Compared to the other films we have watched this semester, I found His Girl Friday to be the darkest of them all. When Molly jumped out of the window and died, Walter did not show any remorse or pity for the young lady. Hildy told Walter that they were murderers and she seemed distraught, but only for a moment. If I watched someone kill themself, I am pretty sure that I would be sad about it for at least a day. I think their lack of emotions proves that they are not in the "real world". Walter and Hildy live in a world full of chaos and disasters, so they are used to guns being pointed at them and people committing suicide. They truly are only newspapermen and they cannot escape from that world, even if they wanted to.
Throughout the movie, Walter was continuously doing illegal scheming. He ended up getting Bruce in jail at least three times for crimes he did not do. First he planted the watch in his pocket that had been stolen. Then he was arrested because Walter planted the blonde girl on Bruce. And then of course, he was found with counterfeit money that was Walter's. Walter really is not a nice person, although he does have a lot of charm which makes the audience like him. Like Bruce said, "He seems like a nice guy". If Walter did all of this illegal activity just to get someone back whom he cared about, I hate to imagine what he has done to people that he does not like or what he has done to get "interesting" stories. I am not surprised that there was not much respect for the press, according to one of the reporters.
The movie was also corrupt politically. The mayor bribbed the man who had the reprieve letter for Earl Williams. There was also earlier connotations to what the governor had done to secure his position before the last election day. This movie accurately portrays how our government functions today, which is sad, but true. The sheriff in His Girl Friday also was ignorant like the sheriff in Bringing Up Baby. Overall, I found this movie to be the darkest one out of the comedy of remarriage films. As Cavell says, they are not living in "the golden world" or "the green world", but "a black world" (Cavell, 172). And they cannot escape from this black world, even if they want to.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Three Stories
As I was reading "The Little Disturbances of Man", I felt pity for Virginia. She is a hard working single mom living in a small town where everyone knows each other's business. I am sure it was extremely hard for her to lose her husband and then have everyone gossiping about her life. Welfare treated her terribly. The only good person in her life was John, but he was married. Virginia was also naive. At the end of the story, she was sure that her husband was still going to come back to her, even though he did not even go to the Army. I do not understand why she would even want him back after the way he treated her. What kind of a person tells their wife that their fat when they are pregnant and then sulks about sleeping on the coach? Overall, I found this story depressing. I think it is sad how many people get into bad relationships and then when they leave, the person wants them back even though they treated them horribly. It is also sad how many people have affairs with others when they are married. This story seemed very realistic, and perhaps that is why I found it so distressing.
I was curious why Joyce named the story "Two Galliants" because there was nothing galliant or heroic about the two men at all. They used the young woman as if she were a pawn in their game, and not an actual human being. The two men stole from her and treated her like a rag. I thought it was terrible that Corley made the girl wait for him. He was certainly not a gentleman. Corley was so proud of himself at the end when he showed Lenehan the coin he stole from her. It made me sick.
In "The Boarding House", Polly clearly has the power, as opposed to the two men who had the power in "Two Galliants". At the end, Polly seemed so happy because she knew that Bob was going to propose to her. She was crying and had been hysterical moments before, but she knew that Bob would marry her because of the obligations that society has placed on him and his moral obligations also. I wondered if Polly lied and said she was pregnant just so Bob would stay and marry her. If Polly was not pregnant, I do not believe Bob would have stayed, so to secure her happiness she made up a lie to bribe him into her life. I am not sure about this, but at the end I was startled by her joyfullness and I felt that she was scheming. In the end, Polly got what she wanted, but would she be happy in the future with a man who did not love her for the "right" reasons?
I was curious why Joyce named the story "Two Galliants" because there was nothing galliant or heroic about the two men at all. They used the young woman as if she were a pawn in their game, and not an actual human being. The two men stole from her and treated her like a rag. I thought it was terrible that Corley made the girl wait for him. He was certainly not a gentleman. Corley was so proud of himself at the end when he showed Lenehan the coin he stole from her. It made me sick.
