Political Films from a Politics and Film class, imagine that.

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Political movies broken down and evaluated over a semester. This is just the first round of movies and I hope my teacher doesn’t have copyright issues because I stole this list and am giving it to you in the order we watched them in. All of the notes were taken in class and some might be verbatim how my professor said it. 

• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Directed by Frank Capra 
  • The Political System: Capra basically says that the system works, it’s the bad people inside of the system that mess it up, and the common man can rescue us all. Jefferson Smith ( name referencing to Thomas Jefferson combined with Smith, the most common last name in America at the time) brings common sense to Washington D.C. The re-occurring theme throughout the movie is ‘one man vs. the system.’ The idea that certain individuals can change the system from within. 
  • The general public is viewed as easily manipulated. ( This is the same view that the founding fathers had.) 
  • The view of politicians is negative and highly cynical. The only exception is the vice president. Politicians compromise values to get things done. The idea that out of corruption can come good. 
  • Political Machines: PM’s ruin politics. Taylor is the PM in the town Smith comes from. They dominate political affairs of a region. (think the butcher from Gangs of New York.)
  • The Media: The media has a cynical view of politics and the system. The reporters are seen smoking and drinking constantly. They can be good, but used for bad by Taylor. 
  • Women are frivolous and glamorous. The only exception is Sanders, who is money hungry. 
• Casablanca (1942) Directed by Michael Curtiz
  • Characters as countries: Rick represents the U.S. He is always “picking the underdog.” Also mirrors our foreign policy at the time, “I won’t stick my neck out for nobody.” Renault represents France (unoccupied). He favors the side that is winning and the growing french resistance. Major  Strasser is Germany and he tells Renault (France) what to do. Italian Captain ” no one respects the Italians.” He is only in two scenes. Once in the airport where he is being ignored, and second entering the cafe where he is also being ignored. “…if he gets a word in it will be a major Italian victory.”
  • The political system: survival of the fittest. No democracy. Military Regime. Renault—> corruption. Gets pretty girls to sleep with him for Visas. Laszlo is arrested without charge. Basically, men with money and women providing sex benefit from corruption. The black market has more authority and is not obscure. 
  • individualism v. isolationism
    • Rick is central. In the end he sacrifices himself for Ilsa’s happiness. Parallel to U.S. isolationism. Renualt points out “that it is a wise foreign policy to not stick your neck out.”
    • Rick excuses himself with “no politics” policy. Signor Ferrari signifies entrance into war by saying rick should get involved. Renault joins Rick and the symbolic growing of American development emerges. 
  • Stereotypes: 
    • Sam- used for entertainment. His dialogue includes taking orders and saying “Yes Boss.” He is called, “Boy.” Signor Ferrari tries to buy him. 
    • Women: Ilsa- “you have to think for the both of us.” She is flaky. She loves Laszlo then rick, then laszlo, then rick and so on… She says, ” one woman hurt you and you take revenge on the world.” The Bulgarian woman ask Rick if she should sleep with Renault to get Visas for her and her young husband. 
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Directed by Robert Wise
  • Science Fiction was used during this time to comment on International Relations without being accused of being a Communist. Atomic weapons parallel technology that people don’t understand. 
  • References the Orson Welles incident by saying, ” this is not another flying saucer scare.” 
  • Political System:
    • Democracy disappears entirely. The army takes over. No one seems to be troubled by this. The army is the first visual element around the space craft. No police or even the president shows up first. No politicians in the movie with the exception of one secretary that tried to get Klattu to talk to the President. Wise is trying to say that when we are scared we want authority. Politicians won’t get things done. Newspaper reads, ” Extra! Military in charge.”
    • Marshall Law has been imposed? We don’t see the President at all. 
  • Klattu as Christ figure:
    • He is an alien that comes from the sky. He takes the earth name Carpenter ( both Joseph and Jesus are carpenters), his message is peace, and gort brings him back from death. 
  • Leviathan:
