The Godfather Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class we learned that The Godfather uses the anit-hero theme. As I watched the film I found myself feeling sad when one of the "good guys" died or feeling happy when they were triumphant. I want the Corleone family to be successful and I want them to rule the day. What makes this very strange, however, is who they actually are. These people I'm rooting for are criminals. They are cold, hard murderers and thieves, yet here I am growing a liking for them. Does that make me a bad person? Should I re-evaluate my morals? The answer to both of those questions is no simply because it is not my fault. The way the film was made and the characters demonstrated is what is at fault. The characters are made to be loveable characters and the film puts us in their shoes. We see the situations through the eyes of a member of the Corleone family.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

One of the biggest challenges in making the film was casting it. One of the hardest members to cast was Marlon Brando and this was for multiple reasons. This article talks about how Brando was very troublesome when making the movie. The first step for Coppola in getting Brando on the team was convincing the producers. Marlon Brando had become wildly disliked amongst film producers because of how difficult he was to work with. He would cause countless problems on set and sabotage the films he was in. Paramount wanted nothing to do with him. Coppola almost lost the job as director of The Godfather by insisting that Brando be cast in the film. After a few weeks Paramount finally agreed only if Brando agreed to audition and work for no salary. Knowing that he could never get an audition from Brando, Coppola went to Brando's house and recorded him practicing the role and coming up with the character. The studio was so blown away by how Brando portrayed Don Corleone, they couldn't wait for him to sign the contract.

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/443184/The-Godfather/articles.html

 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

While viewing the film in class, it was quite obvious that Marlon Brando was the star of the film. His performance was nearly perfect and gets critical acclaim all over the world. Coppola's mission to sign Marlon Brando into the movie was a valiant mission indeed because Brando really was the only man for the job. Out of any filmmaker in the world, I feel the most sympathy for Coppola. He struggles a lot when he wants to make a film, but that is also why I respect him so much. He went through a lot of headache to cast the right man for the role, but through his persistence he got what he wanted and it turned out great. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  

Let's start off by saying "Wow what a great movie!" There are very few flaws in the film and to say I finally saw it is a load off of my back. I did see the movie before, but a long time ago and while I was with my girlfriend and they can be very...distracting. What makes the movie so great is thinking about it afterwards. The more you think about it the more impressed you become with it. The powerful symbolism and plethora of themes allows for many days of thought and appreciation. What else makes it such a great movie? All of the actors do a fantastic job. Each and everyone one of them put in so much effort and it all paid off. The movie was a huge success and launched their incredibly successful careers they have now. Everyone knows who Al Pacino is. The true backbone of the film though, is Francis Ford Coppola. Although he hasn't done a whole lot after The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now he still proved himself as a fantastic filmmaker with The Godfather. The wonderful cinematography and perfect pacing create an extraordinary viewing experience. The only thing I didn't like about watching the film in class was splitting it into two days. The week gap between the first half and the second half really took away from the experience so I will definitely have to see it again.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________

The Graduate Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Graduate won one Oscar and that was Best Director. The direction was probably the most notable aspect of the film. Mike Nichols did a fantastic job directing the film. One of the big reasons it was such a big success was the timing of the film. Nichols was able to direct it by presenting youth rebellion which was a big step for film. It was still in the process of stepping away from the censored, overly politically correct films. What was also very notable about the direction was the use of film techniques. While making the movie they actually cared about making a film, not just a piece of entertainment. Nichols managed to make the best of both worlds with his wildly entertaining film as well as using noticeable cuts and camera angles.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