In "The Boarding House", Polly clearly has the power, as opposed to the two men who had the power in "Two Galliants". At the end, Polly seemed so happy because she knew that Bob was going to propose to her. She was crying and had been hysterical moments before, but she knew that Bob would marry her because of the obligations that society has placed on him and his moral obligations also. I wondered if Polly lied and said she was pregnant just so Bob would stay and marry her. If Polly was not pregnant, I do not believe Bob would have stayed, so to secure her happiness she made up a lie to bribe him into her life. I am not sure about this, but at the end I was startled by her joyfullness and I felt that she was scheming. In the end, Polly got what she wanted, but would she be happy in the future with a man who did not love her for the "right" reasons?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bringing Up Baby
The most significant difference that I found between Bringing Up Baby and the other films that we have watched this semester, besides the obvious absurdity and playfulness of this film, was the fact that the woman did not change at the end of the movie. It was the man, David Huxley, who changed at the end of the film because he met a woman and she turned his world upside down. Susan Vance was constantly bizarre, easy-going and not concerned about the problems that she and David were getting into throughout the film, including the ending. In David's words, "You (Susan) look at everything upside down".
In the film, David says that "She's (Susan) is helpless without me", but I would like to pose that it is David who is helpless without her, and not the other way around. Susan shows David how to accept life the way it is and when something unexpected comes up, you have to go with the flow. She essentially taught David how to live his life. He only lived for his work before, which isn't completely bad, but he had to have something else in his life besides work, and I don't think he did. I think David thought he had Alice, but Alice thought of their relationship as purely a business transaction. She didn't want anything to interfere with his work. She didn't even want a honeymoon! So, David was not living his life to the fullest before he met Susan. He even says that the one day he spent with her was the best day of his life. I believe that Susan is the hero of this film. She is the one who espaces from the jail and tries to prove their innocence and she also catches David when he faints. She is the strong character.
This is the second time I have seen this film, and at the end, I couldn't help but feel a slight falsity in what David was saying. When Susan comes into David's workplace, he immediately climbs up the stairs, so he will not be near her. Susan can't even see him at first. As she is speaking, it seems that David only has a romantic interest in Susan after she tells him that she will give him the one million dollars for his work. Then he grows excited, the most enthusiastic the viewers have seen him. He continues saying that he had the best day of his life and "I love you, I think", shortly after he said "I'm afraid of you". I am not trying to imply that David does not have any feelings for Susan, but I think his feelings initially started because of his passion for his work and the money he would be receiving. I often wonder what would have happened if Susan didn't say that she would give him the money. Would his reaction be different? I do think that he has more than work in his life now and when Susan knocks down his brontosaurus and isn't furious, his feelings seem more genuine. I still wonder though.
Bringing Up Baby is one of those movies that you can watch ten times and still find something new or have a new thought about it. That is what constitutes a good movie in my book. I would like to end with one of my favorite quotes from the movie, "Oh, you've torn you're coat!". My life will be complete when I can use that quote in an everyday setting and have the meaning that Katharine Hepburn portrays in that line. Katharine Hepburn is my hero!
In the film, David says that "She's (Susan) is helpless without me", but I would like to pose that it is David who is helpless without her, and not the other way around. Susan shows David how to accept life the way it is and when something unexpected comes up, you have to go with the flow. She essentially taught David how to live his life. He only lived for his work before, which isn't completely bad, but he had to have something else in his life besides work, and I don't think he did. I think David thought he had Alice, but Alice thought of their relationship as purely a business transaction. She didn't want anything to interfere with his work. She didn't even want a honeymoon! So, David was not living his life to the fullest before he met Susan. He even says that the one day he spent with her was the best day of his life. I believe that Susan is the hero of this film. She is the one who espaces from the jail and tries to prove their innocence and she also catches David when he faints. She is the strong character.
