Table Of Contents:
Preface xii

CHAPTER 1 Film Analysis 1(8)

The Uniqueness of Film 2(1)

Difficulties of Film Analysis 3(2)

Why Analyze Films? 5(4)

CHAPTER 2 Thematic Elements 9(19)

Theme and Focus 10(10)

Identifying the Theme 20(2)

Evaluating the Theme 22(2)

Questions 24(2)

Video Exercises 26(1)

Films for Study 26(2)

CHAPTER 3 Fictional and Dramatic Elements 28(55)

Film Analysis and Literary Analysis 29(1)

The Elements of a Good Story 29(10)

Dramatic Structure 39(5)

Symbolism 44(9)

Characterization 53(11)

Conflict 64(3)

Setting 67(6)

The Significance of the Title 73(1)

Irony 74(4)

Questions 78(3)

Video Exercises 81(1)

Films for Study 82(1)

CHAPTER 4 Visual Design 83(26)

Color versus Black and White 84(2)

Screen Format 86(1)

Film Stock 86(3)

Production Design/Art Direction 89(10)

Costume and Makeup Design 99(3)

Lighting 102(5)

The Effect of the Budget on the Look of the Film 107(1)

Questions 107(1)

Video Exercise 108(1)

Films for Study 108(1)

CHAPTER 5 Cinematography 109(40)

The Importance of the Image 110(1)

The Cinematic Film 110(1)

Cinematic Points of View 111(7)

Elements of Cinematic Composition 118(17)

Techniques for Specialized Visual Effects 135(11)

Questions 146(1)

Video Exercises 147(1)

Films for Study 148(1)

CHAPTER 6 Editing and Special Effects 149(34)

Editing 150(22)

Movie Magic: Special Effects in the Modern Film 172(9)

Questions 181(1)

Video Exercises 181(1)

Films for Study 182(1)

CHAPTER 7 Color 183(29)

Recorded Color 186(2)

Color in the Modern Film 188(18)

Color versus Black and White 206(4)

Questions 210(1)

Video Exercises 210(1)

Films for Study 211(1)

CHAPTER 8 Sound Effects and Dialogue 212(25)

Sound and the Modern Film 213(1)

Dialogue 214(1)

Three-Dimensionality in Sound 215(3)

Visible and Invisible Sound 218(2)

Points of View in Sound 220(2)

Special Uses of Sound Effects and Dialogue 222(7)

Sound as a Plot Device 229(1)

Sound as a Transitional Element 230(1)

Voice-over Narration 231(3)

Silence as a "Sound" Effect 234(1)

Rhythmic Qualities of Dialogue and Sound Effects 235(1)

Questions 235(1)

Video Exercises 236(1)

Films for Study 236(1)

CHAPTER 9 The Musical Score 237(19)

The Remarkable Affinity of Music and Film 238(1)

The Importance of the Musical Score 238(1)

General Functions of the Musical Score 239(2)

Special Functions of Film Music 241(11)

Economy in Film Music 252(1)

Synthesizer Scoring 252(1)

Questions 253(1)

Video Exercises 254(1)

Films for Study 255(1)

CHAPTER 10 Acting 256(35)

The Importance of Acting 257(1)

The Goal of the Actor 257(2)

"Becoming" the Character 259(1)

Differences between Film Acting and Stage Acting 260(7)

Types of Actors 267(1)

The Star System 268(2)

Casting 270(13)

Actors as Creative Contributors 283(2)

Subjective Responses to Actors 285(2)

Questions 287(2)

Video Exercises 289(1)

Films for Study 289(2)

CHAPTER 11 The Director's Style 291(27)

The Concept of Style 292(1)

Subject Matter 293(3)

Cinematography 296(2)

Editing 298(1)

Setting and Set Design 299(1)

Sound and Score 299(1)

Casting and Acting Performances 300(1)

Narrative Structure 301(2)

Evolving Styles and Flexibility 303(2)

Special Edition: The Director's Cut 305(1)

Questions 306(2)

Films for Study 308(10)

CHAPTER 12 Analysis of the Whole Film 318(28)

Overcoming Viewer-Centered Problems 319(5)

Preconceptions: Reviews and Other Sources 324(4)

The Basic Approach: Watching, Analyzing, and Evaluating the Film 328(3)

Other Approaches to Analysis, Evaluation, and Discussion 331(8)

Rereading the Reviews 339(1)

Evaluating the Reviewer 340(1)

Developing Personal Criteria 341(2)

Questions 343(2)

Films for Study 345(1)

CHAPTER 13 Adaptations 346(36)

The Problems of Adaptation 347(4)

Adaptations of Novels 351(14)

Adaptations of Plays 365(9)

From Fact to Film: From the Realm of Fact to the Realm of Myth 374(4)

Questions 378(2)

Films for Study 380(2)

CHAPTER 14 Genre, Remakes, and Sequels 382(24)

The Genre Film 383(9)

Remakes and Sequels 392(11)

Questions 403(2)

Films for Study 405(1)

CHAPTER 15 Other Special Film Experiences 406(18)

The Foreign-Language Film 407(6)

The Silent Film 413(6)

The Historically Important Film 419(1)

The Social-Problem Film 420(1)

Questions 421(1)

Films for Study 422(2)

CHAPTER 16 The Art of Watching Movies on TV 424(17)

The TV-Viewing Environment 425(3)

Conventions and Habits of Watching Movies on Television 428(1)

Commercial Breaks 429(2)

Censorship 431(1)

The Made-for-Television Film 432(5)

Colorization 437(2)

Questions 439(1)

Films for Study 440(1)
APPENDIX A Writing a Film Analysis 441(12)
APPENDIX B The Clip Test 453(2)
Glossary 455(9)
Selected Bibliography 464(4)
Index 468