One of the most acclaimed movie critics of all time had a lot of good things to say about The Graduate, but over time things seemed to change for him. Roger Ebert, may he rest in peace, wrote a review for the film when it came out in 1967. At the time he loved it and the only negative thing he had to say about it was the use of the Simon and Garfunkel songs. He even stated it as "the funniest American movie of the year." However, over time things changed. When the 30th Anniversary revival came out in 1997 for the film he rewrote his review. He still liked the film, but for its nostalgic value. He described as "is like looking at photos of yourself at an old fraternity dance. You're gawky and your hair is plastered down with Brylcreem, and your date looks as if you found her behind the counter at the Dairy Queen. But--who's the babe in the corner? The great-looking brunette with the wide-set eyes and the full lips and the knockout figure? Hey, it's the chaperone!" This time he pulled apart what the film was about and how each character was represented. Instead of seeing Benjamin as a heroic symbol of youth rebellion, he described him as an insufferable creep. He also changed his mind about the music. To him, the movie is like opening a time capsule and enjoying the movie for what it reminds him of.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-graduate-1967
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-graduate-1997

 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

What do Roger Ebert's changing views of The Graduate have to say about the movie? They say that the movie is complicated. They say that there is more to it than just a college grad sleeping with a sexy, older woman. Like Ebert, I saw the film twice; once last summer and once in class. Viewing it a second time allowed me to focus on the the deeper meanings the film had to offer. What does Ben's character represent? Does it represent teenage rebellion of the 1960s or does it represent the deep generation gap of the time? These are questions raised when being able to see the film multiple times. It paves a path for a new perspective. Unlike most people in class, I had the opportunity to pick apart the film and dive deeper into what it presented. I was able to come out of my viewing with a whole new perspective on the film.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  

The Graduate is a film that not only will entertain, but also make the viewer think. It is incredibly funny, but also very intelligent. A lot of comedies nowadays focus on single straight forward jokes often times involving someone swearing a lot or without any clothes on; or perhaps even both. Don't get me wrong, I love watching cheep comedy just as much as the next guy, but there comes a time where there needs to be a comedy more refreshing and daring. The Graduate is that film. The film can be a movie for anyone because it provides what the general public wants but also what movie buffs want. Its clever yet sexual jokes will make anyone laugh and the creative use of the camera and the editing give film buffs something to take note of and learn from. The characters are also not your run-of-the-mill people who make you laugh when they fall down, they are much more deep than that. Each character has a story and has a soul that we can pull something from. For everyone that "something" is always different. The Graduate is a great film because it has that entertainment aspect that everyone can abide in, but also uses film as an art form which goes much more unnoticed these days.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________

Casablanca Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class the main thing that was focused on when learning about Casablanca was how praised the movie has become. It won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay as well as earning nominations for other categories. The film has plenty of famous lines which all receive recognition on many Top Movie Quote lists. "Here's looking at you kid" was one of the most famous lines from the movie and is considered one of the best. Casablanca was also ranked at number 3 on AFI's top movie list. The cast also gets a lot of applause. All of this praise and glory the film gets is very prevalent in the film. Listening to the writing of the film is quite an experience and watching the fantastic performances from the whole cast is exciting. The movie is very drawing and keeps you watching it.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

On IMDb.com, they post trivia for every movie they have on the website. For Casablanca a lot of the trivia involves the problems the film faced during production due to WWII. The film was not only filmed during that period, but the story had to do with the war. One piece of information IMDb gives is that the Allies actually invaded Casablanca on November 8, 1942. The studio executives suggested that the invasion was added into the film. The Warner Bros. chief, Jack L. Warner, objected to this idea because he thought the invasion deserved an entire film, not just an epilogue. He eventually agreed to this, but Bergman's contractor demanded an earlier release. It released in New York but did not premiere in L.A. until 1943 so it competed with 1943 for the Oscars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

When learning interesting facts about a movie it makes the movie that much more interesting. It allows the viewer to appreciate what they are seeing much more. It especially makes in more intriguing when you find out struggles the film went through. Also, after learning that there were two different versions of the film adds more to the film. Scenes that I saw in the movie are not in another version and make them more special. Some facts are also just humorous and give someone who has watched the film a good laugh.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  

