Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater.

Module 2. CINEMA

Introduction.............................................................................................................................		2
uNIT 1. what’s on at the cinema?...................................................................................		3
	1.1.? TOPICAL VOCABULARY..........................................................................................................	3
	1.2.? the performance arts: reviews and critiques...................................................	5
	1.3.? praising and criticising...................................................................................................	7
	1.4.? film synopsis..........................................................................................................................	9
	1.5. REVISION..........................................................................................................................................	12
unit 2. cinema: its past, present and future..........................................................		12
	2.1. & — SILENT FILMS.......................................................................................................................	12
	2.2. 9 THE FILM-MAKING PROCESS................................................................................................	16
	2.3. & — american film criticism............................................................................................	17
	2.4. & — HOLLYWOOD’S VIEW OF SOCIETY.................................................................................	19
	2.5. & — film adaptations...........................................................................................................	22
	2.6. REVISION........................................................................................................................................	25
Unit 3. CHECK YOURSELF........................................................................................................		25
Appendix 8. Free Time: Relaxation and Leisure................................................................................................		28
Appendix 9. Idioms that comment on Stories and Reports..................................................................................		30
Appendix 10. Academic Writing: Giving Opinions.............................................................................................		32
Appendix 11. Academic Writing: Structuring an Argument...............................................................................		34

Module 2. CINEMA

Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater.

Roman Polanski

A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it.

Alfred Hitchcock

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.

Jessamyn West

INTRODUCTION

Task 1. Discuss the following questions with the group:

Ø Are you a cinema-goer?

Ø What kinds of films do you enjoy?

Ø What film can be called a good one?

Ø Who is your favourite film director/ actor? Why?

Ø What do you know about the history of film-making? How has the film-making process changed in the last 20 years?

Ø What award is considered to be the most prestigious one in the film-making industry? What do you know about this award?

Ø Which do you prefer: reading a book or watching its screen adaptation? Elaborate.

 

Unit 1. what’s on at the cinema?

? VOCABULARY PRACTICE

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Task 1. Study the material and learn the vocabulary units that you have been unfamiliar with.

Ø accelerated adj (accelerated motion)

Ø action movie n

Ø actor n (leading/principal actor, character actor, supporting actor)

Ø adventure film n

Ø animated cartoon n

Ø audience n

Ø camera n

Ø cameraman n

Ø cast v (cast a film; cast an actor for the part; to typecast an actor)

Ø close-up n

Ø comedy n (satirical/lyrical/romantic comedy)

Ø the credits n

Ø crime film n

Ø crowd scene n

Ø dialogue n

Ø direct v (to direct a film/an actor)

Ø director n (film director)

Ø documentary n

Ø dub v (dubbed film)

Ø educational film n

Ø feature film n (features coll.)

Ø film n (syn. movies, pictures; flickers, flicks coll.)

Ø film v (to film a book)

Ø film-goer n (syn. movie-goer)

Ø flashback n

Ø horror movie n

Ø make v (to make a film; syn. to release a film; film making; film maker)

Ø message n

Ø montage n

Ø newsreel n (newsreel footage)

Ø part n (part of the film; two-part film; syn. role; to play the role of)

Ø performance n (give a wonderful performance; get a good performance from the actors)

Ø photograph v

Ø photography n (syn. camerawork)

Ø producer n

Ø road movie n

Ø role n

Ø science fiction film n

Ø screen version (syn. screen adaptation)

Ø screen test n (to take a screen test)

Ø script n (scriptwriter)

Ø serial n

Ø shoot v (to shoot a film/a scene; to shoot in sequence; to shoot on location)

Ø short-length film n (shorts coll.)

Ø silent film n (silents coll.; syn. mute film)

Ø slow-motion n

Ø slow-moving adj (ant. fast-moving)

Ø sound n (soundtrack)

Ø special effects n (fire/sound/light effects)

Ø star n (stardom n; to shoot/rise/zoom to stardom); star v

Ø stuntman n

Ø thriller n (socio-political thriller)

Ø translate v (to translate to the screen; syn. to adapt for the screen)

Ø video n

Ø video-recorder n

Ø war movie n

Ø Western n

 

Task 2. Arrange the vocabulary units from Task 1 under the following headings:

A. Film genres.

B. Film-making process.

C. People involved in the film-making process.

D. Visual elements of a film. (accelerated motion, a close-up, etc.)

E. Making a book into a film.

 

Task 3. Guess words and expressions from Task 1 by their definitions or periphrases.

