The American New Wave

Question 1

1970

Answer 1

Kent State shootings

Question 2

1971

Answer 2

VCRs go consumer

Question 3

1972

Answer 3

Terrorists take hostages at Munich Olympics; Watergate comes to light

Question 4

1973

Answer 4

Roe vs. Wade (legalized abortions); US withdraws rom Vietnam

Question 5

1974

Answer 5

President Nixon resigns in disgrace

Question 6

1977

Answer 6

Steven Biko tortured to death

Question 7

1978

Answer 7

Jonestown Massacre

Question 8

1979

Answer 8

Iron Hostages Crisis begins

Question 9

Studio Auteurs

Answer 9

Film school educated; Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg, Nichols, Lumet, Cimino, Di Palma, Woody Allen*

Question 10

The Conversation

Answer 10

Francis Ford Coppola;

made between the two Godfather movies;

earned Oscar noms alongside Godfather II for pic and screenplay;

very relevant to the Watergate scandal;

explores voyeurism and film’s inherently voyeuristic nature;

Harry Caul is an atypical spy-thriller protagonist- we are made to watch Caul unravel under the pressure of his conscience

Question 11

Network

Answer 11

Sidney Lumet, 1976;

absurd premise rooted in fact;

television news as a pliable medium; “television-as-propaganda-machine”; edited or manipulated for response; “if it bleeds, it leads”;

prophetic of televisions demise as a medium of substance to a money driven enterprise

Question 12

Taxi Driver

Answer 12

Martin Scorsese, 1976;

Travis Bickle’s challenge: “a series of failed attempts to connect”; Bickle is a Vietnam War veteran: a direct descendent of those events of the 70s;

slow motion and POV are used to convey interior thoughts and motivations; a heightened sense of [his] awareness

The “Priest’s Eye View” Scorsese: “to reflect the priest looking down at the implements of the Mass on the altar.”

Question 13

Define The American New Wave: identify four (4) of its characteristics and briefly explain why is it unique as a category of cinematic history?

Answer 13

Studio auteurs; young, film school-educated, counterculture-bred filmmakers; anti-establishment political themes, use of rock music, and a sexual freedom that was deemed “counter-culture”;

Changed Hollywood from being a producer-driven system to one that is more about the art itself and the artist’s passion for filmmaking;

Realism opened up by MPAA rating system, graphic violence;

emphasis on location shooting and location stories

• sound technology: radio microphones
• cheaper: no need for sets

Question 14

What type of character played a central role in the films of the American New Wave? Briefly define this character type.

Answer 14

The Anti-Hero:
The concept of the ideal male is in flux, because American ideals are in flux;

Anti-authority, but not necessarily a better ideal;
- delusions of making things right

Not heroic, flawed, lacks heroic attributes like confidence, courage, nobility, altruism, goodness

• not necessarily like-able, but understandable and intriguing
• more relatable, more real?
• despite flaws, remain sympathetic, bad boy;

inferior to the audience, not as smart, questionable purpose;

motivations are not pure, possibly selfish;
may be a certain combination of good and bad traits

Question 15

Identify three (3) filmmakers who were part of the American New Wave other than Francis Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Sidney Lumet.

Answer 15

Roman Polanski, Michael Cimino, Ridley Scott

Question 16

Identify at least three (3) influences technological advances had on the realism found in this new generation of Hollywood filmmakers in the 1970s.

Answer 16

Lighter cameras and equipment allowed for on-location shooting, smaller microphones allowed for microphones to be hidden on actor, and simpler post-production systems made 35mm location shoots viable and cheap.

Question 17

What was the crime central to the Watergate scandal? Identify two significant events following from the discovery of this crime.

Answer 17

The crime central to the Watergate scandal was a burglary, congressional hearings, mass firings, and the resignation of Nixon.

Question 18

Who gave Francis Coppola his first shot at directing a film? What was the title of that film?

Answer 18

Roger Corman, Dementia 13

Question 19

From what book was The Godfather adapted? Who was its author?

Answer 19

Gay Telese’s book, Honor Thy Father

Question 20

Explain the concept of “omerta.”

Answer 20

“Omerta” is a phrased used by the mafia that is a code of silence between all members of the organization when questioned by authorities, which sometimes results in “taking the fall.”

Question 21

Briefly explain the narrative trajectory of character Michael Corleone in Godfather.

Answer 21

Michael Corleone narrative trajectory is to continue his father’s legacy while revising his old-fashioned ways.

Question 22

What is the central conflict of The Conversation’s Harry Caul?

Answer 22

Harry is unable to keep his job separate from his conscience after he allows himself to be seuced by a call girl who then steals tapes that he is convinced will result in a murder.

Question 23

What is it that everyone is waiting for Network’s Howard Beale will do on live television?

Answer 23

Commit suicide.

Question 24

Identify and briefly explain three (3) phenomena about the television news business that Network criticizes.

Answer 24

a love of scandal, a taste for anything lurid or shocking, and a short attention span

Question 25

In Taxi Driver, Travis Bickle is bent on what particular mission?

Answer 25

saving a girl from a brutal pimp

Question 26

Explain the effect of Scorsese’s slow motion POV shots involving Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.

Answer 26

The slow motion POV shots suggest a level of heightened observation on the part of the directors characters.

Question 27

Chinatown is a modern version of what very American film genre?

Answer 27

Film noir

Question 28

The story of Chinatown is set to the background of what city, period of time and unique conspiracy?

Answer 28

Los Angeles, 1930’s case of rerouting water from valley to buy houses while they were cheap and then resell at way higher prices.

Question 29

Identify Roman Polanski’s involvement with Charles Mansion.

Answer 29

Roman Polanski’s wife was killed by Charles Mansion.

Question 30

In Chinatown, where does Gittes find Hollis’ eyeglasses?

Answer 30

Gittes fould Hollis’ glasses in Mrs. Mulrey’s pond.

Question 31

In Chinatown, what does Gittes do to make following Ms. Mulwray’s car easier?

Answer 31

He knocks off the taillight.