Appreciating Film 

                Name: Benjamin Salazar

Exam 2, 11/3/20
 
Short Answer:  Select any four of the following six choices and write terse, precise, and focused
responses that fully explore the question.  You must use examples to support your claims.  You may
write on the back if needed.  (6 points possible for each question)
 
1.  Discuss at least three specific ways in which Some Like It Hot demonstrates Dick’s concept of
“history by suggestion.”  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  Music is an important element in Singin’ in the Rain.  Explain and apply Dick’s discussion of
“musical associations” to comment on at least three distinct ways in which music is
referenced/integrated in the movie. 
 Throughout the film, music is integrated seamlessly to incorporate plot and move along the story
with elements of comedy and musicals. One way this is primarily used is in Gene Kelly’s pitch to the
director, as we see inside his head and a whole sequence plays out for the audience, allowing a
deeper look into the mind of the character. Another way this is used is in the ending of the film with
the reveal of Debbie Renold’s character with the reprisal of Good Morning, which is used to
overpower the main antagonist. Another example is the entire opening sequence where Gene
explains his success and triumphs, and we see him and Cosmo perform an act of sorts that help
contribute to the journey that both characters had to endeavor.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.  Dick writes about the unique characteristics of farce that distinguish the genre from satire,
gross-out, and screwball comedy. Explain three elements of farce that make it unique and indicate
which of the films we watched in this unit would be the best candidate for the genre, and why.
 
 The three main elements that embody a farce are a mistaken identity, reversal of expectations and
speed. Usually this falls upon the silent film era with the likes of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin,
but in this unit the film that fits this the best of this genre would be Some Like It Hot. Right off the
bat we have two elements; mistaken identity and reversals. The two male characters impose as
females and the audience’s expectations are flipped as the film goes all out. With speed, the last
action sequence between the mobsters and the male characters embody that of a Chaplin fight
scene with the high intensity, whimsical entrances and exits and a happy getaway/ending that ends
in marriage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.  Based on the reading, show your understanding of “the woman’s film” by identifying the genre’s
historical evolution (by way of its major changes and developments) and its central themes and
subject matter.  Be sure to note at least two key films or essential performers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.  Make the argument that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a reflexive film in the way it uses
cinematics to visually depict memory.  Be sure to include a definition of the term “reflexivity” in
your answer. 
First off, a reflexive film is one that makes the audience aware of the filmmaking process, whereas
Reflexivity is defined by devices as looking into a camera or taking advantage of the two-
dimensionality of the screen or by making a film about a film. In Eternal Sunshine, the process we
see Joel in losing his memories is reflexive in a way, since its relatable to the audience as they
experience memory loss on a daily basis. And tackling it on a meta scale, sometimes we wish to
remember things we forgot, which is echoed in the film. Another way that its reflexive is the way we
first get introduced to Clementine and Joel, as its actually the ending of the film, but its placed at the
start of the film.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.  Dick introduces and discusses various film genres, including the musical, the western, and the
crime film.  Select one of the above genres and explain its major conventions according to Dick.  Be
sure to discuss important elements (including traditional themes) and identify at least two
exemplary films not screened in class.  Additional examples from class screenings are encouraged.
 
 In a traditional crime film, it usually centers around ambition, usually steming from the main
character. This ties with their hard upbringing which usually plays into their violent mannerisms.
Two examples of this are Scarface (Al Pachino) and Goodfellas. Both films have a central character
with a troubled or hard upbringing, but in the film both gain a sense of power and individuality that
fulfills their ambition. More elements of the crime genre include the ideology of what it right and
what is wrong, freedom, the usage of alcohol, drugs and weaponry and usually robbery.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
True/False:  Identify each of the following statements as true or false.  (2 points each)
 
1.         T          F          The language Phil Connors decides to learn in Groundhog Day is Italian.
  
 
2.         T          F          All the songs in Singin’ in the Rain were written originally for the
film.
 
 
 
3.         T          F          Incest is one of the subtextual themes of Scarface.
 
 
 
4.         T          F          According to Dick, some film genres eventually die or
disappear                                   
entirely.
 
