Film 134A -- American Cinema, 1930-60

There is a fair number (80 from what a student in the class told me) who may be coming in to research the following assignment:

Film Marketing and Reception Project
Due at the beginning of your discussion section on Week 8 [week of 22nd February]

You will choose an American film made between 1930 and 1960, one we have not studied in class, and research how the film was marketed and reviewed at the time of its original release. Materials you gather might include original movie reviews, posters, film trailers, press stories, movie star profiles, interviews, etc. You will write a short analysis of the information available from these sources and make an argument regarding how the reception and marketing of the film was influenced by historical events. Your analysis should be 5-8 pages....

Here's how it might be approached--

Reviews (and date of release):
Variety Film Reviews (McH Ref PN1995 V34)

Reviews and display advertisements:
Los Angeles Times (historical)
New York Times (historical)

Magazine articles, interviews, profiles, advertisements:
Readers' Guide Retrospective

Film criticism:
Film Indexes Online (citations only--no UC-eLinks)

Posters:
Cruzcat (subject: film posters)

Trailers:
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)


--Ken.