Classic Movie Term Paper

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classic films, and what makes them classic. Specifically, it will contain a discussion of what makes a film "classic" and use a specific film that I believe is classic, with good quality reasons for the answer.

CLASSIC FILMS

The term "classic film" often evokes thoughts of an old film, often shown and enjoyed by audiences throughout many decades. The film could be a musical, such as "The Wizard of Oz," or a drama, such as "Apocalypse Now." Both films (and scores of others) have been called classics, and are often shown on network and cable channels. What makes these films classic?

Some might say it is the acting that makes a film a classic. In "The Wizard of Oz," for example, each actor, from Judy Garland as Dorothy, to Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch is perfectly cast, and creates their role with great talent and charm. They set the stage for all actors who tried to recreate the roles, and made them classic and enduring characters. "Enduring" is a word that seems to go hand-in-hand with classic films, for they endure through time, just as "The Wizard of Oz" has done. It is as enjoyable and magical today as when it was first shown in theatres in 1939.

Close in importance to the characters and casting is the writing.
Good writing will not always make a classic film, but most classic films do benefit from great scripts. Many critics call

Apocalypse Now" a modern telling of Joseph Conrad's haunting tale "Heart of Darkness." The movie is based on a classic fiction tale, and so becomes a classic in its own right. The screenwriter uses the same disturbing themes as Conrad, and the writing adds depth to the characters and the film itself. "Apocalypse Now" is a stunning film, both mentally and visually. No matter what the viewer's reaction, the movie makes you stop and think. Coppola and the actors bring this story vividly to life - it is not an easy movie to forget. Thus, another commonality in many classic films is great writing, which also leads to endurance - the viewer cannot forget the visual and verbal images of the film, and it endures in their mind.

Many classic films also make history with their visual techniques….....

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