Final History of film and television

Ithaca College

What advantage did ABC,NBC and CBS have over DuMont and other potential competitors in Golden Age of Television?

They were radio networks with many talented performers already under contract

Elinor Donahue, who played Better on Father Knows Best, also portrayed the character Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. What was notable about Ellie Walker?

She worked as a pharmacist at a time when most adult female characters were either housewives or traditionally female jobs.

What's the first hour long regular TV drama?

Perry Mason

What did Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling consider "the singular evil of our time"?

Prejudice

The Golden Age of TV led directly to:

The end of the Golden Age of Radio

Which of the following was an inventor who first demonstrated the technology of television?

John Logie Baird

The star of which 1950s television show helped put Star Trek on the air?

I Love Lucy

The Television Ghost was a horror anthology show from 1931. Why can't we watch it now?

The Television Ghost was broadcast live and not recorded.

Pitching her agent on the show that would become That Girl, actress Marlo Thomas pointed out the popularity of a book by Betty Friedan.

What's the name of this best-selling nonfiction title of 1964?

The Feminine Mystique

invented in 1947, what did the kinescope finally allow TV networks to do?

Recorded TV Shows

Offered the chance to play 007 before Sean Connery, the star of this espionage show turned down the role, objecting to James Bond s womanizing and gunplay.

The Prisoner

The Addams Family and The Munsters were decidedly unconventional and eccentric TV families but they served a deeper purpose beyond entertainment. In an indirect, allegorical fashion, what problem did they address?

The lack of diversity on network shows.

Tremendously influential on the TV sitcom, which Golden Age of Television star invented the rerun?

Desi Arnaz

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of TV pioneer Allen B. DuMont?

He sent the first transatlantic TV signal.

What's the first animated series made specifically for TV?

Crusader Rabbit

What's the first TV sitcom?

The Honeymooners

What was significant about the 1965 NBC primetime schedule?

Nearly all NBC primetime shows were broadcast in color, which forced ABC and CBS to make color TV shows to compete

What does Mel Brooks have in common with Gene Roddenberry and Rod Serling?

They're all WWII veterans.

Which of these Golden Age TV shows went mostly unscripted?

Kukla, Fran and Ollie

Speaking about "Devil in the Dark" - the episode of Star Trek you watched for homework - Gene Roddenberry said that if you can learn to feel for this character, "You may also be learning to understand and feel for other humans of different colors, ways, and beliefs." To which character is Roddenberry referring?

The Horta

When Francis Ford Coppola was approached to direct The Godfather (1972), he agreed mostly because his production company American Zoetrope was in financial trouble due to a failed filmmaking endeavor between Coppola and which other filmmaker?

George Lucas

Which of the following statements about Steven Spielberg's early career is true:

After screening his first theatrically released short film, Spielberg was offered a seven-year contract with Universal Television and was the youngest filmmaker at that time to receive such a deal.

To revise the screenplay for Jaws, Spielberg turned to writer Carl Gottlieb for help. Gottlieb was an unconventional choice to take on the script.

Why?

Gottlieb was primarily a television comedy writer.

When the time came to release Jaws to the public, Universal made several unorthodox decisions about its release. Which of the following was NOT true of the film's release strategy?

The film was released at Christmas to distinguish it from other blockbusters that were typically released during the summer.

After creating Computer Space, which was generally regarded as a clone of Spacewar!. Atari founders Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created

which other popular video game that was likewise considered a copy of a pre-existing game:

Pong

Which of the following was the very first home video game console?

The Magnavox Odyssey

Before creating the beloved video game Space Invaders, Tomohiro Nishikado created another important game: Gun Fight. Why was Gun Fight notable?

It was the first video game to feature guns and human-on-human violence.

Film professor Carol Clover coined a term to describe female characters who unexpectedly survive horror films, often due to their purity, intelligence, or other traits which contrast their less-fortunate peers. What is this term?

