Compare how far the Hollywood films you have studied challenge the idea that films
are created by auteurs.
'Casablanca' is a 1942 film directed by Michael Curtiz, following isolationist Rick Blaine as
meeting his former love again causes him to take action regarding the current world war.
'Bonnie and Clyde' released in 1967, directed by Arthur Penn, is based on the lives of two
infamous American outlaws. Both films were produced through Warner Brothers, but their
releases in the Classical and New Hollywood eras mean the influence of an auteur is
different in each production. Clear introduction
'Casablanca' was made during the height of the studio system, where five key companies
ruled the production and distribution of films. You could argue that as each of these studios
has a different style of filmmaking, the auteur of 'Casablanca' is Warner Bros Their distinct
style can be seen in the dimly lit sets, a technique developed to hide the sparse studio sets,
affected by low budgeting. This lighting is also conventional to film noir, common in WB films.
Having control over the production, WB wanted films made in WB studios, using miniatures
such as the plane seen in the closing scene. On the other hand, after studio films had begun
to flop, (such as 'Cleopatra') over the next decades, studios were less willing to take risks,
and handed control to directors. The director of 'Bonnie and Clyde', Penn, wanted to escape
studio oversight, so made the decision to shoot on-location. This is visible in the farmer
scene, where Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty move freely, lit by natural lighting. With
more control, Penn was able to make major decisions about the film's productión, making
him an auteur.
were The subject and messages of each film was influenced by key figures, personal to
those involved in production. Penn had an interest in American culture and aiming to
connect with the counter-culture youth of the late 1960s-decided to shape the plot around
two outlaw protagonists. Regarding 'Casablanca', it was Jack Warner who you could argue
was a partial auteur to the film, as his passion for the American war effort inspired him to
centre the film around a message that Americans could not be bystanders, and should do
the right thing and fight. This is prevalent in the film's sound motif of the song 'As time goes
by', which features lyrics 'the world will always welcome lovers'; this motif was used to
convince men that they should fight, and their wives that they should allow their husbands to,
as love persists. The counter-culture ending (one of three archetypes used in classical
Hollywood narratives) was a key part of Jack Warner's attempts to convince a 1940s
audience that joining the war is the right thing to do.
'Casablanca' was produced in a time where the Hay's code was heavily enforced, so the
influence of a possible auteur could have been hindered by its regulations. For example, the
code stated that the values of marriage and the home must always be upheld, so for Ilsa and
Rick to be together, Laszlo had to be assumed dead - a loophole for working around tough
are created by auteurs.
'Casablanca' is a 1942 film directed by Michael Curtiz, following isolationist Rick Blaine as
meeting his former love again causes him to take action regarding the current world war.
'Bonnie and Clyde' released in 1967, directed by Arthur Penn, is based on the lives of two
infamous American outlaws. Both films were produced through Warner Brothers, but their
releases in the Classical and New Hollywood eras mean the influence of an auteur is
different in each production. Clear introduction
'Casablanca' was made during the height of the studio system, where five key companies
ruled the production and distribution of films. You could argue that as each of these studios
has a different style of filmmaking, the auteur of 'Casablanca' is Warner Bros Their distinct
style can be seen in the dimly lit sets, a technique developed to hide the sparse studio sets,
affected by low budgeting. This lighting is also conventional to film noir, common in WB films.
Having control over the production, WB wanted films made in WB studios, using miniatures
such as the plane seen in the closing scene. On the other hand, after studio films had begun
to flop, (such as 'Cleopatra') over the next decades, studios were less willing to take risks,
and handed control to directors. The director of 'Bonnie and Clyde', Penn, wanted to escape
studio oversight, so made the decision to shoot on-location. This is visible in the farmer
scene, where Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty move freely, lit by natural lighting. With
more control, Penn was able to make major decisions about the film's productión, making
him an auteur.
were The subject and messages of each film was influenced by key figures, personal to
those involved in production. Penn had an interest in American culture and aiming to
connect with the counter-culture youth of the late 1960s-decided to shape the plot around
two outlaw protagonists. Regarding 'Casablanca', it was Jack Warner who you could argue
was a partial auteur to the film, as his passion for the American war effort inspired him to
centre the film around a message that Americans could not be bystanders, and should do
the right thing and fight. This is prevalent in the film's sound motif of the song 'As time goes
by', which features lyrics 'the world will always welcome lovers'; this motif was used to
convince men that they should fight, and their wives that they should allow their husbands to,
as love persists. The counter-culture ending (one of three archetypes used in classical
Hollywood narratives) was a key part of Jack Warner's attempts to convince a 1940s
audience that joining the war is the right thing to do.
'Casablanca' was produced in a time where the Hay's code was heavily enforced, so the
influence of a possible auteur could have been hindered by its regulations. For example, the
code stated that the values of marriage and the home must always be upheld, so for Ilsa and
Rick to be together, Laszlo had to be assumed dead - a loophole for working around tough