Casablanca was one of those films that I was nervous to see but I knew I had to. I typically do not like movies that are romantic, but Casablanca is many times renowned as one of the best films ever made. If I want to pursue a career in filmmaking, Casabalnca is one of those movies I have to see. Luckily I got to see it in a class where I will ultimately get graded on so it's a win win. However after viewing it I would have been just fine seeing it any time. I was thoroughly impressed with the whole film and I have it very high up on my list of best films. For my tastes it had the perfect balance of romance and drama and never went over the top with the romance like many older films do, such as Gone With the Wind. What really impressed me the most was the writing. Good God was the writing fantastic. Every conversation the characters had with each other was a fun one to listen to. Who doesn't love Rick's many witty remarks? The pacing was great as well. At no point did I feel the film was dragging on or getting boring. I enjoyed every minute of it. The acting was also not overly theatrical like most older films. Casablanca was a fantastic film with very few flaws and I am happy to say my expectations were very much exceded while watching it.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________

Gone With the Wind Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Gone With the Wine is currently ranked at number 4 of AFI's best movies of all time. By most it is considered one of the best. Part of what we learned in class is the film's impact on blacks in cinema. Hattie McDaniel took the award for best supporting actress, which was a big step for African Americans in not just cinema but society itself. Many of the black actors and actresses were prevented from attending the academy awards because of Georgia's Jim Crow laws. Clark Gable even threatened to boycott if the actresses weren't allowed to go. It's always great when a film is popular enough to have an impact on society and it makes me respect the film much more.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

The article talks about how fans of Gone With the Wind raised money to preserve original costumes from the film. The more than 600 people were from 44 different states and 33 different countries and they managed to raise $30,000. The costumes were all worn by actress Vivian Leigh and are currently displayed at the Ransom Center in Austin Texas. The money raised will allow the center to restore the costumes and put them in a protective casing. They will be displayed in 2014.

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2010/08/31/gone_with_the_wind_fans_save_costumes_

 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The costumes in Gone With the Wind were very intricate costumes. They all had a lot of detail and obviously had a lot of time put in to them. There were scenes that revolved around the clothing that Scarlet wore such as the clothes Red bought her and the clothes she made out of the drapes. It was very important to make the clothes just right for the scene. It is very evident that many people love her outfits. So much to the point that they raised $30,000. The film has to mean something if that happened.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  

After many years I finally got around to seeing Gone With the Wind. For the longest time I avoided it because I couldn't find the time nor did I have much interest in it. Watching a nearly 4 hour romantic film wasn't very appealing to me. After watching however I was not very impressed. It had all of the aspects that bug me about older film; the overly theatrical acting, the gooey love story, the excessive amount of praise it gets. There were parts that I did not expect however. The large portion of pain and struggling during the civil war was surprisingly dark for the time especially since they had to get special permission to use the word "damn" in the film. Another thing I was very impressed with was the cinematography. It won the academy award for that category and it is very easy to see why. Aside from fantastic camera work the film did not hold much weight for me. It didn't let me down because my hopes weren't too high for it, in fact it impressed me a little bit. Unfortunately I did not see the hype the film received. I can see it in other older films like Sunset Boulevard and any Hitchcock film, but I was unimpressed with Gone With the Wind.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________

Stagecoach Film Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

One of the biggest impacts Stagecoach had on cinema was that it brought Westerns to A-list status. Before Stagecoach Westerns were mainly fun, little, shoot-em-up adventures for kids that didn't get much credit. Stagecoach had a lot of adult elements and it was directed by the man who is considered America's greatest director which changed the genre to how we know it today. After watching Stagecoach it was very easy to see how it was able to accomplish this. Instead of lacking good elements, it was an original story and adventure with some great performances.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

This article gives a few random facts about the film. It starts off with the Breen Office rejecting treatment originally because of the prostitute, the Kid's taste for revenge, and a few other things. It then went on to talking about how the movie was first step in John Ford's long-term friendship with the Navajo Indians of Monument Valley. He did this by providing them with acting jobs and paying them union scale salaries.It then talks about the stunt that Yakima Canutt did where he rolled under the horse carriage. It talks about how the stunt was done and that John Ford did not want to shoot it again because it was really dangerous. It then goes on to talk about how Ford was very mean to his actors and bullied them constantly. This was to encourage them to perform better. It then ends with saying that it was Walter Wagner's highest grossing film to date when it came out earning nearly one million dollars.