This is the second time I have seen this film, and at the end, I couldn't help but feel a slight falsity in what David was saying. When Susan comes into David's workplace, he immediately climbs up the stairs, so he will not be near her. Susan can't even see him at first. As she is speaking, it seems that David only has a romantic interest in Susan after she tells him that she will give him the one million dollars for his work. Then he grows excited, the most enthusiastic the viewers have seen him. He continues saying that he had the best day of his life and "I love you, I think", shortly after he said "I'm afraid of you". I am not trying to imply that David does not have any feelings for Susan, but I think his feelings initially started because of his passion for his work and the money he would be receiving. I often wonder what would have happened if Susan didn't say that she would give him the money. Would his reaction be different? I do think that he has more than work in his life now and when Susan knocks down his brontosaurus and isn't furious, his feelings seem more genuine. I still wonder though.
Bringing Up Baby is one of those movies that you can watch ten times and still find something new or have a new thought about it. That is what constitutes a good movie in my book. I would like to end with one of my favorite quotes from the movie, "Oh, you've torn you're coat!". My life will be complete when I can use that quote in an everyday setting and have the meaning that Katharine Hepburn portrays in that line. Katharine Hepburn is my hero!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
It Happened One Night
As I was watching It Happened One Night, I could tell why it won so many Academy Awards. I also kept thinking how many movies made knock offs of this movie. The whole concept of traveling with someone and falling in love with them on the journey is in multiple movies, such as When Harry Met Sally and The Sure Thing. I also thought it was funny when Ellie bolted at her wedding and left in a car, which Runaway Bride copied from this movie.
This movie also had a father-daughter relationship like the other two movies. Ellie's father tries to protect his daughter's virginity, even saying that he will not let Ellie and King Wesley sleep in the same bed although they are already married. The relationship between Peter and Ellie's father is interesting in the one scene they are together. Peter has already judged Ellie's father even before they met. Ellie tells her father that "He (Peter) blames you for everything that's wrong with me". After Ellie's father sees that Peter was not after Ellie for their money, he believes that Peter is a good chap and surprisingly approves of him. At the end of the film Ellie's father says to let the walls of Jericho fall down, implying that he can no longer protect his daughter's virginity, but he will let Peter take care of Ellie now.
I was surprised at the end of the film that Ellie and Peter's faces were not shown. Usually at the end of the movie, you see the lovers kiss and then the screen fades, or in this case, the walls of Jericho fall down. Perhaps their faces were not shown because it was unnecessary since the audience had seen them alone in a room multiple times already.
Throughout the movie, I was thinking of who the dominant character was, Ellie or Peter. I believe that Ellie and Peter are both dominant in the relationship at different times throughout the movie. The audience is led to believe that Ellie is independent when she jumps of the boat, leaving her father, and going on a bus alone. I believe she is the dominant one in the beginning. Of course, later in the movie, Peter helps her many times: finding a room for her, telling her not to buy the chocolates because she is on a budget, making a bed of hay for her, finding her carrots, getting a car, etc. But, Ellie gets the first car in her sly hitchhiking maneuver. She also leaves her own wedding to find Peter and marry him which showed dominance there. In the end, I think they were both equally dominant in different parts of the movie.
It Happened One Night was a phenomenal movie and I am so glad that we were acquainted. I definitely need to add this movie to my movie collection!
This movie also had a father-daughter relationship like the other two movies. Ellie's father tries to protect his daughter's virginity, even saying that he will not let Ellie and King Wesley sleep in the same bed although they are already married. The relationship between Peter and Ellie's father is interesting in the one scene they are together. Peter has already judged Ellie's father even before they met. Ellie tells her father that "He (Peter) blames you for everything that's wrong with me". After Ellie's father sees that Peter was not after Ellie for their money, he believes that Peter is a good chap and surprisingly approves of him. At the end of the film Ellie's father says to let the walls of Jericho fall down, implying that he can no longer protect his daughter's virginity, but he will let Peter take care of Ellie now.
