Course Description
Discover and discuss masterpieces of American cinema in this class for intermediate and advanced English speakers. You’ll watch a film at home on streaming, or borrow the DVD from your local library, before a lively and engaging discussion in class. You’ll be assigned one scene to watch at least three times! Every month you’ll view a film from an influential director so you’ll come to know the stylistic hallmarks of favorite genres and filmmakers.
If you love the movies, this course is an enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, get comfortable with idiomatic expressions, improve your conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of American culture and cinema.
In the Spriing trimester, we'll discuss three films from 1939, arguably one of the best years for American cinema.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington by Frank Capra with Claude Reins, James Stewart, Jean Arthur.
A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate where his idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington.
The film was controversial when it was first released, with attacks from many politicians claiming that it brought Washington into disrepute. However, it was very successful at both the domestic and international box offices, and it made Stewart a major star.
Only Angels Have Wings by Howard Hawks with Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Rita Hayworth.
At a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is compelled to risk the lives of his pilots in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stops in town. A romantic adventure, the film is generally regarded as among Hawks' finest films, particularly in its portrayal of the professionalism of the pilots, the atmosphere, and the flying sequences.
Stagecoach by John Ford with John Wayne and Claire Trevor. On the stagecoach to Cheyenne, an eclectic group of passengers must work together to survive the arduous journey and the Apache attacks.
Widely considered to be one of the most influential films every made, Stagecoach has not escaped controversy. Like most Westerns of the era, the film's depiction of Native Americans is simplistic and reductive.
About the instructor:
Ellen Feldman grew up in Philadelphia and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in cinema studies from New York University and has taught film studies at the State University of New York, Geneseo campus, and Brooklyn College.
