Film Studies Midterm

Describe what the Hayes code is, and how and why it came about. (4 points)

• The hayes code is a list of rules that dictate what could be shown in films

• Started after fatty arbuckle scandal, film industry realized that they had to limit speech, in fear of government limiting their speech

• First came up with don’ts and be carefuls, then really cracked down with hayes code in 1934

Give two rules that really stand out within this vast “code” and try to make sure they’re in different categories. (2 points)

• Couldn’t show crimes in a way that might gain sympathy for criminals, or inspire future crimes

• Obscenity by word, gesture, joke, song, or suggestion is forbidden

Give two examples where the Hayes code was pushed against (it happened one night, the thin man, stage coach, bringing up baby). (2 points)

• At the end of the thin man when nick and nora share a bed

• All the drinking that happened in the thin man

Talk about what happens in Hollywood when silent films ended and talkies got their start. How did it affect the industry and the people working in the industry? (3 points)

A lot of people in the industry weren’t compatible with the talkies because people didn't like how their voices sounded, so new actors came in and the old stars lost their jobs.

What is vertical integration as it pertains to the motion picture industry, and how is it significant? (2 points)

• Studios own their own movie houses

• These theaters we only allowed to show movies made by their studios

• They were not allowed to show other studios pictures

Tell me about block booking? (2 points)

When a movie theater got a movie, they could choose their A movie, but they would also get a B movie, a news reel, and two animations

What is the studio system? (3 points)

• Assembly line approach to film making

• Studios making hundreds of films per year

• actors and writers on contracts

What is screwball comedy? When did it start, how long did it last, and describe the qualities? (3 points)

• A romcom that focuses more on the comedy aspect, started in 1930s bc of hayes code & great depression (ppl needed something to cheer them up)

• Often deals with issues of class, and has characters from different backgrounds, has swapped gender roles (strong woman, weak man), and has middle or low humor

Question nine: Give two examples of “It Happened One Night” or “The Thin Man” where screwball qualities were at play. (2 points)

• It happened one night when the rich girl meets the working class guy

• The thin man where the wife has all the money and her husband is kind of freeloading off of her

Question ten: Who is John Ford? Why are his films so important? (2 points)

• Cinematographer and photographer 

• Inspired writers and developed more complex characters

Question eleven: Describe three of John Ford’s innovations. (3 points)

• Played with horizon lines

• Highlighted eyes in his films

• Found a way to show a ceiling

Give two examples of where you see John Ford’s innovations in Stage Coach (2 points)

• When we see the ceilings in different buildings

• The gambler who turned out to be from a well off family

Question thirteen: Give research of 1930s (one historical, one science/technology, one art, one politics) (4 points)

• FDR was president

• Technology that lead to invention of nuclear bomb developed

• Social realism art

• Art deco fashion style

Question fourteen: Social context of 1930s (1 point)

Great depression was beginning, and people looked to films to cheer them up and give them hope

Question fifteen: Talk about the making of any film we have watched so far, give three different makings of facts (3 points) 

• “It happened on night” was made in 12 days

• In bringing up baby they used a real leopard

• Had to cut together scenes with trainer and leopard and with actors

• Perfume used to guide leopard