1. a film or television or a radio programme that gives detailed information about a particular subject;

2. a list of all the people involved in making a film or television programme, which is shown at the beginning or end of it;

3. an actor who typically plays unusual characters, rather than the most important characters;

4. to always give an actor the same type of character to play;

5. an actor who plays a small part in a film;

6. to become famous very quickly;

7. a scene in a film, play, book etc that shows something that happened before that point in the story;

8. to make a film available for people to see;

9. someone who writes the stories and words for films or television programmes;

10. an occasion when someone is filmed while they are performing, in order to see if they are suitable to act in a film;

11. a part of a film in which the camera seems to have been very close to the picture it took;

12. a film that has pictures but no sound;

13. to film some scenes of a movie in a place away from a film studio;

14. movement on film or television shown at a slower speed than it really happened;

15. a scene of a film, in which many actors take part.

 

Task 4. Complete the sentences with words and expressions from Task 1.

1) This British film was _______________ into 7 languages.

2) Animal Farm by George Orwell has been _______________ for the screen twice: in 1954 and 1999.

3) Jane took a _______________ last week but failed. She was not given the part of Juliet.

4) Where was this film _______________? In Greece?

5) This actor always gets _______________ as the villain.

 

Task 5. Translate the sentences into English using the vocabulary from Task 1.

1) Зела Кларк и Тимоти Далтон замечательно сыграли Джейн Эйр и Мистера Рочестера в одноименной экранизации романа Шарлоты Бронте «Джейн Эйр», вышедшей на экраны в форме телевизионного сериала в 1983 г. Актеры второго плана также подобраны великолепно. Многие сцены из фильма снимались вне студии. Например, кадры поместья Торнфилд Холл снимались в Дин Парк, в окрестностях городка Корби.

2) Документальные фильмы канала БиБиСи отличаются прекрасной операторской работой. Удивительно, как съемочной группе удается крупным планом снять полет бабочки или падающую каплю дождя.

3) Несмотря на то, что молодой актер с успехом прошел кинопробу, его пригласили лишь сниматься в массовке. Если бы режиссер фильма тогда знал, как быстро это молодое дарование станет знаменитым, он бы непременно предложил ему главную роль.

4) Короткометражный анимационный фильм «Старик и море», снятый российским режиссером Александром Петровым в 1999 году, рисовался на стекле масляными красками, причем не только кистью, но и пальцами. Он стал первым анимационным фильмом для кинотеатров большого формата IMAX. Неудивительно, что в 2000 году эта картина завоевала Оскар в номинации «Лучший короткометражный фильм».

 

 

? VOCABULARY PRACTICE

B. Success and failure

His latest opera was panned [ very negatively criticised ] by the critics, which is strange, since all his previous works have been universally lauded [ highly praised ].

The play bombed [ was a failure ] in London's West End, but was more successful in New York.

Her latest CD has won three awards. [ prizes/ honours, e.g. 'Best CD of the Year' ]

Anthony O'Donnell won the award for 'Best up-and-coming actor' of 2001. [ likely to become very famous or successful ]

The critics generally agree that her new symphony is a masterpiece. [ very great work of art ]

Novak was definitely miscast as the father in that film. [ was the wrong person for the role ]

She has become typecast as a middle-aged mother. [ always associated with that type of role ]

He was given several encores for his performance of the violin concerto. [ calls from the audience to repeat it ]

She got a standing ovation for her performance of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. [ the audience stood up and applauded ]

Praising and criticising

Task 1. Study the given material.

A. Praising

Read this review of a theatre production from a local newspaper.

I have nothing but praise for this production of Dogs and offer my congratulations to all the cast. The thunderous applause at the end of last night's performance was richly deserved. The actors had managed to put on a simply dazzling production. James King, in particular, gave an outstanding performance. Of course, the cast cannot take full credit for its success; we must also warmly congratulate the producer. He has received critical acclaim many times in the past. He justly deserves all the rave reviews he will undoubtedly receive from many others as well as myself. We must also give credit to the production's wardrobe department. I am sure they will also win a lot of praise for their original and exciting costumes.

Also note these collocations relating to praise:

The orchestra received a standing ovation for their performance of the symphony. [ the audience liked the performance so much that they stood up to applaud ]

Your boss thinks the world of you. He's always singing your praises to me. [informal]

My parents always used to speak well/highly of that journalist.

Her father warmly/heartily approves of her new boyfriend.

I hope you will give your blessing to the plan. [ say you wish it well ]

Let's give the winner a big clap / a round of applause.

You deserve a pat on the back for such excellent marks! [ you deserve praise ]

B. Criticising

When you are criticised you come in for criticism. You may respond to this criticism, you may counter the criticism [ criticise your critic back ] or you may dismiss the criticism [ say it is untrue or unimportant ].

A person may show his/her disapproval or express his/her disapproval and this is often done by giving a look of disapproval or with a frown of disapproval.

word	collocates with	example
criticism	harsh [ strong ], constant, constructive [ useful ]	The play came in for some harsh criticism.
critical	highly and sharply	The writer is sharply critical of our political system.
criticise	roundly [ thoroughly ], fiercely, bitterly	He was roundly criticised for his rudeness.
a critic	harsh, outspoken [ critic who says exactly what s/he thinks ]	Actors fear him because he is such an outspoken critic.
disapprove of	strongly, thoroughly	I strongly disapprove of smoking.
condemn	severely	The politician was severely condemned for his dishonesty.
condemnation	wholesale, universal [ both mean by (almost) everyone ]	The country's aggressive behaviour has earned universal condemnation.
object to	strongly, strenuously [ with a lot of effort ]	Local residents strenuously objected to the development plans.

