The test will focus on Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, Fred Zinnemann’s High Noon, Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest, and the key terms and concepts from chapter 2 of our textbook, Understanding Movies. Also, review everything from the beginning of the course, such as literary, dramatic, and cinematic elements, etc. Be sure to look over your notes, your homework assignments, and all Viewing Guides and handouts.
- High Noon: Establishing shot; motifs; Judge Mettrick's lesson in civics; Will Kane as "hero"; montage; the famous "boom shot"; subtext; HUAC; politics & film style; DVD Special Features. Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point.
- In Modern Times: silent film, inter-title, characterization of “The Tramp,” episodic structure, motifs, sight gags & slapstick, final shot. DVD Special Features: deleted scene, original ending, all voices filtered through technology & 24 frames per second (fps). Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point.
- In North By Northwest: director's cameo; day for night shooting; rear screen projection effect; femme fatale; MacGuffin; final cut privileges; title credits; parody; montage; characterization & compression; visual irony; phallic symbol; visual foreshadowing; aural cue; character subtext; "stealing a shot"; film subtexts; "Becoming George Kaplan"; "The Matchless Eve Kendall"; "Murder scenes shot lovingly & love scenes shot murderously"; epiphany & character arc; how tension & suspense are created in "The Crop Dusting Scene." Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point
- From Understanding Movies: (Ch. 2) Mise en scene ("placing on stage"), aspect ratio (standard vs. widescreen), iris shot, the dominant, subsidiary contrasts, intrinsic interest, tight vs. loose framing, character placement, composition, proxemic patterns, open vs. closed form.
This is only a general guide and not a complete list of everything we learned and everything you should study!
The approximate test breakdown: 40% multiple choice / 20% mini-essay / 40% short answers
Good luck!
