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SUNSET BLVD.

While the Prague school was interested largely in language, the idea has wider application. It has been applied for example to music and here we will try to apply it to the art of film. In order to do this we need to define domains which have variables within them, and which can not co-occur, while the domains themselves can. For example, a shot may be a close-up or a medium or long shot but it can not be all of them at once. Similarly a shot may have deep focus or not, but it can not have both at the same time. However, one can have any kind of distance with any kind of focus. The term “domain” is used here to refer to the collection of things which contains a set of variables which can not co occur with one another, while the domains can co occur. Last time we discussed the kinds of “domains” in which variation can take place as regards film. Some of the things we discussed were:

Photography:

Composition in the frame
Lighting
Color or shades of black and white
Movement (panning, zooming, dolly shots)
Exposure>br> Quality of the media (film- with all the variations of speed and pushing, video tape)
Lenses (telephoto, wide angle etc.)

Editing

Rhythm (one serious problem with pan and scan is it loses the rhythm of the film)
Parallel cutting
Form cuts
Transitions: dissolves, fades etc. wipes

Films as code

Messages are sent in some sort of code. Language is a classic example. If the person sending a message encodes it in a language the hearer doesn't understand, then the hearer can not decode the message.

Films code in a kind of "language" hence the course is called the language of film. The items mentioned in photography and editing are part of the language.

Genre and Sub Genre

These are two terms which are used often in discussing film. Defniitions are important but they do not come from God nor are they carved in stone. One can make up definitions if it seems useful to do so. Such definitions are sometimes known as "operational defintions.

Often genres have certain expectations to them. People who go to see films expect certain kinds of things when they go to Westerns, horror films or whatever. In a horror film, the first appearance of the horrific is somethng audiences wait for. If the horror does not "work", then the film is often a failure. We might refer to this idea of the expectations an audience hads for a specific genre as "genre expectation".

Some catagories like "drama" "comedy" may be even larger than "genres". The tone of the film is important but no film can be without one. Many of course may mix them so that comedy-drama is possible,

What is a "genre"? What is a "sub genre"?

Genre is a "kind" or "type". It is often part of a taxonomic or classifactory system. The Linnean classification system is one of the most famous. It gives every animal a genus and species. A species is a sub division of a genus the way a sub genre is a subdivisino of a gnre. Lions and tigers are both kinds of cat (Felis leo, Felis tigris). Genres and sub genres in films are harder to relate. Are monster movies a sub genre of horror films? Are murder mysteries a sub genre of mysteries?

Genres are not only plot lines and locations, but often have visual representations as well. Sci-Fi films need "gadgets"; certain kinds of Westerns (i.e. sub genres) have showdowns and so on. These are important aspects of the film and how they are handled is crucial to the film.

What are mixed genres?

Mixed genres occur when aspects normally associated with one genre merge with those of another. Oklahoma is both a Western and a Musical.

Narratives

Narrative often refers to the way in which the story is structured. Is it linear? That is does it move in a straight time line or not? Some filmes (Rope, High Noon) are not only linear, but run the same length of time as the action on the screen. Other films may be in order in terms of time but the time period overed in the film is much longer than the running time of the film. Other films have flashbacks and so on which means that sequences which occur in the film are not shown in chronological order.

Film styles

The way in which the film is photographed. Is there a kind of lighting associated with the film? Are the sets of a specific style, etc.

Set pieces

These are particular shots that are set to make a strong impression. Norma Desomande's descent down the stairs at the end of the film; King Kong breaking through the gate to the village; the shower scene in Pyscho, the prehistoric ape hitting the skeleton with the bone in 2001: A Space Odyssey The scenes are often (but not always, since films may have many) at a climactic moment of the film - many times in a scene that defines the genre.

AFTER THE FILM

Text and Sub-text

Text is about a writer who turns into the driveway of an old timwe film star and becomes entrapped while thinking he is "using her". Ultimately he tries to leave, but is killed.

Sub-text about aging - especially in a business which worships youth; about what happens to people who are public figures when the public leaves them; it si a film about the conflict between different "faces" - some of which are public and some private

Conside the scene near then end when Joe is packing and Norma changes rapidly between (a) an imperious star (b) a frightened little girl and (c) an actress playing a part.

 How is it noir? In effect, what characteristics does they share to make them seen as a genre?

Narrative

Fatalistic narrative (starts with Joe Gilles getting shot and dyiing so it has long flashback

Narrated by dead man

Wrong turn
(avoiding car repossession drives into driveway. It is possible to see another wrong turn when he goes to Artie Green's party and meets Betty again. He doesn't leave, but gets involved with his friends girlfriend. This will ultimately trigger their affair and the "show down" with Norma.)

 Femme Fatale

Now older. Ava Gardner is much younger than Gloria Swanson

 Dialog

Many noir films are "hard boiled detective stories" with Mickey Spilane and the like. The dialog is often colorful and interesting.

This film also has very interesting dialog, but far a more literate text:. Many classic lines

I spoke with some “Yes men” at Paramount – to me they said “no”
An older woman who is well to do. A younger man who is not doing too well.
My astrologer read the horoscopes – Did she read the script?

 Editing

Notice the jump cut between Artie Green's New Years Eve party and Max on the phone at Norma Desmond’s place (feel the difference in the sets)

a kind of "Hollywood montage" of Norma "getting ready" for her "return"

Lighting

the same high contrast

 Images of entrapment.

Bars and shadows and frames within frame

Venetian blinds across face

Ring on finger

Mirrors are common "tropes" in noir - reflections indicate duplicity. Here there are a few mirror scenes (make-up table, mirror into which Norma lokos before going to see Joe after he tells all to Betty, and a mirror in which we see Norma going up the stairs during the "New Year's Eve Party". Photographs however serve a similar function in that they show many "faces" of the person.

 Set pieces

Final descent down staurs

Standing up in front of the projection lamp

Light moving onto Smanson at studio after nearly being hit by microphone (sound which she hates). One of the studetns noted that De Mille says "Put that light back where it belongs" - that is it no longer belongs on Norma.

 Acting

Aside from the acting mentioned above in the last scene, consider Norma's shifts from being Norma - in love with Joe; Norma the star and Norma the little girl in other scenes.

How does Joe attempt to be cynical in his dialog. Do we see through it?

What faces does he have?

Music

Music behind descent down stairs mimics that of Richard Strauss' opera Salome. Salome, is of course, the character Norma nelieves she is playing for the news film crew.

 Reflexivity

Film about films and film making.

What does the film say about the way people are treated in the business. What happens to Joe? To Norma? To Max? What does it say that Sheldrake can't remember Betty Schaefer's name and he calls her "Kraemer".

Interesting notes

Originally was to have starred Mae West and Montgomery Cliff. He pulled out a few days before because he was afraid his fans wouldn’t appreciate him having an “older” lover. She was insulted.

Many people thought Gloria Swanson was playing herself. She wasn’t a recluse in real life. She had been a silent film star and had in fact made a film called Queen Kelly” with von Stroheim.

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