 

Task 2. Complete these extracts from TV programmes where the speakers are praising people.

	For this young violinist, Nuria Shilov, her performance ends with a (1) ………. ovation and (2) …………….. applause. Her playing has received critical (3) …………………..in the last year in her home country, and now her talent has been recognised by an international audience.
	Now the President of the National Badminton Federation (4) ………………. congratulates Wang Shih-Ping on his (5) …………………. deserved victory in this year's tournament. His skilful playing has (6) ……………….. a lot of praise from commentators, though he personally refuses to (7) …………….. full credit for his achievements, and (8) ………….. credit instead to his manager, Karla Ennaise.
	Well, the team manager is ecstatic and is at this moment making a speech (9) ……………… the praises of the captain, Blake Samson, and the rest of the team. And there is no doubt that they (10) ……………. deserve all this praise for such a remarkable victory.
	So, at the end of this week's quiz, the blue team have won. Let me (11) ……………. my congratulations to you all. You'll be coming back next week. And let's give the losers a (12) ……………… of applause. The red team also played a great game.

Task 3. Circle T (True) or F (False) after each statement. If you circle F, say why.

1. If you speak highly of someone, you praise them. T/F
2. If you have nothing but praise for someone, you do not approve of what they do. T/F
3. If you criticise someone roundly, you criticise them only slightly. T/F
4. If you heartily approve of something, you are in favour of it. T/F
5. If you counter criticism, you just accept it. T/F
6. If someone gives their blessing to something, they are against it. T/F
7. If you give someone a clap, it is usually because you like what they have done. T/F
8. If you give constructive criticism, you normally have a positive intention. T/F

 

Task 4. Put the words in order to make sentences.

1. lot / He / in / for / criticism / a / of / came
2. criticism / the / responded / of / to / disapprove / how / I / thoroughly / she
3. him / condemned / lying / for / severely / judge / The
4. disapproval / my / behaviour / of / want / I / express / to / her
5. outspoken / were / but / dismissed / critics / he / The / criticisms / their
6. comments / condemnation / His / universal / received
7. objected / plan / We / and / strenuously / the / to / were / critical / it / highly / of

8. always / a / government / been / I / critic / of / have / corrupt / harsh

Task 5. Complete the collocations in this text.

This is the last exercise in this book. May we give you a pat on the …………….. for getting to this point. Indeed, you ……………… deserve a ………………. clap. We have ………………. but praise for you and would like to …………………. you our warm congratulations!

 

 

? VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Film synopsis

Task 1. You are going to read a number of film synopses. For questions 1-15 choose from the movies A-I. Some of the movies may be chosen more than once. There is an example at the beginning.

What kind of movies would you recommend to someone

	who is fond of British history?	1	D
	who likes musicals?	2			3
	who wants his/her kids to watch timeless children's cartoons?	4			5
	who is fond of psychological dramas?	6
	who likes to watch great actors in classical roles?	7
	who likes adventures?	8			9
	who is fond of melodramatic situations?	10
	who likes invented stories about historical characters?	11
	who likes the mixture of cartoons and feature movies?	12			13
	who is interested in private life of famous people?	14			15

Task 2. Read the following film synopses. Remember to consult a dictionary.

А. Bambi

Acknowledged for generations as one of Disney's greatest animated classics, this heartwarming story of the newborn 'Prince of the Forest' is a wonderful experience. As Bambi learns to walk, talk and make friends with the other animals, including the bashful skunk Flower and the fun-loving rabbit named Thumper, we discover the wonders of life and the beauty of nature. Fondly remembered as Walt Disney's favourite animated film, Bambi is a funny, touching, timeless masterpiece that every child should grow up with.

В. Good Will Hunting

A true motion picture phenomenon, this triumphant story was nominated for nine Academy Awards. The most brilliant mind at America's top university isn't a student... he is the kid who cleans the floors! Will Hunting is a headstrong, working-class genius who's failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will's last chance is a psychology professor, who might be the only man who can reach him. It's a powerful and unforgettable movie experience.

С. Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins became one of the greatest films ever made!

High above the dawn clouds over London, 'practically perfect' Mary Poppins floats out of the sky and into the lives of two playfully mischievous children. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep named Bert, the spirited nanny makes every chore a game and every day a 'Jolly Holiday.' But, after they leap into the imaginative world of a side walk chalk drawing, visit a hilarious floating tea party, and join a rooftop song and dance, it may take more than 'A Spoonful of Sugar' to cheer up the children's precise and disapproving father!

