Essays and Research Papers on Film & Television

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of Director Orson Welles' 1941 classic. The writer also considers Welles' characterization of Kane and the way in which this character is developed to embrace both utilitarianism and individualism. No bibliography.

This 5 page report discusses these two movies in the context of the historical theme of racism in America in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both serve as historical documents of one aspect of America's recent past. No sources cited.

'The Stunt Man,' the 1980 film version of Paul Brodeur's novel, directed by Richard Rush, uses different camera angels and the motion of the camera itself to provide support for the discoveries of the protagonist, Cameron. This film demonstrates the manipulation of camera shots and the effective the integration between the camera focus, angel, ...

This 6 page report discusses the 1997 movie 'The Sweet Hereafter' that tells the horrendous story of a school bus accident that kills 14 of a small town's children. The bus driver, who survives talks about meeting up with the children again in the 'sweet hereafter.' The writer presents some possibilities as to ...

A 7 page paper which examines the narrative structure of John Carpenter's 1978 film, Halloween, through examination of story, plot, cause and effect, linear (or nonlinear) structure, flashbacks and other temporal order manipulations, point of view and visual style. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 6 page paper examining Robert De Niro and his three 'levels' -- his star persona, actor's persona and as a man in an attempt to explain his career longevity and how his celebrity reflects upon American popular culture. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 7 page essay examines the documentary filmmakers' techniques and approach to their subjects in the films "The Thin Blue Line" (1988), "Brother's Keeper" (1992) and "Let's Get Lost" (1989). Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page paper in which the writer discusses the comparison of good and evil in the film version of "The Wizard of Oz", and posits that good conquers evil. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

8 pages in length. A screen analysis of the film "Her Man" (1930). Various examples of conscious camera technique are defined using proper cinematic terminology and exemplified with actual examples from the movie. Release information and credits are provided in Appendix. No Bibliography.

An 8 page paper which explores the impact of Sergio Leone's spaghetti western style in A Fistful of Dollars on Clint Eastwood's acting and directing in his 1992 Academy Award-winning film Unforgiven. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 5 page examination of the nonnarrative abstract style of filmmaker Kenneth Anger. No bibliography.

A 5 page paper looking at the use of dream imagery in the works of August Strindberg and Ingmar Bergman. The paper particularly looks at Strindberg's 'A Dream Play' and Bergman's 'Wild Strawberries', and traces both writers' use of the elusive logic of dream. Bibliography lists 1 source.

Approximately 17 pages detailing the presence and role played by existentialism in Igmar Bergman's 'Persona.' Included background discussion of Bergman's life & other works as well. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

This 3 page paper examines the film in terms of its use of metaphor. A brief synopsis of the movie is included. No additional sources cited.

A 12 page paper that considers the existential notions of Sartre, Camus and Nietzsche as they apply to the Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary screen play 'Pulp Fiction.' Bibliography lists 6 sources.

An 8 page paper exploring Forrest Gump the character in the popular movie of the same name as a popular American mythological hero. Various aspects of the Forrest Gump story are compared to the qualities of what we typically perceive as the qualities of a hero. Bibliography list three sources in addition to ...

This 5 page report gives a brief overview of Andrew Horton's anthology 'Inside Soviet Film Satire.' No additional sources cited.

3 page discussion of the classic 50's film '12 Angry Men'; an examination of the American system of trial by jury and the role that stereotypes and prejudices can ultimately play in the system. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page analysis of Kazan's movie (based on Tennessee Williams' play) which discusses the probability, plausibility, and consistency of their actions in regards to the individual characteristics assigned to them. The paper also provides references to how the actors hired helped establish the characters' roles. No additional sources cited.

This 10 page research paper examines how the docudrama, The Candidate (1972), is an unflinching reflection of the ‘game' of politics in America. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page paper covering the characters' roles in shaping a call to leadership for black men. By outlining the way the characters are portrayed, the paper speaks to the divisive issues behind Singleton's call to leadership, and how each character fares in the war. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

The theory is discussed as exemplified by the lead characters in the movie When Harry Met Sally. The stages of development that Harry and Sally go through in their relationship are illustrated in this 7 page paper. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page report discusses the 1985 "brat pack" movie The Breakfast Club" from the perspective of social conflict and conflict resolution. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 7 page paper explores how director Oliver Stone and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino used post-modernism in the 1994 film, "Natural Born Killers." Bibliography lists 4+ sources.

A 6 page examination of the effects of such popular works as 'Primary Colors' on the role of politics in this country. Presents the dilemma of sorting reality from fiction in books, in movies and in politics in general Bibliography lists 6 sources.