LECTURE FOUR
COBB
1994
Director: Ron Shelton
Kinds of life stories:
Purpose of biography
Truth annd Accuracy
These things can not be known from the film alone but require outsidee knowledge, The film must stand on its own merits, but the question of the biographical genre almost presupposes some kind of "truth" about it. Consider the ways in which the films in the genre attempt to indicate they are "true", which is not typical of other genres (other than documentaries).
This film looks at the writing of the biography. It is not JUST the story of Ty Cobb, but also the story of Al Stumpo writing the story of Ty Cobb
Film based on writings and conversations with Al Stump and anecdotes
After the film
Truth and Accuracy
Dramatic conventions: Vary from truth but are in keeping with story. Does that wash?
Opening newsreel to give credibility
Uses real people as well as actors (Roger Clemens as pitcher for example)
Who tells story - first biography is “authorized” - to the point where he even dictates punctuation. The second is unauthorized. IS either true?
Attempt to get to the person themselves. Here the director tries to get into his head when he sees film in Joan of Arc film uses her words
Explanatory function:
Does the film try to explain Cobb's persoality through a single childrhood event - his father’s death? Is that psychologically valid? Does it work in the film? How old is Cobb when his father dies? Is that an age which would impact his "basic personality?" What does Cobb say about his personality before and after the death of his father?
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What episode does the event with the train on the bridge follow? Is there an implication that his baptism and religious background affected his personality? Do we see how?
What does the film say about culture of the time and place where Cobb grew up? How did this impact on his life?
Does the explanatory approach also involve making Cobb's private life public? What does Cobb say about this? Where is it in the film (e.g. What events in the film do people in he film say should be left out of people's biographies?
"Biographies Serve as models" theory:
Is the film about this idea? "When the legend is better than the truth print the legend" is an old newspaper adage.
Backstory:
Since the film starts in media res (in the middle of things) how do we find out wehat happened before?