The film presents a star-making performance, dazzling special effects and animation, and award-winning music that makes this milestone masterpiece simply 'irresistible!'

D. Her Majesty Mrs Brown

A sweeping epic based on the true-life relationship between England's Queen Victoria and John Brown, a royal servant, Mrs Brown paints a revealing portrait of history's most shocking love story! It's 1864 and Queen Victoria (stage and film star Judi Dench) remains in seclusion still mourning the death of her husband Prince Albert. With public opinion turning against her and rumours spreading, a former servant of the Prince named John Brown (Billy Connolly) is called on to help. But soon his unorthodox ways and disdain for royal protocol shake things up even more. Now, he's the Queen's sole confidant and protector, leaving the monarchy on the brink of scandal! The film weaves a rich tapestry of fiery performances, scenic settings and forbidden love!

Е. King Lear

Now more than four centuries old, the time-honoured story of Lear, King of Britain, is one of Shakespeare's most profound statements on the human condition. The leading role gives Sir Lawrence Olivier room to display his dramatic gifts to the full as he explores the torment and tensions that follow the mad monarch's banishment of his favoured daughter Cordelia.

Seldom has the Bardenjoyed a more stellar cast – and this production from 1983, rightly hailed as a classic, is given an added dimension via the Halle Orchestra's outstanding score.

G. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Once in a generation a film like this comes along. Now Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckes have teamed to give us Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a four-time Academy Award winner that's already a contemporary classics.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a tale of a man, a woman and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble. It's a world where laughing can be dangerous, romance can be hilarious and Toons and people live side by side. It's a wonderful place you'll want to visit again and again.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit! The chemistry is magic. The effects are astonishing. And the film is unforgettable!

H. The Sound of Music

Winner of five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music is the most popularscreen musicalof all time.

Maria, a postulant at the Abbey in Salzburg, Austria, is proving a bit too high-spirited for Mother Abbess and the other nuns. Believing it better if Maria was a little more of the world before joining the order, Mother Abbess arranges for Maria to become governess to the seven unruly children of Captain von Trapp, a widowed martinet. Within a short time, Maria's warmth, charm and songs win the hearts of not only the children, but their father as well. But just when things look their brightest, gloomy clouds rise in Salzburg. Germany has unified with Austria, and captain von Trapp must decide whether to side with the Nazis or escape with his family before it's too late.

I. Shakespeare in Love

Triumphant winner of seven Academy Awards, this witty smash features Gwyneth Paltrow and an amazing cast that includes Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush and Ben Affleck. When Will Shakespeare needs passionate inspiration to break a bad case of writer's block, a secret romance with the beautiful Lady Viola starts the words flowing like never before! There are just two things he'll have to learn about his new love: not only has she promised to marry someone else, she's successfully impersonating a man in order to play the lead in Shakespeare's latest production! A truly "can't miss" motion picture eventwith outstanding critical acclaimmatching its impressive collection of major awards — everyone will love this behind-the-scenes look at the writing of the greatest love story ever told!

 

Task 3. Match the words with their definitions.

1.	touching	a.	very impressive and attractive;
2.	triumphant	b.	extremely interesting and holding your attention completely;
3.	nominate	c.	liking to have fun, especially by playing tricks on people or doing things to annoy or embarrass them;
4.	mischievous	d.	strong expressions of approval and praise;
5.	carefree	e.	exact;
6.	hilarious	f.	making you feel pity, sympathy, sadness etc;
7.	precise	g.	information that is passed from one person to an­other and which may or may not be true, especially about someone's personal life or about an official discussion;
8.	disapproving	h.	to officially suggest someone for an important posi­tion, duty or prize;
9.	dazzling	i.	behaving in an uncontrolled or violent way;
10.	milestone	j.	the state of being private and away from other people;
11.	seclusion	k.	having no worries or problems;
12.	rumour	l.	a very important event in the development of some­thing;
13.	disdain	m.	very exciting and interesting;
14.	torment	n.	extremely funny;
15.	spellbinding	o.	severe mental or physical suffering often lasting a long time;
16.	gripping	p.	showing that you think someone or something is bad or unsuitable;
17.	unruly	q.	having gained a victory or success;
18.	acclaim	r.	a complete lack of respect that you show for some­one or something because you think they are not at all worth paying attention to.

Task 4. Use the word in brackets at the end of each sentence to form a word that
fits in the space provided.

1) Mother ____________________ of every boyfriend I bring home. (disapproving)

2) Gladiator is a highly ____________________ movie. (acclaim)

3) I won't know ____________________ what the job involves until I actually start. (precise)

4) I played badly yesterday; I feel I am my ____________________. (gripping)

5) We were deeply____________________ by their present. (touching)

6) We eventually came to a ____________________ farmhouse. (seclusion)

7) All the Academy's ____________________ were approved. (nominate)

8) All children were ____________________ by my uncle's good looks and charm. (dazzling)

9) Winning the championship represents a personal ____________________ for the team's manager. (triumphant)

 

Task 5. Fill in the blanks with the words from Task 3.

