SYLLABUS

FILM DEPARTMENT
(2126 FQ2)		 DIRCTOR’S CINEMA BROOKLYN COLLEGE
SPRING 2014 SYLLABUS JOHN BEATTY

THE FILMS OF MICHAEL POWELL AND EMERIC PRESSBURGER

The class meets Fridays from 2:15 – 5:55 in W.E.B. 220
The final exam is MAY 23 from 3:30 – 5:30 in W.E.B. 220

See http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/off_registrar/Spring_2014_calendar.pdf

Requirements

Reading:

Christie, Ian; 1994; Arrows of Desire; Faber and Faber; London; 163pp

Moor, Andrew; 2005; Powell Pressburger: A Cinema of Magic Spaces; I.B. Taurus; London; 250 pp

And one of the following:

MacDonald, Kevin; 1994; Emeric Pressburger The Life and Death of a Screenwriter; Faber and Faber; London 467 pp

Powell, Michael 1987 A Life in Movies Alfred Knopf NY; 705 pp

 Viewing (outside of class):

The Edge of the World (1937) (Michael Powell)

The Lion Has Wings (1939) (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger)

The Volunteer (1944) (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger)

Return to the Edge of the World (1978) (Michael Powell)

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) (Craig McCall)

Writing: Two papers are required. One deals with some aspect of the films made by Powell and Pressburger, the other a topic about the backgrounds of the Powell and Pressburger separately, jointly or as the Archers or you may write about their involvement with others in the field like the Korda brothers. These are complex topics and you should start reading immediately. You need to find the subject matter for your paper and do the research on the first one quickly. For thematic material in the films, find a topic (other than “border crossings” which the book discusses and which appears in several of their films and write about that. You may use references for the paper dealing with the films, although it is not necessary. You will however have to use reference materials for the paper dealing with their professional lives. It will need to have references sited and a bibliography. You must have at least 3 books cited for every website you use. So for those of you who are mathematically challenged, if you cite 3 web sites you must also site 9 books. You can look at the web sites to find source materials – books, journal articles and so on which you need to go and read and cite in the paper

The papers are due the 5th and 10th week of the term – ON TIME. (No rewrites – do it right the first time and do it on time. Late papers will be penalized) You can (and should) visit the writing tutor across the hall from 201 WEB for help in writing. You can make an appoint to talk to me about the paper)

The papers are to be written in proper formal academic style. The papers are not e-mails to you friends. They should not contain slang terms or abbreviations typically used in e-mails (e.g. lol).

The final exam (essay) is on May 23 from 3:30 – 5:30 in W.E.B. 220. Do not make any travel plans that will keep you from taking the final at the scheduled time. If you miss the final you will need to file with the college to take it in the fall. There is a fee for that. (There is no re-taking of exams).

Be aware that department policy is that more than two absences results in a grade of “F”.

CELL PHONES AND LAP TOPS

If you have one, shut it off. Do not have it open and glowing during the class – either the lecture or the showing of the films. Do NOT leave it charging in the aisle where people can trip over it and fall.

GENERAL ETIQUETTE

If you feel compelled to leave the room during the class, use the back door and, especially while the film is showing, have the door open for as short a period of time as possible so the light does not impact the screen for very long.