I was surprised at the end of the film that Ellie and Peter's faces were not shown. Usually at the end of the movie, you see the lovers kiss and then the screen fades, or in this case, the walls of Jericho fall down. Perhaps their faces were not shown because it was unnecessary since the audience had seen them alone in a room multiple times already.
Throughout the movie, I was thinking of who the dominant character was, Ellie or Peter. I believe that Ellie and Peter are both dominant in the relationship at different times throughout the movie. The audience is led to believe that Ellie is independent when she jumps of the boat, leaving her father, and going on a bus alone. I believe she is the dominant one in the beginning. Of course, later in the movie, Peter helps her many times: finding a room for her, telling her not to buy the chocolates because she is on a budget, making a bed of hay for her, finding her carrots, getting a car, etc. But, Ellie gets the first car in her sly hitchhiking maneuver. She also leaves her own wedding to find Peter and marry him which showed dominance there. In the end, I think they were both equally dominant in different parts of the movie.
It Happened One Night was a phenomenal movie and I am so glad that we were acquainted. I definitely need to add this movie to my movie collection!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
James Joyce
I have read "Araby" before, but I gained new information in the discussion today about the story that I would not have known. I did not know anything about James Joyce so I understood more about the setting of the story in Dublin and I also did not know that he did not like Catholics. This explains a lot about his fascination with the dead priest in this story.
This story is about a boy who is in love for the first time. He does not know how to talk to her but he tells her that he will buy her a present at the bazaar. I think it is sad that he thinks he can win her affection if he buys her a gift. Joyce might be touching on how shallow people are for material things. I also think that Joyce views romance in this story as something exciting and exhilarating that happens in another place that is strange to you, such as Araby.
At the end of the story, it is clear that the boy does not love this girl and that going to Araby was more than just finding a gift for her. It was about finding himself. He seems like a passive boy who is young and naive and I think he wants to gain more self-confidence, but he does not. He leaves upset and without any new insights on himself, which is depressing.
I really enjoyed "Eveline". I felt extremely sad for her because she is stuck in a life that she does not enjoy, but she does not have enough strength and courage to try something new, so she just accepts the way her life is. I think she stayed where she was because she was afraid. She needs stability and her normal routine of taking care of her father and going to work. Eveline probably would not have been able to forgive herself if she went against her mother's wishes. I am sure she would have constantly worried about her father. She knew that she would never go, but at least she had the possibility of leaving.
Eveline was the only person who was keeping her family together and if she left, they would be finished. She knew that she was going to live the life her mother did. It may not be a happy one, but at least she would fulfill what she believed was her "duty" to help her father. Frank could not have saved her from the guilt she would have felt if she left with him, so she stayed with her same monotonous life because that is where she felt safe and secure.
This story is about a boy who is in love for the first time. He does not know how to talk to her but he tells her that he will buy her a present at the bazaar. I think it is sad that he thinks he can win her affection if he buys her a gift. Joyce might be touching on how shallow people are for material things. I also think that Joyce views romance in this story as something exciting and exhilarating that happens in another place that is strange to you, such as Araby.
At the end of the story, it is clear that the boy does not love this girl and that going to Araby was more than just finding a gift for her. It was about finding himself. He seems like a passive boy who is young and naive and I think he wants to gain more self-confidence, but he does not. He leaves upset and without any new insights on himself, which is depressing.
I really enjoyed "Eveline". I felt extremely sad for her because she is stuck in a life that she does not enjoy, but she does not have enough strength and courage to try something new, so she just accepts the way her life is. I think she stayed where she was because she was afraid. She needs stability and her normal routine of taking care of her father and going to work. Eveline probably would not have been able to forgive herself if she went against her mother's wishes. I am sure she would have constantly worried about her father. She knew that she would never go, but at least she had the possibility of leaving.
Eveline was the only person who was keeping her family together and if she left, they would be finished. She knew that she was going to live the life her mother did. It may not be a happy one, but at least she would fulfill what she believed was her "duty" to help her father. Frank could not have saved her from the guilt she would have felt if she left with him, so she stayed with her same monotonous life because that is where she felt safe and secure.
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