1) Her evidence was treated with ____________________ by the prosecution.

2) Her ____________________ children always bring lots of anxiety.

3) I've heard all sorts of ____________________ about him and his secretary.

4) This ____________________ tale is worth reading.

5) The programme last night was extremely ____________________. Don't hesitate to see it.

6) She lay awake all night in ____________________.

7) She looked at him with a ____________________ grin.

8) The agreement was a ____________________ in the history of US-Russian relations.

9) Travel in ____________________ comfort to your hotel near London.

 

Task 6. Work with the underlined vocabulary units in Task 2. Paraphrase them and suggest their Russian translation.

 

Task 7. Translate the following sentences into English using the vocabulary of Task 2.

1) «В джазе только девушки» - это одна их самых популярных музыкальных кинокомедий всех времен, признанная многими поколениями как волнующая история любви, наполненная духом веселых приключений и великолепной музыкой. Исполнение главных ролей позволило Тони Кёртису, Джеку Леммону и Мэрилин Монро максимально проявить талант комедийных актёров. Эта картина получила превосходные отзывы критиков и завоевала сердца миллионов.

2) «Титаник» - настоящее событие в мире кинематографа. Этот фильм-катастрофа был выдвинут на соискание премии «Оскар» в 14 номинациях, в результате получил 11 из них, включая награду «Лучший фильм» 1997 года. Картина демонстрирует звездную игру актёров, потрясающие спецэффекты и удостоенную награды музыку. В фильме мастерски сочетаются живые декорации и история запретной любви. Это фильм, производящий мощное и незабываемое впечатление.

 

 

REVISION

? WRITING

Task 1. Film synopsis

Write a synopsis of one of your favourite films and design a bill advertising this film. Remember to use the active vocabulary of the unit. Be ready to present the bill in class.

 

 

SILENT FILMS

Silent Movies

Talk to people who saw films for the first time when they were silent, and they will tell you the experience was magic. The silent film, with music, had extraordinary powers to draw an audience into the story, and an equally potent capacity to make their imagination work. They had to supply the voices and the sound effects, and because their minds were engaged, they appreciated the experience all the more. The audience was the final creative contributor to the process of making a film.

The films have gained a charm and other worldliness with age but, inevitably, they have also lost something. The impression they made when there was no rival to the moving picture was more profound, more intense; compared to the easily accessible pictures of today, it was the blow of a two-handed axe, against the blunt scraping of a tableknife.

The silent period may be known as "The Age of Innocence" but it included years unrivalled for their dedicated viciousness. In Europe, between 1914 and 1918 more men were killed to less purpose than at any other time in history.

In publications of the time, one reads horrified reactions against films showing "life as it is". You did not leave the problems at home mere1у to encounter them again at the movies. You paid your money initially, for forgetfulness.

Gradually movie-going altered from relaxation to ritual. In the big cities, you went to massive picture palaces, floating through incense-laden air to the strains of organ music, to worship at the Cathedral of Light. You paid homage to your favourite star; you dutifully communed with the fan magazines. You wore the clothes they wore in the movies; you bought the furniture you saw on the screen. You joined a congregation composed of every strata of society. And you shared your adulation with Shanghai, Sydney and Santiago. For your favourite pastime had become the most powerful cultural influence in the world — exceeding even that of the Press. The silent film was not only a vigorous popular art; it was a universal language — Esperanto for the eyes.

From "Hollywood, The Pioneers" by Kevin Brownlow. Abridged.

Task 3. Answer the following questions:

1. Why did the audiences of silent movies appreciate them so much?

2. What makes the author think that the first movies provided the audiences with a sort of escape from reality? Do you agree with this point of view?

3. Why does the author call the first cinema-houses "Cathedrals of Light"? Do you think that this comparison can be applied to modern cinema-houses?

4. Are there many people nowadays for whom cinema is a favourite pastime? Can we claim that cinema is still the most powerful cultural influence exceeding even the press?

5. Do you think that the advent of sound killed the silent movies?

Task 4. Explain what the author means by the following:

1. The films have gained a charm and other worldliness with age but, inevitably, they have also lost something.

What have the films gained? Are their achievements mainly associated with the progress of science and technology? What have they lost?

2. The impression they made when there was no rival to the moving picture was more profound, more intense compared to the easily accessible pictures of today.

Task 5. There are three main functions of the first silent movies singled out by the author in this extract. Pick them out and enlarge on them. Do you think that these functions are performed by modern films as well?