 
5.         T          F          Some Like It Hot qualifies as a period film.
 
 
 
6.         T          F          According to Dick, in liberal science fiction, aliens are portrayed
sympathetically.
 
 
 
7.         T          F          According to Dick, one of the most common themes in the
“woman’s film” revolves around terminal illness.
 
 
8.         T          F          At the conclusion of Sullivan’s Travels, Sullivan decides to move forward
with the production of O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
 
 
 
9.         T          F          According to discussion, the director of It’s Such a Beautiful
Day typically prefers to work with a large group of collaborators.  
 
 
 
10.       T          F          According to viewing, Mary (Kirsten Dunst) has experienced the memory
erasure procedure offered by Dr. Mierzwiak in Eternal Sunshine.
Multiple Choice:  Select the best response for the choices provided.  (2 points each)
 
1.  According to Dick, all of the following are backstage musicals except:
 
A)   A Star Is Born
B)   Lady Be Good
C)   Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
D)   42  Street
nd

 
 
2.  According to Dick, which of the following is not one of the five common plot pegs of the
backstage musical?
 
A)   reflecting a mood
B)    the overnight sensation    
C)    breaking up the act
D)   career versus marriage
 
 
3.  According to discussion, Preston Sturges found his major success as a filmmaker during a
creative burst that took place during the first half of the:
 
A)   1930s                   
B)    1940s                   
C)    1950s                   
D)   1960s
 
 
4.  According to Dick, which of the following films is arguably “the finest example of the antimythic
western,” given its inversion of tradition?
 
A)   Shane       
B)    Unforgiven
C)    High Noon           
D)   Stagecoach
 
 
5.  From viewing of Some Like It Hot, what do the mobsters name their convention at the hotel?
 
A)   Sons of Sicily
B)   Goodfellows Local 32
C)   Legion of Decency
D)   Friends of Italian Opera
6.  From viewing of Hud who kills the last two longhorns on the Bannon property?
 
A)   Lon (Grandson)
B)    Hud (Son)
C)    Homer (Grandpa)            
D)   Alma
 
 
7.  According to Dick, which of the following is NOT considered a reason for the appeal of the
American combat film?
 
A)    which war is being depicted
B)    where the war was fought
C)    public attitude toward that war   
D)    the way the war is portrayed
 
 
8.  In It’s Such a Beautiful Day, Bill believes that several of his relatives died by _____.
 
A)   electrocution                     
B)    poison
C)    shark attack
D)   train accident
 
 
9.  Which of the following films comes the closest to using elements of magical realism?
 
A)   Hud              
B)   Scarface 
C)   Groundhog Day            
D)   Some Like It Hot
 
 
10.  In discussing the importance of the savior myth in Shane, Dick suggests all of the possible
interpretations except:
 
A)   Christ figure                     
B)   Apollo-Hercules  
C)   knight errant                     
D)   destroyer      
 

Identification:  Write a one or two sentence definition of any ten of the following terms.  First
write the term of your choice in the blank, and the identification in the space following.  Be sure to
completely identify each term and provide a specific example (and not just a movie title) from
reading or viewing.  (2 points for each term)
 
Leitmotif                Integrated musical       Screwball comedy       B-movie
Quotidian                    Intertextuality              Antihero               Hommage
Film noir                   Unreliable narrator      Period film                  Courting dance
Forced perspective     Femme fatale               Metanarrative                  Magical realism
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Integrated musical: A musical that integrates music and dances for narrative purposes. An
example of this is Hamilton, where all the numbers contribute to the plot of the founding of
America, and not one song is “irrelevant” or “pointless”.
 