The Final Girl

Which of the following was NOT a trend for horror films of the 1970s?

Found Footage Films

Which filmmaker mortgaged their house and raised $500,000 from a friend to finance their production, and personally called theater owners to distribute the film after not finding a studio willing to do so?

John Cassavetes

Which statement describes the distinguishing characteristics of the lower budget critically acclaimed New Hollywood films of the 19705?

These films often explored themes of disillusionment, alienation, and isolation, reflecting Americans' misgivings about Watergate and the Vietnam War.

These films explored controversial topics and were often produced independently or with limited studio involvement.

These films were typically innovative, unconventional, and/or experimental reactions against the traditional Hollywood studio system.

What's the "influence" in A Woman Under the Influence?

Societal expectations

Mental illness

Alcohol

What is an exploitation film?

A film that exploits a popular trend.

What name is given to Italian slasher films with sexploitation, psychological, and sometimes supernatural elements, like Dario Argento's Suspiria?

Giallo Film

In Enter the Dragon (1973), Mr. Lee (Bruce Lee) enters Han's tournament to, in part, get revenge on Han's men who were responsible for the death of one of Lee's family members.. Which of Lee's family members died in a confrontation with Han's men?

Lee's sister

Who was the first African American filmmaker to direct a film for a major American film studio, and what film did they direct?

Gordon Parks; The Learning Tree

Which of the following statements about Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and its director, Melvin Van Peebles, is FALSE?

After directing Watermelon Man (1970) Van Peebles was offered a three picture deal by Columbia Pictures, which he eagerly accepted.

Which of the following films is credited with launching a Blaxploitation subgenre focused on horror films?

Blacula

In Shaft (1971), private detective John Shaft is hired by local gangster Bumpy at the start of the film. What does Bumpy want Shaft to do?

Someone is trying to kill Bumpy and he wants Shaft to find out who it is.

Charles Burnett, who directed Killer of Sheep, was part of a group of filmmakers at UCLA known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers, the Black Independent Movement, or the UCLA Rebellion. What was the group's stated goal in making their films?

To contrast the depiction of African Americans in mainstream films and tell stories that showed the lives of real people of color and their communities.

The sitcom Family Ties was Ronald Reagan's avowed favorite show in part because it reflected a broad cultural trend in 1980s America.

Liberalism -> Conservatism

What

was the first American TV show to be broadcast in the Soviet Union?

Fraggle Rock

Gritty police/crime dramas Hill Street Blues and wiseguy each worked to advance what trend in television storytelling?

Serialized Multi-episode story arcs

Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere stood out from earlier police and medical procedurals by incorporating storytelling elements that allowed for a deeper exploration of the personal characters and their relationships. What type of highly successful show served as the primary inspiration for these elements?

Soap Operas

Cheers had a tremendously successful 1l-season run but initially struggled in the ratings. How did NBC help Cheers find its audience?

They moved Cheers to Thursday nights alongside their top-rated programs.

During the 1980s, cable channels grew in number and gained a rapidly growing subscriber base due to what Trend?

The FCC deregulating the industry

What rule did Gene Roddenberry give his writers that made the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation challenging to write?

No interpersonal conflicts among the crew

Which of the following statements about the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Measure of a Man" is NOT true?

Having your "will they or won't they?" protagonists actually sleep together may ruin the tension between them.

Which of the following characters is generally considered a "Mary Sue?"

Wesley from Star Trek: The next Generation

Which of the following vas not an objection Stephen King had to stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the shining?

He thought there were too many Jump Scares

When financing fell through for Stand by Me, which famed writer/producer put up $7.5 million of his own money?

Norman Lear

Which of these filmmakers took out a full page ad in Variety as part of a very public feud with a movie studio that was blocking the release of his film?

Terry Gilliam

Which of these science fiction movies was adapted into a video game that's widely considered to be one of the worst games of all time?

E.T.