 

Task 6. Find English equivalents of the following in the text:

· обладать удивительной способностью вовлечь зрителей в происходящее;

· заставить работать чье-л. воображение;

· самим догадываться, что говорят персонажи, и придумывать звуковые эффекты;

· ценить увиденное еще больше;

· вносить завершающую лепту во что-л.;

· фильмы, показывающие жизнь такой, какая она есть;

· Мы посещаем кинотеатр не для того, чтобы увидеть на экране те же самые проблемы, которые остались дома;

· посещение кинотеатра стало целым ритуалом, а не просто способом провести свободное время;

· отдавать дань уважения кому-л.

Task 7. Read the following text telling about great silent screen comedians of the past and turn to the tasks below.

SILENT SCREEN COMEDIANS

None of the Great silent screen comedians is alive today. Chaplin died in 1977, Harold Lloyd died in 1971. Buster Keaton in 1966, Harry Langdon in 1944. Although their movies faded in the 30's, they left us invaluable short and feature-length comedies of the 1920's. All of them were superior actors of rare gift. They were contemporaries and colleagues, but their fates were different.

The most beloved of the four, the most appreciated by critics, Charles Chaplin, was the first to win general acclaim. Chaplin was a master of pantomime — skilled in acrobatics and dancing, which he had learned in the London music hall. It is interesting to note that his type of comedy was born in the 16th century in the improvisational theatre created by Travelling players. But Chaplin managed to breathe a new life into the old theatre form.

His virtuoso improvisations quickly attracted the attention of American film-makers. At first he turned down all offers but in 1913 he finally joined Mack Sennet's film company. In one year, 1914, Chaplin appeared in a great number of short films. His success with the public was truly unique. This fact opened great opportunities for him to start his own business. He showed rare versatility in acting as the producer-director-scriptwriter-musician-leading actor of his own comedies. Cinema with its world-wide distribution led to the development of the greatest comedian of the 20th century. Three Great features — "The Kid", "The Gold Rush" and "The Circus" were created by Chaplin in the golden age of silent screen comedy. However Chaplin didn't give up making silent films even after sound came to the cinema. So great was Chaplin's popularity in the 30s, that he was able to keep "City Lights" (1931) and "Modern Times" (1936) silent.

Neither Harold Lloyd nor Buster Keaton had the influence on critics and the public that Chaplin had. But today we realise that these two comedians' contribution to the genre has been profound as well. Both comedians used story material of a young American trying to be successful as a man, in his love and in his business — familiar and popular American themes of the 1920's. Though they were both gifted and original actors it took them longer to receive recognition that could compete with Chaplin's fame.

But Lloyd and Keaton could match Chaplin in his skill, they carried over this technique to their full-length movies of the 20's. By the early 1920's both Lloyd and Keaton were already well-known to the public and could start producing feature films, which meant that they were very successful at the box-office.

Few people remember Harry Langdon as one of the great comedians of the late 20's, but he did rival Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton in popularity in the three years of 1925—1927 which marked the highlight of his career. The man-child portrait made him different from the other major comedians of his time.

The four great comedians — Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton and Langdon, created a great comic tradition that was carried on with the sound age. Most of our contemporary comedians keep on perfecting the art that had been developed in the 20's. The works by Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton and Langdon will live on. These great comedians have given us masterpieces that will never fade, and they will influence the film comedies yet to be born.

 

Task 8. Answer the questions:

1) Who are the most famous silent screen comedians?

2) What did Charles Chaplin’s success rest on?

3) What did his immediate success with the public result in?

4) Name popular films made by Chaplin in the 1920s and 1930s.

5) What characters did Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton usually play in films?

6) What did the start of Lloyd’s and Keaton’s film-producing career mean?

7) What can Harry Langdon’s characters be easily recognized by?

 

Task 9. Find English equivalents of the following in the text:

· такие фильмы потеряли популярность;

· превосходные актеры редкого дарования;

· самый полюбившийся;

· наиболее высоко оцененный критиками;

· получить всеобщее признание;

· вдохнуть новую жизнь во что-л.;

· отвергать предложения;

· Он пользовался поистине огромным успехом у публики;

· открыть большие возможности перед кем-л.;

· проявлять редкое мастерство;

· в период расцвета чего-л.;

· завоевать признание, которое могло бы сравниться со славой Чаплина;

· применить тот же метод;

· быть очень популярным / получить большие кассовые сборы;

· означать расцвет чьей-л. карьеры;

· создать великую традицию;

· продолжить совершенствовать вид искусства;

· оказать влияние на комедии, которым еще только суждено появиться на свет.

Task 10. Translate the following sentences into English using the vocabulary of the two texts.