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91227/Stagecoach/articles.html

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The article managed to change my view slightly because it shows that movies are very hard to get going both before and during production. When a film struggles to get rolling or has problems along the way I gain a lot more respect for the film. A film like Apocalypse Now went through a lot during its production which made me appreciate that much more. Knowing that Stagecoach had trouble getting made changed how I viewed the film.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  

Westerns are a very popular genre and one that I happen to like when made right. Without Stagecoach, many great movies would not have been made. We wouldn't have The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly or 3:10 to Yuma without Stagecoach bringing Westerns to A status. However influence can only go so far when it comes to a great film. As a film itself I felt as if it was missing something. I wasn't very engaged it most of it. Although I liked the movie as a whole and it is a classic I wasn't blown away. Some of the stunts really impressed me however, such as the rolling under the horse carriage. Unfortunately I found the movie somewhat boring and dull up until the chase scene. The ending wasn't superb either. I feel as if it could have been shot better. Although overall, it was a solid movie I would give a 7/10.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________  

It Happened One Night Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

 Once sound made it to the movies, silent film practically went out the window. Many actors were out of jobs because they couldn't speak English very well or just had annoying voices. What also came along with sound however was censorship. The fact that people could now hear what the actors were saying meant that they could not say whatever they wanted. There had to be writers now and along with censorship rules they could not write whatever they wanted. Cinema was a lot different than it is today. It was also a lot different than silent films. Female characters were now playing much more masculine and independent women rather than sex symbols. In It Happened One Night directed by Frank Capra, Claudette Colbert's character is a prime of example of how female roles changed. The whole plot of the film revolves around a woman who doesn't take orders from anybody. She does what she wants. This movie, however, did take some risks. The focus at the end of the film is both characters going to have sex. Although the film doesn't show it, the innuendo is all there. Also, the fact that there is a scene where Clark Gable is shirtless was even a risk at the time. Oh, how movies have changed. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

This article gives a quick summary of what happened in the film as well as a quick review at the end. It begins with stating that the film is "One of the most enduring romantic comedies of Hollywood’s golden age" and then it gets into the summary. She mentions the two lead characters and how Colbert runs away from her father because she wants to get back to her fiance she is only marrying to spite her father. She then meets Clark Gable's character, an out of work newspaper man, who helps her get from Miami to New York. The article then proceeds to talk about how the the two, although very different, fall in love and end up getting married at the end. The article ends with mentioning the "Walls of Jericho" running theme and how it is a metaphor for sanctity before marriage.

http://www.decentfilms.com/reviews/ithappenedonenight

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

The article changed the way I thought of the film by helping me recognize the more subtle aspects of the movie. I didn't really pick up at first that she married King Westley to spite her father. I figured it was just a guy he didn't approve of. I also didn't realize the metaphor of the Wall of Jericho. After reading the article it makes perfect sense because the two didn't have sex until they "knocked down the wall" when they were married.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

I was very pleasantly surprised with Frank Capra's, It Happened One Night. I figured it would be an average film about two people who, from the start, can easily be assumed they will fall in love. One of the strongest aspects of the film is its influence on the way film progressed. Despite all of the censorship of the time period, it took several risks. The scene that stuck out to me the most was after the bus crashes and Peter Warne is confronted by a man who knows that the woman he is with is the runaway heiress and not his wife. This man had bothered the two before and this time he offers to split the reward money with Warne. Warne leads the man into the woods away from the bus to discuss the terms with him. He tells the man that he has machine guns and is trying to ransom the heiress off for $1 million dollars. The man is shocked and Warne begins to threaten him. Warne's threats get very dark at this point as he begins to threaten murdering the man's children. I was very shocked by this because of the time period the film was made. It is very clear that the film deserves the title of classic and although I don't entirely believe that means one of the best, It Happened One Night, also deserves a spot in my top 250.