 
 
 
 
2. Unreliable narrator: A narrator that tells the story with a lack of credibility. An example of this is
in Shutter Island, as our main narrator cannot come to terms to what is real and what is made-up.
This challenges the audience as to what is going on, since the main protagonist isn’t reliable for the
story.
 
 
 
 
 
3. Femme fatale: An attractive and seductive woman, one that primarily likes to cause distress to
any man that becomes involved with her. An example of this is Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises,
and the way she causally toys and plays coy around Bruce Wayne, yet while maintaining her own
agenda.
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Metanarrative: A story that explores the idea of storytelling by drawing attention to its own
sources or structure or identity. An example of this is in The Producers, as the story follows the
construction and revenue gained from a Broadway show, and all the trivial tasks that follow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Antihero: A character in a story that lacks heroic attributes. An example of this is in Dexter with
the title character, Dexter. Yet he is a serial killer himself, he kills those who “deserve” to be killed.
 
 
 
  
6. Screwball comedy: A subgenre of comedy where the female dominates the relationship with the
central male character having his masculinity challenged. An example of this is Housesitter, with the
dynamics between Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, the comedic entangles that ensue categorize it as
a screwball comedy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Hommage: A tribute to a specific artist, writer…by incorporating their work in one’s own work.
An example of this is in Scream with the design of the Ghostface mask. The mask pays homage to
Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting with the design of Ghostface’s mask.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Magical realism: Genre in which realism and surrealism elements are combined to create dream-
like or fantasy elements of a story. An example of this is Groundhog Day. The magical, dream-like
events of repeating a day over and over again are unrealistic, but we see realistic events and
conversations that still make it believable.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. B-movie: A low-budget movie, usually the companion to the main attraction. An example of this is
Piranha, which was a film that parodied Jaws and the success that spurred from that film. It didn’t
have the budget that Jaws had, and was of “lesser-quality”.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. Period film: A film that evokes a certain part of history. An example of this is showcased in Brian
De Palma’s Scarface, with the focus on the Cuban refugee migration in the 1980’s, and their place
and treatment amongst the Americans.
 
 
 
 
 
Films and Directors:  From the bank of titles, select the film that is best described by each
statement.  In the following blank, name the director of each film.  (1 point for each blank) 
 
A.  Some Like It Hot                  B.  Scarface                                 C.  Singin’ in the Rain
D.  Eternal Sunshine…        E.  It’s Such a Beautiful Day           F.  Hud
G.  Groundhog Day                     H.  Sullivan’s Travels            
 
 
 
 
1. Scarface was directed by Howard Hawks in the early sound era, and shocked audiences of the
time with its graphic portrayal of vicious street violence and mayhem.
 
 

 
 
2. It’s Such a Beautiful Day was directed by Don Hertzfeldt and in several ways functions as a kind
of memento mori in its contemplations of life, death, and temporality.
 
 

 
 
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was directed by Michel Gondry and uses traditional
mechanical effects like forced perspective (as well as a few computer generated elements) to
explore the process of memory.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
4. Singin’ In The Rain was directed by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen and was set during Hollywood’s
transition to sound films; it also cleverly satirizes popular myths about stars and movies.
 
 
 
 

5. Sullivan’s Travels was directed by Preston Sturges and makes the argument that the value of
laughter and comedy are just as valuable to audience members as serious drama.
 
 
 
 
 

 
6. Some Like It Hot was directed by Billy Wilder and was controversial at the time of release due to
the depiction of topics that were previously taboo in mainstream cinema but had started to gain
more mainstream acceptance. 
 
 
 
 

 
 
7. Groundhog Day was directed by Harold Ramis and uses science fiction elements associated with
time loops to explore the ways in which ethical and moral behavior can be learned..
 
 
 
 
 

 
8. Hud was directed by Martin Ritt and uses its main character to fulfill the traditional theme of its
genre suggesting the tension between fierce individualism and the order imposed by the laws of the
settled community.