1) Экранизации детективов о Шерлоке Холмсе обладают удивительной способностью вовлекать зрителей в происходящее. Даже те, кто не очень любит читать детективные романы, внимательно следят за развитием сюжета, пытаясь понять, кто же является главным злодеем. Василий Ливанов – наиболее полюбившийся зрителям и высоко оцененный критиками актер, сыгравший Шерлока Холмса. Он проявил редкое мастерство в воссоздании образа чопорного англичанина, разгадывающего сложнейшие детективные загадки, не выходя из дома. Василий Ливанов всегда пользовался поистине огромным успехом у публики и уже с первых серий фильма сумел завоевать всеобщее признание, причем не только у российских зрителей, но и у зарубежной аудитории. В 2006 году Британия, родина Шерлока Холмса, отдала дань уважения таланту Ливанова, наградив его орденом Британской империи. В 2010 году на экраны вышел британский телесериал «Шерлок Холмс», сумевший вдохнуть новую жизнь в эту детективную историю. Посмотрим, сможет ли этот сериал завоевать признание, которое могло бы сравниться со славой Василия Ливанова.

2) «Шрек» - первый полнометражный анимационный фильм в истории, получивший премию Оскар. Все серии этого мультипликационного фильма собрали большие кассовые сборы.

Task 11. Write a summary about the golden age of silent films based on the texts in Task 2 and Task 7. Learn the summary by heart.

 

Task 12. Comment on the quotation that prefaces the section.

 

? WRITING

THE FILM-MAKING PROCESS

You are going to hear a lecture on film-making. The lecturer will give you an overview of the various steps involved in creating a motion picture.

Task 1. Listen to the lecture and take notes, following the questions below.

1) How many basic steps are there in the production of a full-length film?

Step 1. ___________________________

2) What is property? Why is it called so?

3) What are the two kinds of property? Provide examples.

Step 2. ___________________________

4) How long can this step take?

5) How many people are involved at this stage? Who are they?

6) Why does the original writer often take part at this stage?

7) Who writes the script if the original writer doesn’t take part in it?

8) Why do directors often prefer to write the script themselves?

Step 3. ___________________________

9) Why is this step very critical in the production of a film?

10) What is casting?

11) What two types of casting are there?

12) What are the advantages and drawbacks of these two types of casting?

Step 4. ___________________________

13) How long does this step usually take?

14) Why is the order scenes are filmed often completely different from the order they appear in the movie?

15) What are the two types of places where filming can be done? Elaborate.

16) What accounts for the choice of one of the two types of places?

17) What difficulties does the film crew face when a film is shot on location?

Step 5. ___________________________

18) How long can this step take?

19) What is the primary job of an editor?

20) Why is this job difficult?

21) What else does the editor do?

22) Why is this step important in the process of making a film?

Step 6. ___________________________

23) Why does this step contribute a lot to the success of a film?

24) Why do composers prefer to be hired in the early stages of a film? Does it always happen so?

25) Who should approve the music?

26) How is the music actually recorded?

 

Task 2. Put down the text of the lecture and learn it by heart.

 

 

& — READING &SPEAKING

AMERICAN FILM CRITICISM

Task 1. Read the text about cinema criticism in the USA.

AMERICAN FILM CRITICISM

The roots of American film criticism can be traced as far back as the beginning of our century. Among those who established a classical tradition in film criticism in the US was Lindsay, whose The Art of the Moving Picture was published in 1915. Lindsay was one of the first American intellectuals who gave cinema the aesthetic prestige of an art. He rejected the doctrine of pure cinema and welcomed the influences of painting, drama and literature on the new medium. Besides him the most famous reviewers in the silent era were Munsterberg and Sherwood. Among the film critics of the older generation I can also name Farber (Negative Space), Jyler (Magic and Myth of the Movies), William Everson, the only really encyclopaedic film authority in the US and Lewis Jacobs, the author of The Rise of the American Film, which remains the best film history of the US. There is no sense in mentioning more names. Let us turn instead to some ideological aspects in American film criticism.

First of all, there is a debate connected with the cult of "foreign films". It is interesting to note that the first cult of foreign films appeared in the 20's around the German and Russian cinemas notable for expressive camera mobility and revolutionary theories of montage. The French cinema attracted some critics in the 30's mainly for its free treatment of sex. The Italian neo-realism dominated the late 40's and early 50's. Then came the era of cult directors from different countries such as Bergman, Fellini, Antonioni, Kurosawa, Chabrol, Truffaut and many others. However, at present foreign films are losing their commercial appeal because the American movies are becoming more sophisticated and mature.

American cinema was always criticised for the lack of freedom in Hollywood. Although there is no political freedom yet, the moral climate has recently changed so much in the opposite direction that the American critics can no longer talk of the lack of frankness as far as sex and violence are concerned. Some critics welcome this moral liberation, others, on the contrary, look upon it as cynical, corrupting the public and distracting its attention from the topical social problems.

Another trend in American film criticism is the growing interest for directorial styles and cinematographic techniques. In the past, the sociologically oriented film historians — Jacobs, Grierson, Kracauer, Rota, Leyda and others — looked upon movies as a mass medium rather than an art form. Much of their moralistic rhetoric still exists in American cinema criticism, but it is balanced by a more objective stylistic analysis. One of the most interesting cultural phenomena of the past decade is the renewed interest in the film director as an artist. Part of this interest can be traced to the disintegration of the studio system, part to the growing authority of directors themselves. Some critics look upon a director as a creator, others as a story-teller with images and camera angles rather than words, others simply as a decorator of other people's scenarios. That is why film criticism is divided into two conflicting camps. On the one hand, we have literary approach, which ignores visual style in film reviews. On the other hand, we have visualists who reject the plots and dialogues as literary impurities. The most interesting critics are, of course, those who try to combine both the literary and the visual.

