Introduction to Casablanca
Casablanca (1942) directed by Michael Curtiz is the first film we are studying for Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (Comparative Study) on the first exam paper Component 1: Varieties of Film and Filmmaking. For this part of the exam you are required to study two films - one from the Classical Hollywood Era (1930-1959) and one from the New Hollywood period (1960-1990). Casablanca belongs to the first period, and is arguably the perfect example of Classical Hollywood cinema, and will be paired with Bonnie and Clyde directed by Arthur Penn (1967) from the second period. Whilst this is not the only section where you will be required to write about two films in your essay, it is the only section in either exam where you will be required to compare films. This will mean adapting your essay structure so that you make clear comparative points throughout.
In the exam you will answer one question from a choice of two. You should spend approximately 50 minutes on your essay and try to divide your time roughly equally between both film texts. The questions could be on one of the Core Areas of Study such as an aspect of film form (focusing on any of cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sound or performance), representation (of gender, ethnicity or age), aesthetics (the overall style and feel of the film), or contexts (social, cultural, political, institutional, economic or technological).
Alternatively, questions could be on the Specialist Study Area for Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (Comparative Study) - testing your understanding of auteur (the control a director has over his or her work, shown through consistency in style and/or theme).
More information about this specialist study area can be found by clicking on the link below. It is likely that one of the questions will be on a core study area whilst the second question will be on the specialist study area - though it is perfectly possible that both questions will be related to the core study areas (one on cinematography or editing, for example, and the other on representation or aesthetics).
Remember that, regardless of the question, you must make explicit references to key scenes from Casablanca and Bonnie and Clyde to support your points, spending roughly half of your essay on each film text.
Whatever the question it is important that your essay focuses on the ways in which the differences in the respective periods of filmmaking (Classical Hollywood and New Hollywood) have influenced film form, representation, aesthetics or issues surrounding auteur. Even if the question does not focus specifically on context it will be crucial that you show how the films differ as a result of their historical, institutional, social, cultural and, even, their political contexts. You may find it useful to refresh your memory about the key differences between Classical Hollywood and New Hollywood by clicking on the links below.
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