History of Film

This is the second of the Anchor Time enrichment courses that I have attempted to create. Please bear with me as this site grows.

The History of Film is an enrichment course that will look into the development of movies since the 1930's. We will often relate the industry to the events going on in society and history, as well as how the content of the movies reflected that.

To take advantage of this enrichment opportunity we will require a release form signed by both the parent and student acknowleding that there will be movies and/or portions of movies that will be shown that have ratings of PG-13 or R. The selection of movies will be done based on the overall achievements of the film, historical significance, and whether they were just great movies.

A list of some of the movies that we may look at is below. We may cut some of these as we go, and may add others. This list is by no means exhaustive.

1930's:

Mutiny on the Bounty

Gone With the Wind: (the highest grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation)

The Wizard of Oz: Released during the dust bowl. Note the opening scene in a dry, dusty Kansas. The original book was released in 1900, and is often considered an allegory for the Populist movement of the 1880's and 1890's.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - at a time when the U.S. was in extreme economic depression, this movie displayed the workings of government, and showed how the government can step in and do what is right for the people.

Snow White (first full length animated film)

1940's:

The Grapes of Wrath - Depiction of life during the Dust Bowl and The Great Depression.

Citizen Kane

The Maltese Falcon

Casablanca - Released early on during World War II, it shows life in a war torn world. The American, like America at the time, "sticks his neck out for no one".

1950's:

A Streetcar Named Desire

Singing in the Rain

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Around the World in 80 Days

Seven Samurai

Rebel Without a Cause

12 Angry Men

South Pacific

Some Like it Hot

1960's:

2001: A Space Odyssey