    • Hobbes, English philosopher/writer published in 1651. Part 1- man originally existed in a state of nature (solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short). Fighting against everyone. Part 2- civilizing and developing communities are common authority who serves the society. Power resides in absolute monarchy. 
    • Gort is absolute enforcer. There are no grey areas with him as there are in the army. He is closer to the Leviathan than the military. 
• Good Night & Good Luck(2005) Directed by George Clooney  
  • Edward R Murrow (the real man):
    • Made famous by “This…is London,” reports and earned American respect.
    • CBS gave his own TV show, ” See it Now.” The show was never profitable for CBS but it was a mile stone for investigative journalism.
    • Murrow took on McCarthy, which the President of the U.S. wouldn’t even do at the time.
    • Eventually dies of Lung Cancer in 1965. (it’s obvious why when you watch the movie.)
    • The show was eventually discontinued for business reasons. Murrow then gets appointed by JFK to head of U.S. Information Agency.
    • 1964- receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • McCarthy:
    • Junior Senator of Wisconsin. Claimed to have 205 names of known communist working in U.S. state department. Later said it was only 57. Then we find out that it was really none. McCarthy never actually found a communist in the U.S. Government.
    • Dwight D. Eisenhower ( who wasn’t President at the time) refused to stand up to McCarthy when McCarthy accused one of Eisenhower’s friends of being a communist.
    • He was the most fear person in Washington and became the most powerful man there as well.
    • His most famous hearing were the Army- McCarthy hearings in which McCarthy accused the Army of being infiltrated by Communist. The famous quote in which another Senator ask him, ” Have you no decency Sir?”
    • Public distaste was already growing, and when the Army- McCarthy hearing were televised, it was ultimately his downfall.
    • Dies in 1957 of liver disease. He drank himself to death.
  • Accuracy:
    • Every clip showing McCarthy was an actually clip pasted into the rest of the film. This is one main reason the film had to be shot in black and white.
  • Power of the Press:
    • played an important political role for once!
    • seen as highly influencial on the American people. ( if only we had this sort of journalism around today.)
    • actually lives up to it’s “watchdog” role.
    • the power can be abused. They clip together many of McCarthy’s public speeches. When any individual speaks in public enough, you could piece together a very nasty looking tape. No matter who you are.
  • Reporters:
    •  
• Dr. Strangelove (or How I learned to stop worrying and love the atomic bomb) (1967) Directed by Stanley Kubrick 
• The Fog of War (2003) Directed by Errol Morris 
  • Quote - ” There’s a wonderful phrase: ‘ the fog of war.’ What ‘the fog of war’ means is: war is so complex it’s beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables. Our judgement, our understanding, are not adequate. And we kill people unnecessarily.” 
  • When interviewed, McNamara was 85 years old. Yet, Morris conducted over 20 hours of interviews with him. McNamara created his own ten lessons that can be found online or on the DVD, but the eleven lessons in the movie were actually created by Morris. 
  • This film parallels Iraq in various areas. McNamara did not want to go into this because he said his remarks would be too inflammatory. 
  • The Accuracy: Obviously McNamara’s views will be slightly biased since he is talking about himself.The most controversial part of the film is when McNamara actually says that had the U.S. not won the war, he and Curtis LeMay would have been tried as war criminals.
  • ” In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.” But, when do you know whether the results will ever amount to the struggle it took to get there. 
  • The Cuban Missile Crisis: McNamara says, ” We lucked out.” We came “this close” to nuclear war. 
  • Lessons: #1 “Empathize with your enemy.” #2 ” Rationality will not save us.” #3 ” There’s something beyond one’s self.” #4 ” Maximize Efficiency.” #5 ” Proportionality should be a guideline in war.” #6 “Get Data.”  #7 ” Belief and seeing are both often wrong.” #8 ” Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.” #9 “In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.” 
• Planet of the Apes (196 Directed by Franklin Schaffner 

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Filed under Politics, Quotes, entertainment, movies

Tags: 1939, 1942, 1951, 1967, 1968 Franklin Schaffner, 2003, 2005, Casablanca, Dr. Strangelove, Errol Morris, Frank Capra, George Clooney, Good Night & Good Luck, How I learned to stop worrying and love the atomic bomb, Michael Curtiz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Planet of the Apes, Robert Wise, Stanley Kubrick, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The fog of war