1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________  Date: 2/12/13_______________________  

The Gold Rush Review

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
In class we discussed the history behind the Charlie Chaplin film, The Gold Rush, before viewing it. One of the things we talked about was the fact that Charlie Chaplin was an auteur director. He starred in the movie, produced it, directed it, and scored it. This made the film completely his vision and gave him complete control over it. Because he had complete control he had some controversial themes at the time in the movie. He had themes such as cannibalism and scenes that involved possibly eating a dog. The times were a lot more sensitive back in the day. Chaplin also encompassed some more depressing themes even though the film is a comedy. Most comedies at the time were straight forward, slapstick humor, but Chaplin wanted to add some emotion, which he did. He added rejection and heartbreak to the film which was not conventional then.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.
In the article, Filming the Gold Rush, the writer starts off by explaining how the idea came about. Chaplin first stumbled upon some stereoscope pictures of the 1896 Klondike gold rush. What he saw was an endless line of prospectors climbing up a mountain. He also read a book about the Donner Party Disaster of 1846. The party had gotten trapped in the Sierra Nevada and had to eat their shoes and the bodies of their dead fellow travelers. The movie almost instantly went into motion and everything was planned out, unlike his previous films. The writer then goes on to the choice of Chaplin's leading lady. He started off with 16 year old Lillita MacMurray who's name was changed to Lita Grey under contract. Chaplin had an affair with her and Lita got pregnant. The pregnancy caused filming to be pushed off for three months and eventually Lita's replacement by Georgia Hale. After writing about the leading lady issue, the writer discusses how the special effects were done. Chaplin had built many huge sets and did some interesting camera tricks to get the shots he wanted. Finally the writer talks about the audiences' reaction to the film. People loved it, especially the dance of the rolls scene. In many theaters the scene was replayed multiple times because people loved it so much. The Gold Rush was a huge success and goes down as one of Chaplin's greatest films.


http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/5-The-Gold-Rush




3) Apply the article to the film screened in class
The facts mentioned about in the article make the viewing of The Gold Rush that much more interesting. Knowing that it wasn't easy to make the film and the scandals that occurred during shooting adds a higher sense of appreciation for the film. Everything the article mentioned really shows Charlie Chaplin's talent at its finest.


4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Most people these days do not appreciate old films unless they truly have a passion for it. I, for one, am a huge fan of Charlie Chaplin because of both his ability to entertain me and his talent as a filmmaker. Prior to viewing The Gold Rush I had seen two of his other films and some clips from his other material before that. The first Chaplin film I saw was The Great Dictator. After watching that I loved it and my appreciation for it slowly grew even more over time. The second film I saw was Modern Times which I found very entertaining as well. I can now proudly add The Gold Rush to my list of Chaplin films that I've seen. Charlie Chaplin is considered one of the greatest filmmakers all time and there is a reason for it. His films completely changed the way cinema was made and The Gold Rush was a big part of that. He took risks my including controversial themes into the film. He changed the way in which stories were structured. He added emotion to comedy. All of these influential changes were present in The Gold Rush. I've never been a huge advocate of placing greatness on film solely because of influence, but there is a reason why The Gold Rush is considered one of the greats and that is because it is great. It is incredibly rare to see a film as high of quality as The Gold Rush everything that makes Chaplin great is made clear because of The Gold Rush.


1) (Yes) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (Yes) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (Yes) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (Yes) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (Yes) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (Yes) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (Yes) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (Yes) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Geoffrey Perez_____________________________ Date: 2/12/13_______________________