So far this semester, we have studied some of the fears about the new
entertainment technology of film evident in the reaction to Scarface
(1932) and I'm No Angel (1933). We have also read about the
history of film censorship (Black, pp. 3-46 and 151-154), studied the
Lord-Quigley Production Code Proposal (Black, pp. 302-308), and read The Supreme
Court's 1915 decision denying 1st Amendment protections to film (Mutual
Film Corp. v. Industrial Commission of Ohio). In addition, we have
discussed the role that conventions from Screwball comedy may have played in
moderating our reaction to Tony Camonte in Scarface, talked about Hecht's
original script for the movie, and focused on the importance of Mae West's wit
in making her points about the politics of class and gender acceptable to a
diverse audience. For Tuesday, February 26th, write a 4-6 page paper
(typed and double spaced with citations in MLA format) on one of the three
options below. For guidelines on citation formats, see:
http://classweb.gmu.edu/nccwg/researchdocument.htm
and
http://classweb.gmu.edu/nccwg/mla-document.htm
I) If you write about Scarface, develop a larger argument about the validity of the fears about gangster films evident in the reaction to the movie on the part of censorship groups like the Hays Office. Discuss in detail at least two specific changes made to the movie in response to the censors and indicate whether you think the alterations improve or harm the film. Make sure you review Black, pp. 125-132, before writing your paper and include an account of the negotiations between the Hays Office and the film makers. You should probably also refer to the relevant sections of the Lord-Quigley code and study the following clips and images for possible analysis. Note: If you have forgotten the user id and password to access the files, email me. You will also need QuickTime installed on your computer to view the videos. You can download a free QuickTime reader at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. After you download the QuickTime installer it will either install automatically or you will have to click on the .exe file to install the program (note where you save it). Also note that there were other changes made to the film that you can write on that I have not provided clips for.
II) If you write about Mae West, review Black, pp. 78-81 and read the account of the film available at: http://www.moviediva.com/MD_root/reviewpages/MDImNoAngel.htm. You should also read either Jill Watts, Mae West: An Icon in Black and White, pp. 170-181 (JC Reserves) or Marybeth Hamilton, When I'm Bad I'm Better: Mae West, Sex and American Entertainment, pp. 187-217 (JC Reserves). Discuss some of the charges made against the movie by censorship groups and develop your own argument about the movie's immorality. Pay particular attention to Mae West's use of double entendre and body language and consider attitudes toward social class in the film. Write about at least three scenes in detail. For your convenience, I have included several clips and images below for possible analysis. Feel free to use others if you think they are more interesting or relevant. And whatever scenes you discuss, make sure you situate them in context of the larger story and tie your analysis to your overall argument. I also suggest including an account of the Lord-Quigley code, particularly pp. 305-308.
III) If you write about the Screwball conventions in Scarface, you need to
watch Howard Hawks' Bringing Up Baby, on reserve at the Johnson Center
library. Compare the gender relations and dialogue in the two films and
develop an argument about the impact of such conventions on our response to Tony
Camonte in Scarface. You should also study carefully the clips of Tony and
Poppy available at
http://classweb.gmu.edu/kthomps4/video/scarface/poppy2.mov
and the image available at:
http://mason.gmu.edu/~kthomps4/stills/scarface/crazyTony.jpg