Which of the following was not a contributing factor to the fall of Atari

Atari Overextended itself with a leveraged buyout of Nintendo

Which video game system flourished immediately after the downfall of Atari

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Known for its quick time events (TEs), the innovative Dragon's Lair LaserDisc game came about through a partnership between "electronic wizard" Rick Dyer and which famed animator/director?

Don Bluth

Following the success of Dragon's Lair, Stern Electronics made their own LaserDisc arcade game in Cliff. Instead of commissioning an original story, Stern licensed and repurposed scenes from two existing Lupin III anime films, including The Castle of Cagliostro, an early film from which famed Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Who created Akria (1988)

Katsuhiro Otomo

Which of the following statements about Akria is NOT true

Akira was recently "rediscovered" as a hidden gem, having comparatively little impact upon its release

In the late 1980s, Spike Lee urged Eddie Murphy to use his power to accomplish what goal?

To make Paramount hire more actors and Filmmakers of color

In his rise to fame, Spike Lee directed a very popular series of national advertisements where he reprised his role from She's Gotta Have It (1986).

Known informally as the Spike and Mike campaign, what were the ads for and who was the "Mike" that Spike Lee played off of?

Nike: Basketball Star Michael Jordan

Who was the first African American filmmaker - and the youngest person ever - to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director?

John Singleton

Who was the first African American host to have their own late night talk show?

Reginald VelJohnson

In order to give the show more authenticity, this person was hired as lead director and producer of A Different World. They also directed the pilot episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Who are they?

Debbie Allen

What was the highly rated comedy / variety show created by Keenen Ivory Wayans that featured a predominantly Black cast and was seen as a contrast to Saturday Night Live?

In Living Color was a groundbreaking show that aired from 1990 to 1994, known for its sketch comedy, musical performances, and its focus on issues affecting the Black community.

Which film is considered the first to be directed by an African American woman to receive theatrical distribution in the United States?

Daughters of the Dust

Who was the first African American woman to create her own television series?

Yvette Lee Bowser

Who is believed to be the first Native American filmmaker?

James Young Deer

Which film is considered the first to be written, directed, and produced by Native Americans to reach a wide international audience?

Smoke Signals

This director was nominated for a Student Academy Award, directed the pilot episode of Sex and the City, and directed the first American independent film to be accepted for competition in the Cannes Film Festival. Who are they?

Susan Seidelman

This director was the first woman to win the Palme d'Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her movie The Piono. Who is she?

Jane Campion

ln class, we discussed how some films about women subverted traditional genres that had mostly featured male leads. For instance, Thelmotd douse subverts the traditionally male-centric buddy movie, the road trip movie, and even the Western. Which of the following films was NOT described as subverting a traditionally male-centered genre?

All About Eve

This early German film about homosexuality featured sympathetic gay characters and aimed to educate the public on the consequences of its criminalization. Nearly all prints were later destroyed by the Nazis. What was it?

Different from others

When the Motion Picture Production Code banned depictions of so-called "sex perversion," openly LGBTQ characters all but disappeared from screens. As a result, "queer coding" became more popular. What is queer coding?

Using the mannerisms, way of speaking, and attire of characters to suggest they're queer without explicitly stating as much.

Which American network television show is considered the first to have featured an openly gay character?

All in the family

Which cult queer filmmaker was known for his transgressive, "trashy" style and for films like Pink Flamingos and Hairspray?

John Waters

The conservative shift in America in the 1980s resulted in a number of changes to queer representation in media, as compared to the 1970s.

Which of the following statements about queer representation on film and television in the '80s is FALSE?

High-profile mainstream actors were eager to take on queer roles in film and on television.

Filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Cheryl Dunye were part of an independent film movement that sought to improve LGBT visibility in cinema while confronting stereotypes about gender and sexuality. What was the name of this movement?

New Queer Cinema

"Film found me" is a quote from which filmmaker who unexpectedly found his purpose when borrowing a friend's Super 8 camera for the summer?

