WEEK EIGHT:
1964
TERMS
Causality: causality vs correlation
Fate/luck: uncontrolled event - random event affecting outcome?
fatalism, predestination, free will: If things are going to happen they will. People don't affect events. All factors already present.
BEFORE THE FILM
This is the first of the films in which the disaster is basically technological. Previous movies have dealt with aliens, volcanoes, plagues, tornadoes - and more are still to come! But this film, about a plane crash focuses on technical problems in planes.
Up to this point we have, in terms of narrative looked largely at the characters and theior social statuses. This film does little of that but focus on the question of the blame or the cause, one of the questions that is often, but not always, examined in disaster movies.
This does not mean to imply that the social status pieces are completely ignored or absent from the film. Keep alert for these as well.
How does the story position the disaster in the plot. That is to say - where is it located in the narrative?
The phrase "necessary and sufficient" Does not occir in the film. Should it have?
What is the trajectory or arc of the main character.
What ultimately does the film say?
Story about hand grenade (man throws grenade into train station - people killed. Man says "I didn't kill them the grenade did" - compare people kill guns don't). What killed people? Many things at once - being there, the person who threw the granade, the greande itself etc.
Implications of fatalism and free will on guilt and responsibility
Consider the physical characteristics of the players in the film? Are there reasons for chosing these performers?
How are the filmic angles of the picture handled? Photography (unfortunatekly although released in Cinemascope, the TV has showed it only in sandard format!). In many shots you can see that the comosition is clearly set for wide screen. Take a look Saturday at Airport (1970)
lighting
sound
AFTER THE FILM
What is the cause of the disaster?
(a) spilled coffee
(b) too many planes in the air - all off schedule
(c) pier in the way, which would have been taken down if the contractor hadn't gone hunting and if the hunting hadn't been good.
(d) radio shorted out
(e) loss of motor
What would happen if we asked "What were the contributing factors to the disaster?" Would it have made a difference in the answer?
Are there are questions about "cause" or "why". Consider the stewardess' question "Why me?" "Why the new stewardess?" "Why did all these people have to die"?
What is the relevence of these questions?
What physical characteristics are used for the characters? What is the appearance of Sam McBain/Glenn Ford, Jack Savage/Rod Taylor /Neiamiah Persoff Ralph Bundy/Wally Cox Sally Fraser/Nancy Kwan
Is Cox's small stature and thin appearance both visually and vocal make him vulnerable so that Savage looks more protective?
Why do you suppose they use Nancy Kwan as the girl friend? Is there an "Asian" or "pseudo-Asian" philosophy behind the film?
Why does Susan Pleshette think that McBain may be right in his statements to the board?
FILM TECHNIQUES
position of characters
trial - where are spectators, Ford needs to turn away from board.