After Donald E. Staples

 

Task 2. Answer the following questions:

1) Who were the first cinema critics in America?

2) What trends of film criticism of the past does the author trace?

3) What does the author say about the change in the moral climate of American cinema in the recent years?

4) How does the author explain the renewed interest for directorial styles?

5) What approaches to film reviewing does the author name?

 

Task 3. Retell the text “American film criticism”.

 

 

& — READING &SPEAKING

HOLLYWOOD’S VIEW OF SOCIETY

Task 1. Discuss with your group:

· How popular are American films in Russia/ all over the world? Why?

· What is typical of Hollywood movies?

· Do you enjoy watching American films? Why (not)?

Task 2. Read the text and turn to the tasks below.

COMMENT

Task 8. Write a comment on the topic “Hollywood’s view of society”.

& — READING &SPEAKING

FILM ADAPTATIONS

THEY ARE BASED ON

I believe that the arguments about books versus films very much depend on the quality of the book. A film adaptation of a book might improve on the printed version, but, in my opinion, a book is always better than 'the film of the book'. Many people who have enjoyed the book are tempted to go to the cinema to see the film adaptation or watch it on video, but I'm sure most of them are disappointed by the experience.

I think that there are three good reasons why films of good books are generally disappointing. Firstly, a film is comparatively short (perhaps just ninety minutes long), whereas the book it is based on may be several hundred pages long and take many hours to read. This means that when you go and see the film, you often find that some of your favourite characters or scenes are not included because the screenwriter has had to simplify and cut the story. Secondly, books can give you important information that is difficult to present in a film. For example, a novelist can tell us what a character is thinking as well as what he or she says, while in a film we usually only hear what the character says. But the third and most important reason is that when we read a book, we imagine, for example, what a character is like and our mental picture of that person is very different to how he or she is represented on the screen. When we watch the film, we find ourselves thinking things such as 'that actor is much too small' or 'that actress should be younger' and that stops us enjoying the film.

For these reasons, my opinion is that while it might not be such a bad idea to read a book after you have seen the film adaptation, it is never good to see a film adaptation after you have read and enjoyed a book.

 

Task 4. The following article compares a book “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and its screen adaptation (both by Truman Capote). Read the text and turn to the tasks after it.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

Truman Capote was already a celebrity by the time "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Capote experienced some difficulty coming up with an ending to the novel and it took him longer than he expected to finish it, but he finally did in the spring of 1958. He also signed a deal with the magazine Harper's Bazaar entitling them to publish it before the book came out. Unfortunately they tried to get Capote to omit the four-letter words and the way that Holly made her living from sex. Capote was of course outraged and refused to change a word.

Like Capote's other works, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" received mixed reviews with some writers calling it weak and lacking in originality compared to Capote's earlier books, and some eagerly praising it. However, it is indisputable that Capote, as well as J.D. Sallinger, quite accurately sketched a prototype of future generation. Holly's character echoes in hippies of the 70's with their constant search of happiness and belief that by ignoring the traditional esthetic norms they would bring their inner world in harmony with the outer world.

Despite all the criticism in regard to this novel, Capote later in life said that Holly Golightly was his favorite character. In an early version of the book he gave her the inappropriate name of Connie Gustafson, but later changed it for a more symbolic one - Holly Golightly - for she is a woman who makes a holiday of life, treading through it lightly. Pursued by Mafia gangsters and playboy millionaires, Holly was a fragile eyeful of tawny hair and turned-up nose, a heart-breaker, a perplexer, a traveller, a tease. She was irrepressibly "top banana in the shock department" and deliciously eccentric.

Along with the book's publishing came what Capote called the Holly Golightly Sweepstakes, where half of the women he knew and some he did not, claimed to be the inspiration for his character. One New York resident, named Bonnie Golightly, even tried to sue Capote for invasion of privacy and libel. But she was a fat forty-year-old woman and lost the lawsuit without much effect. But in truth the person that Holly most resembles is her creator. She shares Capote's philosophies as well as his fears and anxieties, and Holly's panic attacks called "the mean reds", which the author himself suffered from, serve as a perfect example of this connection.

The book filled with an authentic atmosphere and characters of New York of the 1940s, it is no wonder that Paramount approached Capote with a suggestion to make his book into a film. But the outcome upset Capote enormously, as the screen version considerably differed from the novel, especially in the ending, which totally changed the theme of the story. In the book, Holly was always traveling, searching for a place to belong, which she never finds, while the film ends