Spike Lee

What was the result of the Supreme Court decision United States vs. Paramount?

Film studios could no longer own their own theaters, nor could they force theaters to rent unwanted films to gain access to films they did want.

In The Manchurian Candidate (1962), what item is used to trigger Raymond Shaw’s programming, leaving him susceptible to orders from his brainwashers?

A queen of diamonds playing card

In 1962 a group of students at MIT, who referred to themselves as “hackers,” created a game on the school’s lab computers that so impressed the computer manufacturer, they asked that the game be included with all future systems.  What was the game?

Spacewar!

If I were to tell you there’s absolutely, positively, no freakin’ way that we’ll ever watch Sharknado 3 in this class, and then we cut to everyone in class watching Sharknado 3, this would be a prime example of a…

Gilligan cut

Night of the Living Dead (1968) is considered by many to be the first modern zombie movie and it kicked off the career of director George Romero.  Which of the following statements about Romero and his career is true?

Romero often used his zombie films to examine societal conflict during eras of social change, like racism, consumerism, and terrorism.

Sleuth the following statements about Lieutenant Columbo to see if any are false.

We almost never see him in the first act.

We find out who the killer is before he does.

Technically, he’s the antagonist.

All the statements are true.

Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns are now considered some of the most influential films of the Western genre.  Which of the following are you likely to encounter in one of his Westerns?

Morally gray characters and themes that contrast with traditional American Westerns.

Music from composer Ennio Morricone.

Cinematography that mixes highly-composed extreme wide shots with extreme close-ups.

In the “Try and Catch Me” Columbo episode, for what reason does mystery writer Abigail Mitchell (Ruth Gordon) commit murder?

Revenge

The coiner of the term “microaggression,” psychiatrist and Harvard professor Dr. Chester Pierce consulted on which of the following shows?

Sesame Street

Famed for creating 13 comedy series, Susan Harris began her career writing for shows such as All in the Family. Which All in the Family spinoff saw Harris win the Humanitas Prize with an acclaimed but highly-controversial episode?

Maude

What happens to Ben (Duane Jones) at the end of Night of the Living Dead (1968)?

He is mistaken for a ghoul by a militia group and shot.

Although computers like ENIAC existed in the 1940s, computer game systems like Bertie the Brain and Nimrod didn’t begin to appear until the 1950s.  Why was that?

Early computers were too big and too expensive to be available to anyone but the government and large corporations so making games was impractical.

Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove (1964) satirizes many elements of Cold War history and its associated paranoia.  In the film, why does General Jack Ripper launch his plan to send bomber squadrons to attack the USSR?

He fears the Communists are trying to corrupt Americans’ precious bodily fluids.

In the 1950s and 1960s most TV executives considered the issue of divorce too controversial to address. But in 1970, the ABC execs who greenlit The Odd Couple insisted that the protagonists of that show be identified as divorced as often as possible. Why?

The executives were worried that TV audiences might mistakenly think the protagonists were gay.

Why was Jim Henson initially reluctant to work on Sesame Street?

He didn’t want to be thought of as purely a children’s puppeteer.

What was the result of the Supreme Court decision Joseph Burstyn vs. Wilson?

Films were considered art and were thus protected by the first amendment from government censorship.

Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, Good Times broke new ground as the first African American two-parent family sitcom. Which writer/producer, known for pushing the boundaries of television, helped develop this series?  

Norman Lear

A recurring character disappears from a show with no explanation, and no future episode ever refers to them again. It's as if they never existed at all. Which of these shows is most known for this phenomenon, the one that gave the trope its name?

Happy Days

Played by Robert Guillaume, Benson DuBois started out as a minor character on Soap, but became the surprise hit of the show. This is an example of what TV phenomenon?

Fonzie Syndrome

Which of these TV show creators also made documentaries about poverty?

Joan Ganz Cooney