of American cultural folklore. They are often universal favorites that hold up after repeated re-screenings. Famed film critic Roger Ebert describes Classic films as record-breaking, precedent-setting, influential and enduring. The term “classic” is broadly used by many to describe a personal favorite; however, for this section, we will use the commonly accepted requirement set by the National Film Registry that a film must be at least 25 years old to qualify as a classic.
Classic Hollywood Cinema has both a narrative and visual style characterized by
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They practiced attack drills in schools and other public places, and built more than 130,000 (estimated) bomb-shelters in their back-yards and basements. (Cook)
Release in 1959, On the Beach (OB) was the first main-stream film about the potential global apocalypse that could result if the Cold War went from threat to reality. The film is a somber movie, filmed with intense close-ups intended to spark emotional responses. since it is set up at the beginning, that no human on earth would survive. Analyzing this film with a modern paradigm, nuclear annihilation is plausible; however, the way the characters treat their impending doom seems unlikely. Instead of the normal rioting and break-down of social norms one would see in a movie today, they went about their life as normal, for the most part. In addition, the attachment to technology was a prominent theme – even though they know technology has created the reason their lives will end within weeks, they all seem to be attached to some piece of technology.
Members of President Eisenhower’s cabinet were so worried that it would promote “ban the bomb” propaganda that they calculated ways to undermine it. (Evans)The film is filled with anti-war and political propaganda, best highlighted in a scene where Lieutenant Peter Holmes (played by Anthony Perkins, along with the rest of the military, is accused of “using weapons of mass destruction without ever realizing that these weapons
The filmmakers’ main ideas are that the government misled and lied to the people of the U.S. so that they would believe that the atomic bomb would have no effect on their health and security, that we should question if the government should have lied to the American people, and to make us question whether or not the citizens of the U.S. would continue to be as naive as the people of the 1950’s.
After World War II, especially in the aftermath of the deployment of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people were irrationally fearful of the deadly and destructive forces of nuclear warfare. In a section of the book Technology entitled “The Race for Space”, the author examines the psychological effects of fear of nuclear weapons.
and took cover in case of a bomb or missile hitting the city. The apartment building that I
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) is a dark comedy film by Stanley Kubrick. The film deals with nuclear war which was a hot topic during the 50 's and 60 's. Americans were very paranoid about communists and nuclear war at this time. This film shows how ridiculous the paranoia about nuclear war through a sexual relationship allegory. The allegory deals with the masculine and the feminine. The masculine is an important part of the nuclear war efforts while the feminine takes a backseat. The feminine is displayed in men as a negative. The sexual allegory becomes funny through
Frank Baums, The Wizard of Oz is arguably one of the most popular films made. Even though it was released in 1939, nearly three-quarters of a century ago, the film continues to entertain audiences and speak to them in a personal way. The question that comes to the mind when analyzing this film is: What is it about this film that gives it such timelessness? When reflecting on the film’s timeless qualities, it seems clear the plot is one of the things that enable it to maintain its relevance. Primarily, the plot of The Wizard of Oz is timeless because it is such an excellent example of the heroic journey, both in literally and cinematically. This journey of self-awareness is a metaphor for growth, which is something we all search to discover
Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb challenges the beliefs of war and equates war to a mockery created by sexually crippled men. The most symbolic scene in the film, one that truly exemplifies what Kubrick was trying to show his audience, is the famous "riding of the bomb" scene in which actor Slim Pickens howls with satisfaction and lust as he plummets toward earth with an atomic bomb firmly between his legs. Kubrick’s effect is to make the audience want to see that bomb dropped which is the climax with Kong riding it. His mind far from fear or doubt, he is exhilarated. The imagery of straddling the bomb, the intensity and satisfaction with which he dislodges the bomb and ensures not only his own destruction but also those around him.
How can it be considered an anti-war film if none of the characters question the reason for war, or any politicians for that matter? The film does not focus on the purpose of the war but more so on how the war is conducted.
Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film “Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worry and Love the Bomb” and the Cuban Missile Crisis compare in different ways but also contrast each other in certain ways. The film by Stanley Kubrick was filmed in 1964 and was an older comedy film that almost mocks the Cold War fears of a nuclear conflict between the USSR and the United States. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the confrontation in October of 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union established as a classic foreign policy crisis. Both the article and the film was all done in the 1960’s with the film being produced just in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis that was in the years of 1961-1963. Peoples thoughts today are all over the board on whether or not countries should be allowed to have nuclear weapons and if they can be trusted with them. Information about this all will be included in this paper.
What makes for a classic Hollywood film? Increasingly, films have evolved to the point where the standard by which one calls a “classic Hollywood film” has evolved over time. What one calls a classic film by yesterday’s standards is not the same as that of today’s standards. The film Casablanca is no exception to this. Although David Bordwell’s article, “Classical Hollywood Cinema” defines what the classical Hollywood film does, the film Casablanca does not exactly conform to the very definition that Bordwell provides the audience with in his article. It is true that the film capers closely to Bordwell’s definition, but in more ways than not, the film diverges from Bordwell’s definition of the typical Hollywood film.
The science-fiction film genre serves as an excellent medium for examining shifting power structures, social paranoia and Cold War politics during the 1950s. A number of films released during this period, including: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Them (1954) and Attack of the 50ft Woman (1958), are particularly symptomatic of the social and political atmosphere of the time. These films navigate not only narrative based issues such as the threat of aliens and science experiments gone wrong; but also wider issues of the time, such as the Cold War, changes in the US film industry, urbanisation, politics, the growing power of women and most significantly, social concern about nuclear energy.
“Dr.Strangelove” is an 1964 film based on the argument of rational; deterrence theory by Kenneth Waltz. Many of the events that occurred during the film also complimented many of the critiques of rational deterrence theory later made by Scott Sagan. Nuclear weapons have been an important issue for debate for years. The spotlight of nuclear weapons was an important factor during the cold war nevertheless the question of nuclear weapons remains afterwards. The question of both the spread and contraction of nuclear weapons remains a strong issue because of the opposing theories that argue against the question of the spread, contraction furthermore the total dissolution of nuclear weapons.
Along with packing enough material for the time being, a shelter plan is a must (Bomb Shelter Guide). Before the shelters, the issue of the Cold War and nuclear attack were introduced and it induced panic (“Kennedy Urges Americans to Build Bomb Shelters”). As the nuclear attack was seen as a threat to Americans, Cuba had already received nuclear missiles. Cuba’s nuclear missile attack was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, in which the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. This event resulted in the 13 days crisis. The 13 days crisis was tense, and during this time period, Americans began to stock up on canned foods. Canned food was the only food Americans shopped for because none of the shelters had refrigeration, and there were no stoves or microwaves (“The Family Fallout Shelter”-Nebraska). Games like Monopoly, or cards were often played in the shelters to pass time by. Girls often had diaries to write in about how living in the shelter was like.
In many sci-fi movies, the main topic is the threat of a world being destroyed or the end of
As a culture we are obsessed with the concept of the end of the modern world as we know it. We contemplate what would happen if everything we love and care about were to suddenly disappear and never come back. The everyday commodities we enjoy gone in the matter of days, and left in its place is a sinister survivalistic world where no one is safe and the only thing that matters is surviving day by day. Doesn’t matter what caused the world to come to an end, only matters what we do after in order to survive. This genre of movies and films is known as post-apocalyptic. Although the film may delve into the causes of the apocalypse through flashbacks or memories, the film will generally revolve around the characters struggle to survive the aftermath. The genre is riddled with hundreds of films with unique twists and turns, but the majority share similar patterns that help us identify the fears of our culture. The major fears of our culture which post-apocalyptic movies portray is the fear of loneliness, major change in routine, losing our humanity, and losing the feeling of security present in our modern day society.
The Day After was an effective way of instilling a sense of both fear and respect for nuclear war into the minds of the American people. By portraying realistic doomsday scenarios that are played out in the lives of relatable families in a small city not unlike any other we would find in America, this film contextualizes the events prior to, during, and immediately after nuclear exchange between the United States and Russia was unleashed onto our own soil.