Film Studies: Film Analysis, History, Narrative, and Genre Studies

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering course lectures on Psycho, Inception, 3:10 to Yuma, Screenwriting & Character Analysis, and When Harry Met Sally.

Which 1960 horror-thriller film's theme song was used for the character Darla in Finding Nemo?

Psycho

What was the budget for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and what is its modern equivalent?

The budget was $807,000, which is approximately $8.5M today.

How many camera angles and individual shots were used to compose the 45-second shower scene in Psycho?

52 camera angles and 78 shots.

Who was brought in to design the shower scene and title credits in Psycho?

Saul Bass.

What strict theater policy did Alfred Hitchcock enforce during the release of Psycho?

"NO ONE… BUT NO ONE… WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE THEATRE AFTER THE START OF EACH PERFORMANCE OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S PSYCHO".

What names form the mnemonic anagram "DREAMS PAY" in Christopher Nolan's Inception?

Dom, Robert, Eames, Arthur, Mal, Saito, Peter, Ariadne, Yusuf.

Which French New Wave film and 2006 Satoshi Kon anime served as major story influences for Inception?

Last Year at Marienbad (1961) and Paprika (2006).

How was the explosion of the snowy fortress in dream level 3 of Inception filmed?

Using a miniature at $\frac{1}{6}$ scale.

Which Édith Piaf song is used by the dream heist team in Inception to signal a kick?

"Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien".

What was the worldwide box office gross of Inception, and how much did Leonardo DiCaprio make from it?

It grossed $1 billion, and Leonardo DiCaprio made $50 million.

Who directed the 1957 Western film 3:10 to Yuma?

Delmer Daves.

How did director Delmer Daves scout locations when preparing to shoot 3:10 to Yuma?

He scouted locations with a watch and compass to calculate where photogenic shadows would fall.

How does the motif of water function differently across Psycho, Inception, and 3:10 to Yuma?

In Psycho, water represents concealment and escape; in Inception, water represents the chaos of dream layers and collapsing reality; in 3:10 to Yuma, water represents hope for prosperity.

Why does rancher Dan Evans stay committed to putting outlaw Ben Wade on the 3:10 train to Yuma?

Getting Wade on the train becomes the only way Dan can fight back against his severe poverty.

What is the distinction between a dynamic character and a static character in screenwriting?

Dynamic characters change over the course of the narrative, whereas static characters stay the same throughout the narrative.

What is the function of a foil character in a screenplay?

A foil provides contrast to another character (often the protagonist) to highlight the results of their differing traits, motivations, and choices.

According to this comparative analysis table, how do T'challa and Erik Killmonger contrast as character foils?

T'challa wants Wakanda to stay isolated, grew up in Wakanda, has a family, and persuades a rival to surrender; Erik Killmonger wants Wakanda to protect Black people around the world, grew up in the USA, lost his family due to T'challa's father, and tries to kill T'challa.

What is the role of an on-set writer during a major film production?

To help make cuts and script adjustments while production is ongoing.

Who co-wrote the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally alongside director Rob Reiner?

Nora Ephron.

Which filmmaker's NYC-set romantic comedies influenced the character style and dialogue of Harry in When Harry Met Sally?

Woody Allen (specifically films like Annie Hall and Manhattan).

What classic film do Harry and Sally debate and later watch simultaneously over the phone?

Casablanca.

What are three famous New York City landmarks featured as settings in When Harry Met Sally?

Washington Square Arch, Katz's Deli, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or Shakespeare and Co., Central Park Boathouse, and Giants Stadium).